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12-18-2024, 10:06 AM
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#151 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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May 1, 2025
The transfer portal opens today, and we have two scholarships available. When I look at the list of players who have entered the portal, I see a very familiar name...none other than Chris Como. I redshirted Chris in my last season at Amherst. In a move reminiscent of what happened to Jan Billups at Rider, David Getty didn't let Chris play at all last season. No wonder he was unhappy, and no wonder he wants to transfer. Chris lists UVA as his second choice, behind Syracuse. I check out his profile to see if he's gotten better, and the answer is yes. I offer Chris a scholarship, and... Code:
Welcome to the Cavalier basketball family, Chris! We'll see you on the court in 2026. |
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12-18-2024, 11:48 AM
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#152 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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July 1, 2025
Seniors Charlie Shaughnessy and Keith Tyus are both on scholarship, so we will have two offers in hand at the beginning of this recruiting season. If I'd like to free up another schollie, I can cut one of our three walk-ons. Our depth chart looks like this: Centers: SO, FR, SO (W) Power Forwards: JR, FR (W) Small Forwards: JR, FR, SO Shooting Guards: JR, SR, SO, SO Point Guards: SR, FR, SO (W) I feel like we're always looking for big men. I want to find the next Jan Billups, a dude who will start 100 games for us as an anchor big. I'd like to bring in a good lead guard. We'll have only one PG on scholarship after this year, and Anthony Carrero will need some help. We don't need a shooting wing. We have Buffalo Joe, John Steinberg, and Chris Como returning. |
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12-18-2024, 01:29 PM
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#153 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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August 1, 2025
Here's how our call list looks as we begin our recruiting season. Code:
Let's take a closer look at Aaron Jackson, who has some qualities I like to see in a point guard. Code:
We'll make Aaron an offer, and we'll bring him to campus in addition to having Coaches Whittaker and Mazur visit him and his family. Is it crazy for us to go after four-star talent Lucas Pearson? Code:
I'll also actively recruit this big man from the western part of the state: Code:
I'll invite Isaiah to campus and send our coaches to visit him and his family. If Lucas doesn't show quick, significant interest in playing for UVA, I'll have that scholarship offer in Isaiah's hands in a hurry. |
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12-18-2024, 02:48 PM
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#154 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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September 1, 2025
Aaron Jackson received an offer from Drexel last month, and they've moved up to second on his list. We're still #1, though, and we'll continue to court him. Lucas Pearson showed just enough interest in us to convince me to keep recruiting him. Lucas also holds offers from NC State and Virginia Tech, and he retains his interest in North Carolina. But, since he moved us onto his five-deep list, we can invite him to campus this month...and we will. I decided to cut a walk-on and release a third scholarship. I'm giving it to Isaiah Young this month. Liberty, Radford, and Davidson all offered Isaiah this month, but he still prefers UVA. Now he has an even bigger reason to like us. Another good big man showed increased interest in our program this month: Code:
I'm investing all the time and energy I can into Will's recruitment. If we're not first on Lucas's list by this time next month, I won't hesitate to give the offer to Will instead. |
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12-18-2024, 03:19 PM
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#155 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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October 1, 2025
With a month to go before Decision Day, it looks like Aaron Jackson has closed his recruitment. UVA is the only school on his list now. He's concentrating on trying to help his football team reach the state playoffs; last Friday, he threw two TD passes in Hampton Roads Academy's 22-15 victory over Nansemond-Suffolk Academy. Coaches Whittaker and Mazur will watch him play this weekend. Isaiah Young still likes Liberty and Radford enough to keep them on his list, but we remain his favorite. Will Hubbard has a wonderful time on his campus visit, and as he's leaving, we make him a scholarship offer. Lucas Pearson has offers from two programs he likes better, UNC and NC State. I don't mind engaging in a brisk recruiting battle, but the odds weren't with us this time. I'd be delighted with a class containing Aaron, Isaiah, and Will. Perhaps that's what we will have a month from now. |
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12-18-2024, 03:41 PM
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#156 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 1, 2025
