MORGANTOWN - With his deadline for making a final decision just days away, Joe Alexander appears to be ready to skip his senior season at West Virginia and remain in the NBA draft.

But he isn't closing the book just yet.

After working out for the Phoenix Suns Thursday, Alexander told media members there that it was likely he would remain in the draft. His deadline for withdrawing his name and retaining his college eligibility is Monday.

"Right now, I'm leaning on staying in the draft because of the positive feedback I'm getting from teams,'' Alexander said after his workout with the Suns. "The reason I entered the draft was to test the waters. That's the way I'm leaning. I still have a few days and I may change my mind, but we'll see how it goes.''

Alexander, who until the last month of last season wasn't even on most NBA teams' radar for this year's draft, has in recent weeks been variously projected as anywhere from a lottery pick to somewhere in the mid-teens.

West Virginia will apparently go into the 2008 football season with four quarterbacks on scholarship, not five.

Redshirt freshman Charlie Russell said that he won't be back this season, instead deciding to concentrate on his studies. That leaves senior Pat White, junior Jarrett Brown and redshirt freshman Bradley Starks as the three returning quarterbacks. The only 2008 recruit expected to initially try his hand at the position is Coley White, Pat's brother.

"I was a little shocked when I heard that [Russell had] left,'' Starks said.

The move doesn't do much to the Mountaineers' line of succession at the position. Pat White and Brown are clearly the Nos. 1 and 2 quarterbacks, respectively, and Starks was expected to fill the No. 3 role even as he spends much of his time at wide receiver. Russell's departure should, however, afford Coley White considerably more practice repetitions during August camp.

MORGANTOWN - With his deadline for making a final decision just days away, Joe Alexander appears to be ready to skip his senior season at West Virginia and remain in the NBA draft.

But he isn't closing the book just yet.

After working out for the Phoenix Suns Thursday, Alexander told media members there that it was likely he would remain in the draft. His deadline for withdrawing his name and retaining his college eligibility is Monday.

"Right now, I'm leaning on staying in the draft because of the positive feedback I'm getting from teams,'' Alexander said after his workout with the Suns. "The reason I entered the draft was to test the waters. That's the way I'm leaning. I still have a few days and I may change my mind, but we'll see how it goes.''

Alexander, who until the last month of last season wasn't even on most NBA teams' radar for this year's draft, has in recent weeks been variously projected as anywhere from a lottery pick to somewhere in the mid-teens.

West Virginia will apparently go into the 2008 football season with four quarterbacks on scholarship, not five.

Redshirt freshman Charlie Russell said that he won't be back this season, instead deciding to concentrate on his studies. That leaves senior Pat White, junior Jarrett Brown and redshirt freshman Bradley Starks as the three returning quarterbacks. The only 2008 recruit expected to initially try his hand at the position is Coley White, Pat's brother.

"I was a little shocked when I heard that [Russell had] left,'' Starks said.

The move doesn't do much to the Mountaineers' line of succession at the position. Pat White and Brown are clearly the Nos. 1 and 2 quarterbacks, respectively, and Starks was expected to fill the No. 3 role even as he spends much of his time at wide receiver. Russell's departure should, however, afford Coley White considerably more practice repetitions during August camp.

Niles Eggleston will remain as West Virginia's executive director of the Mountaineer Athletic Club.

Athletic director Ed Pastilong announced Friday that Eggleston, who has been the interim director since Larry Aschebrook's departure in April, has been given the job of assistant athletic director for development.

Eggleston came to WVU in October of 2006 as a member of the MAC's staff.

"During his interim appointment, Niles has provided strong leadership to our Mountaineer Athletic Club," Pastilong said in a release. "It is clear to us that he is worthy of heading this important unit into the future."

A native of Oneonta, N.Y., Eggleston has worked in fundraising capacities at Miami (Fla.), James Madison and Elmira College.

 "I am humbled and really excited about this great opportunity," Eggleston said. "I am anxious to serve our student-athletes, coaches and administrators by continuing to work with our donors to further enhance our athletic department needs."

Eggleston is the third MAC executive director in the past year. Aschebrook was named to the post last Aug. 1 to replace Whit Babcock. Babcock is now at Missouri and Aschebrook at Arizona State.

To contact staff writer Dave Hickman, use e-mail or call 348-1734.