Finney-Smith trims list

Dorian Finney-Smith, one of the fastest-rising players in the class of 2011, has trimmed his list to six schools.

The lucky half-dozen include Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Wake Forest, Florida and Old Dominion.

“I decided that I ain’t want to go far,” Finney-Smith said in a text message Wednesday.

Of course, one of the six schools is clearly not in the same region as the others, but Florida and Finney-Smith have a special connection.

“Vernon Macklin,” he said, referring to the Gators’ junior big man. “[He’s] my brother’s best friend; I knew him my whole life.”

Finney-Smith’s brother, Ben Finney, was an all-conference performer at Old Dominion last season, but he insists that the family connection will not be a huge factor.

“No I told him it’s my decision,” Finney-Smith said.

He has not yet planned any visits, nor does he have a deadline for a final decision.