Decision Day Good news! Aaron Jackson and Isaiah Young will both be playing their college basketball at the University of Virginia! Aaron doesn't score as much as most high school stars. He concentrates on helping his teammates get good shots and locking down the best guard on the other team. He's the kind of young man we want in our program, too: a very good student, the president of his class, and an active volunteer. I think we're going to like him a lot. Isaiah is quicker than most 6'9" players, able to guard four positions. He might not be a college center, but his skills should play well at power forward, too. Both of Isaiah's parents attended UVA, and they're delighted to continue their family's legacy with their son. Welcome to the UVA basketball family, Aaron and Isaiah! There's good news about Will Hubbard, too. He's taken the other schools he was considering off his list, leaving us in position to gain his signature in a month. It would be wonderful to finish recruiting in December, and even more wonderful to enter the 2026/27 season with a full roster of scholarship players. |
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12-20-2024, 12:11 AM
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#157 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 9, 2025
It's time to meet the NIT titleholders...the Virginia Cavaliers. Code:
How did fall training camp go? Code:
In Toby Whittaker's first season at the helm in Charlottesville, the Cavs recovered from a heartbreaking loss in the second round of the ACC tourney to storm to the NIT championship. Two of the players who were so crucial to this successful finish were seniors Dee Jarmon and Jan Billups. They've graduated, but Whittaker's cupboard is far from bare. After a superb freshman season, Trevor Bocanegra was poised to be the team's star as a sophomore...and then his senior teammates blew up. Bocanegra seemed to quietly step back a bit, but at the same time, he improved every aspect of his game. The team's leading scorer (14.8 PPG), Trevor has honed his jumper into an even more deadly weapon. His backcourt mate is senior point guard Keith Tyus. He responded well to his first full-time starting gig, and he showed marked improvement in his shooting and distribution in camp. He'll provide a calm, composed presence on offense, and he is a very good on-ball defender. Joe Cavallini began last season as the team's sixth man, but he shot his way into the starting lineup and kept on firing. He was miscast as a "power forward" last season; Buffalo Joe is far better suited to the wing, where his length and active nature give defenders fits. He'll return to his natural role this season. Senior Scott Chambliss, who traded roles with Cavallini last year, will have another crack at the four spot this season. A bit undersized at 6'6", he's still a very effective defender because of his athleticism and court sense. The fifth starter will be freshman center Chris Burke. His offensive game is a work in progress, but we don't need Chris to score. If he can rebound, block a few shots, and play tough defense--all things he looks ready to do at the college level--he'll be fine. Senior Charlie Shaughnessy has carved out a role as a versatile reserve in his two seasons at UVA. He'll be the team's sixth man this season, featuring the ability to score at all three levels and a knack for creating turnovers. Jonathan Mooney will be the first big man off the bench. The sophomore is a good defender. His classmate Larry Wallace and freshman John Steinberg will compete for playing time on the wing. Wallace is a well-rounded player without a single signature trait, while Steinberg is an excellent shooter who doesn't neglect his defensive duties. Freshman Anthony Carreno will spell Tyus at the point. A productive fall camp has made this year's Cavaliers look as skilled as last year's NIT champions. Bocanegra has reached his Blue potential, and he's considered one of the top ten professional prospects in his class. Tyus, Cavallini, and Shaughnessy are full Green players now. That's a solid core of talented players. The ACC will again feature four or five ranked teams, so Whittaker's charges will face one tough test after another once conference play begins. This year's pre-conference schedule isn't quite as tough as last year's gauntlet was, so we should enter the ACC program with a healthy record and high levels of confidence. Perhaps we'll reach our AD's goal of a spot in the NCAA field this season. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 12-20-2024 at 12:12 AM. |
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12-21-2024, 10:14 AM
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#158 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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December 1, 2025
Recruiting Update Will Hubbard informs us today that he's committing to Virginia. Let's go! I have a very good feeling about Will. We may need to be patient with him as his substantial potential as a scorer develops, but he's already demonstrated the desire and the ability to defend against the best big men in the area. Coach Whittaker watched him hold Loyola commit Elias Murray, a high three-star center, to eight points and four rebounds in a Thanksgiving tournament final. Our entire frontcourt rotation will return next season, but it's always been dependent on a walk-on or two. Will's arrival will fill out a roster of 13 scholarship players. Now the challenge will be finding enough playing time for all of them to keep them happy. That's a problem for next-year-me, though.  Welcome to UVA basketball, Will. |
