Raines falling on Virginia Tech

Cadarian Raines has only taken basketball seriously for three years, he says. Perhaps that is why a number of coaches were intrigued by the 6-foot-8, 223-pound power forward from Petersburg (Va.) High School. One ACC school will now have the pleasure of helping the emerging big man take the game even more serious over the next five years.

Raines verbally committed to Virginia Tech on Friday. The emerging big man said he liked the direction of the home state school.

"I just felt comfortable going there. I felt comfortable with coach [Seth] Greenberg and coach [James] Johnson and the rest of the coaching staff. I felt like it was a great thing to do," Raines said. "I didn't want to be too far but I didn't want to go too far to be totally away."

Raines will join Ben Boggs, Erick Green and Manny Atkins in the 2009 recruiting class for the Hokies. Raines, who also considered Maryland and Virginia Commonwealth, averaged 14.2 points per game, 10 rebounds and six blocks a game last season at Petersburg (27-4).

For Virginia Tech, Raines gives the team a fast-improving post to anchor the middle but also step out and knock down the midrange jumper.

"I've been working on my game, shooting jumpers and just developing my confidence. I can run pretty good for a big man," Raines said.

He and his Petersburg Elite team will be in Las Vegas next week for the Reebok Summer Championships.