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12-21-2024, 12:49 PM
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#159 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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January 14, 2026
Code:
Best win so far: at Vanderbilt last week. Trevor Bocanegra is the star, with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Trevor leads us with 18.2 PPG, and he's sailed past the 1000-point mark for his UVA career. Worst defeat so far: probably at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish aren't a bad team, but we shoot badly (with the exception of Charlie Shaughnessy and his 21 points) and we never find our rhythm. Charlie is adapting well to his role as our sixth man, scoring in double figures despite not finding the range from behind the arc; he's shooting 24% from long range. Such is not the case with Joe Cavallini. He's understandably drawing more defensive attention than before, and he's not making half his threes anymore, but he's darn close (21-for-44, 47.7%). At 15.5 PPG, he's become a star. Code:
Goodness, the ACC is brutal. We're run through our pre-conference slate with a 10-3 record, and eight teams in our league are doing better. For several reasons, the path to the top of the ACC is a long, difficult one. We'd have to climb over quite a few teams to get there. That will require us to beat teams that have more talented players than we do. Unless we manage do accomplish that task, we won't be able to recruit players as good as the ones our opponents have. Our natural recruiting area--Virginia, Maryland, and DC, perhaps North Carolina, West Virginia, and Delaware--contains a number of top programs. "Winning" the recruiting battle in our home state is a goal I'd like to achieve. Right now the best in-state players are still looking elsewhere, though. Can a team led by solid, three-star players win in the ACC? It won't be easy. |
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12-23-2024, 07:27 AM
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#160 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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February 11, 2026
To answer the question I posed last time: can a team like UVA, with three-star players in key roles rather than five-star guys, win in the ACC? If we restrict our scope to the first half of this year's conference schedule, the answer is "much of the time, yes." Code:
All true Hoos know that a 29-point win over the Hokies is a very, very good thing. Trevor Bocanegra, Keith Tyus, and Charlie Shaughnessy all drop at least 20 on our in-state rivals. Trevor leads the way with a career-high 29 points. For seniors Keith and Charlie, it's especially sweet to play so well in their last trip to Blacksburg. It's Joe Cavallini's turn against Boston College; Buffalo Joe scorches the Eagles with 25 points and 11 boards, and Keith adds another 20. Trevor returns to center stage with another double-double (23p/11r) in our closely-fought victory against Clemson at JPJ. We're not flawless; we're terrible against UNC at home, committing 21 turnovers and losing by 35. But we gain some revenge with a landmark victory over the Tar Heels at the Dean Smith Center. Keith Tyus puts us in the lead for the final time when he scores with 1:29 remaining, and Trevor Bocanegra stars again with 25 points. Trevor is making a strong case for postseason honors. We come within a basket of a share of the ACC lead at the halfway point. Maryland's Richard Bishop scores a putback with 14 seconds left to silence a huge crowd at the John Paul Jones Arena. Code:
We host Miami in our next game, and it's become one of the marquee games on the ACC schedule. The Bubble Watch lists us as a Lock for the NCAA tournament field...but a lot can change in a month. We claimed the same status this time last season, too. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 12-23-2024 at 07:28 AM. |
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12-23-2024, 08:58 AM
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#161 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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March 7, 2026
The second half of our ACC slate doesn't go as well as the first half did, but our 11-5 conference record is the second-best in school history (the 2018/19) Cavs finished 12-4). Code:
The highlight, of course, was the upset at Miami. If you'd told me that only one UVA player would score more than 6 points, I would have winced and predicted a lopsided loss. Instead, Trevor Bocanegra fires in 33--a new career best--and he and his teammates defend like their lives depend on it. The home team tries 24 three-pointers and makes two. In the aftermath of this big win, we move into the polls at #25. We stay there, with an occasional move up to #24, for the rest of the season. Larry Wallace is the hero at Florida State, making our final basket before we deny the 'Noles with two crucial defensive stops. With a 9-2 record, we find ourselves only a game behind Duke in the ACC standings. Then, back to earth we crash, with poor results at Duke and at Maryland. We fall behind 55-41 at Cameron, and the second half is worse; we end up with 20 turnovers and leave with the shouts of the Crazies in our ears. We play better at Maryland, but it's still not enough. I'm reminded of the gap that still exists between us and the ACC elites. Walk-on Sam Ramirez comes off the bench to score 10 points as we right the ship against Wake, and Keith Tyus celebrates his Senior Night with 16 points and a career-best 10 assists. Our chance to finish second in the league disappears when we can't hold on to the lead at Clemson. Code:
Our record is three games better than it was last season, but we finish fifth in the league again. I wish we could have achieved a first-round bye this time. |
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12-23-2024, 11:13 PM
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#162 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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March 12, 2026
ACC Tournament, First Round Code:
Eighteen of Trevor's 26 points and only one of our team's 9 turnovers occur after the break. Keith Tyus and Chris Burke also play well. Joe Cavallini endures a frightful game, and he's very glad he'll get to return to action tomorrow. Record: 22-8. March 14, 2026 ACC Tournament, Second Round Code:
We can't repeat the magic that allowed us to beat the Tar Heels at the Dean Dome on the last day of January. Instead, UNC forces us into lots of turnovers and draw a gazillion fouls. They outscore us 26-5 from the free throw line, which accounts for their winning margin. I hope the NCAA tournament committee acknowledges the magnitude of the task we faced this season as they hand out dance tickets. Record: 22-9. |
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12-23-2024, 11:54 PM
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#163 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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March 15, 2026
Toby Whittaker and his team watch as they are awarded the #5 seed in the NCAA South Region. Ranked #9 in RPI and playing the sixth toughest schedule in the nation, the Hoos are one of five ACC teams in the field. Two of them--Duke and Maryland--are top seeds, along with Connecticut and Wisconsin. March 19, 2026 NCAA South Region, First Round Code:
Trevor plays an eventful game, to say the least. His 37 points are three fewer than Sébastien Petit's school record. His 16 free throws in 19 attempts are both school records. And his nine turnovers tie the school record. Chris Burke also writes his name on the UVA leader board with his 19 rebounds, second most in a single game. It's a crazy win, but we'll take it. Record: 23-9. March 21, 2026 NCAA South Region, Second Round Code:
We shoot terribly from long range (4-for-16), but we do almost everything else very well. Joe Cavallini and Trevor Bocanegra are especially effective. The worst part of the day is the news that walk-on Sam Ramirez painfully dislocates his shoulder, ending his season. Record: 24-9. March 27, 2026 NCAA South Region Semifinal: the Sweet Sixteen Code:
Our seniors, Keith Tyus and Charlie Shaughnessy, play like titans in their final collegiate games. Record: 24-10. |
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12-24-2024, 12:05 AM
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#164 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 6, 2026
After eliminating us, UConn rolls through the remainder of the NCAA tournament, beating a Maryland team we know well, 79-69, in the championship game. The other semifinalists are Alabama and Texas. Both finalists are top seeds, and the teams they beat are #2 seeds. Code:
Chris is the only Cavalier who wins a post-season award, a berth on the ACC All-Freshman team. I can't understand how Trevor Bocanegra doesn't make one of the All-League teams. Playing his natural position, SG, Trevor averaged 19.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. |
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12-24-2024, 12:21 AM
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#165 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 6, 2026
Code:
We scored a lot of points, got a lot of rebounds, we committed a lot of fouls, and we seemed allergic to blocking shots. Code:
Code:
Code:
We had very good luck with injuries this year. No starter missed a game due to a health issue. Only six teams took more shots per game than we did. I felt like we bricked a bunch of threes, but we ended up right in the middle of the national rankings for three-point percentage. Joe Cavallini regressed to the mean a bit, but I'll take 45% from behind the arc any day. |
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12-24-2024, 12:38 AM
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#166 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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2025/26 Senior Snapshots
Code:
His successor, Toby Whittaker, also found plenty of use for Charlie, who could play three different positions and do a variety of good things on a basketball court. Code:
Keith became an increasingly productive player, living up to his billing as one of the top 200 players in his recruiting class. Rarely spectacular, Keith was also almost always reliable. Thanks for the memories, Charlie and Keith. |
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12-24-2024, 11:36 AM
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#167 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 11, 2026
Neither Charlie Shaughnessy nor Keith Tyus are chosen in the professional draft. But people who know these things (or think they do) are already saying that Trevor Bocanegra could play himself into the 2027 draft lottery, and that Joe Cavallini should be drafted, too. Code:
Sigh. It's becoming abundantly clear that in order to move out of the middle of the ACC pack, we have to land recruiting classes that rank in the top 25 or 30 nationally. I love our guys, and we can probably continue to win 20 games and make the NCAA tournament most years with guys like them. Perhaps that's as well as the Cavaliers will do, since they have to run the ACC gauntlet every season. The Hoos' run to the Sweet Sixteen is enough to help Toby Whittaker level up. He's moved up to Level 8 now, and I handed out his new ability points. Now his profile looks like this: Recruiting: 73 (ranks 4th among ACC coaches) Scouting: 54 (ranks 6th) Coaching Offense: 65 (ranks 6th) Coaching Defense: 68 (ranks 8th) Five coaches in the conference are Level 9 or higher, led by North Carolina's Linwood Carroll and NC State's Andrew Mellon, both Level 13. Duke coach Glenn Ellis is Level 10. Alec Mazur also leveled up, and he now boasts a 100 Recruiting score. Toby's other assistants are unchanged, and they'll all be back for the new season. Our AD raised our budget considerably! We have $692,540 to work with now. Our Facilities score went up to 82, which is fourth in the ACC, and our Prestige is up three points to 77. That's the second-highest UVA's Prestige has been; it was 79 in 2020/21, after three straight trips to the Big Dance. |
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12-24-2024, 11:50 AM
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#168 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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July 1, 2026
There are three scholarship seniors on this year's team: wings Trevor Bocanegra and Joe Cavallini and big Scott Chambliss. We'll therefore have three offers to make to incoming recruits, to fill out a roster that will look like this (scholarship players only): Bigs: SR, SO, JR, FR, FR Wings: SR, SR, JR, FR Guards: SO, JR, FR, JR We'll definitely need to bring in at least one SF/SG, ideally two. If the former is a forward who can play the three or the four, then we need a true wing who can play perimeter defense. Our roster is balanced enough that we can pursue the "best player available," regardless of his position. |
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12-24-2024, 02:40 PM
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#169 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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August 1, 2026
Here is our original call list: Code:
Tanner Herring has been going to UVA's basketball camp since he was heaving the ball at the basket with both hands. Now he's grown into a legitimate college prospect. Code:
His average athleticism, and the fact his toolbox doesn't include high-level ballhandling or passing skills, keeps him from impressing the recruiting gurus. I think there's a player here; we'll "bring the house," as YoungDrachma puts it. He's willing to visit campus, where we'll present him with an offer. There's another sweet-shooting wing on our radar, Matt Siebert. Code:
He doesn't pay much attention to defense, but that's not to say he couldn't if he were asked to do so. We'll keep an eye on him. Malik Galloway is a strong, wide-bodied post player from the DMV. Code:
We're going to take a shot at Rashad Stanley, too. Code:
I'll offer scholarships to Tanner, Malik, and Rashad and see what happens. We can afford to recruit each player as heavily as they'll let us. |
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12-24-2024, 02:48 PM
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#170 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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September 1, 2026
We're in the pole position with Tanner Herring. We're the only one of his favorite schools who has made him an offer. Malik Galloway has cut his list to three schools, and we're currently running third behind George Washington and UMBC. However, we can bring him to campus now, and we're going to see if Coach Mazur and his 100 recruiting can work his magic. Toby's fairly persuasive, too. Let's see if we can turn Malik's head. We are in a similar position with Rashad Stanley, except our opponents are Maryland and North Carolina. Rashad has an offer from Maryland, but not from UNC. He's now open to a campus visit too, and we'll welcome him this month. If we don't see some improvement in our standing with Malik or Rashad, we'll look at some other options, but for now we'll roll with what we have. |
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12-24-2024, 02:55 PM
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#171 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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October 1, 2026
Tanner Herring has taken every school except UVA off his list. I hope we get good news from him next month. Meanwhile, Rashad Stanley has moved us ahead of UNC on his wish list. We still trail Maryland for his affections, but I'm not quite ready to give up on him. He'd be the most highly regarded player the Hoos have ever signed, and landing him would mark a major step forward for us. Malik Galloway, too, has us listed behind one other school; George Washington still holds the top spot. I'm going to keep recruiting him, too, since we're trending upward. We'll need some Decision Day magic. If I need to introduce you to any of the players we're also looking at, I'll do so in a month. |
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12-24-2024, 10:11 PM
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#172 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 1, 2026
Decision Day Our first piece of good news comes from Tanner Herring. He'll be bringing his smooth jumper and his willingness to work at the other end of the court to Charlottesville next year. Then, we learn that Malik Galloway will be joining us, too! He's a big dude who does big dude things: defend post players, rebound at both ends of the floor, block shots, and provide an inside scoring threat. Unfortunately, we also learn that Rashad Stanley is choosing Maryland instead. And Matt Siebert, whom I would have possibly offered next, will be attending Elon. Where to turn next? Last month, we evaluated this promising point guard from the Toronto suburbs: Code:
Cedric Maddux doesn't list us among his favorite programs now, but none of the five schools on his list appear to be recruiting him too heavily. I'll offer him a scholarship and send Coaches Whittaker and Mazur to visit him and his family. |
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12-24-2024, 10:55 PM
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#173 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 8, 2026
Let's meet your 2026/27 Virginia Cavaliers... Code:
Code:
Coach Toby Whittaker welcomes back four starters from last year's team, led by senior Trevor Bocanegra. Trevor has been a fixture in the starting lineup under two coaches, and he's poised for a memorable senior year. He falls in love with his three-point jumper a bit much, but there's otherwise very little to complain about with Trevor. He's regarded as the best professional prospect among ACC seniors. His classmate, Joe Cavallini, is almost as good. Buffalo Joe first gained notice as a three-point marksman, but he's developed the rest of his game over his time on Grounds. Joe is a willing, able defender who can switch onto an opposing big man. Scott Chambliss will give us three seniors in our starting five this season. At 6'7", Scott gives away inches to most of the players he guards, but his athleticism and court sense make him an elite post defender. Anything he contributes offensively is a bonus. Center Chris Burke started all 34 games as a first year last season. He's even more limited offensively than Scott, but he worked relentlessly in camp to develop his defense, rebounding, and shot blocking. Chris and Scott should be able to frustrate even the most talented post players. Our new point guard will be sophomore Anthony Carreno. AC is a bit raw and undeveloped, but he is quick and athletic. We don't need Anthony to be a true lead guard this year, and I think he'll handle the jobs we give him just fine. Juniors Larry Wallace and Jonathan Mooney give us two experienced hands coming off the bench. Larry is a versatile perimeter player who plays good defense, and he's hit some timely shots for us. Jonathan is a no-nonsense big man who takes care of the ball and likes the challenge of defending good players. When we want a touch of instant offense, we can call on redshirt sophomore Chris Como. Chris followed Coach Whittaker from Amherst. Another second-year man, John Steinberg, will also see playing time; he's a 6'9" wing who can shoot and create problems for smaller wings on the other end of the court. First years Isaiah Young, Aaron Jackson, and Will Hubbard will have the chance to develop their games without being rushed into college ball. Of the three, Aaron has the skill set that is most unique; he's a classic point guard who looks to pass first. Once again, the ACC will be among the toughest conferences in the country. The Big Three--Maryland, Duke, and North Carolina--are loaded with stars. And every other team in the league is good enough to win on any given day. In Trevor and Joe, we have a rare pair of four-star talents on this year's roster, and they are both seniors. Two full Blue/Blue players give us a level of star power Toby Whittaker has never coached before, and the cast of supporting players behind them are solid. Another trip to the NCAA tournament would be a good primary goal. I'd like to see us make a longer run in the ACC tourney, too. Is this the year Virginia establishes itself as "the best of the rest" in the ACC? Let's find out! Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 12-25-2024 at 05:34 PM. |
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12-27-2024, 09:13 AM
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#174 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 16, 2026
I usually don't post quite this quickly, but this year, something special happens in the first weeks of the season.  We're the champions of the Coaches Invitational Tournament, one of the most prestigious preseason tournaments in our universe! Our opening victory against Pepperdine is perhaps predictable; the #5 seed dispatching the #12. Trevor Bocanegra opens his senior year with 20 points, and Anthony Carreno's first career start nets 11 points and 10 rebounds. USC should, on paper, be a tougher opponent, but we take care of the #4 seed Trojans, too, giving us two straight wins from teams from the far west. This time we come from behind, and the star is Joe Cavallini, with 21 points, 11 boards, and 3 assists. We don't shoot well as a team, but we compensate with stingy defense. Our reward is a date with the nation's #1 team, the Connecticut Huskies. Code:
You might remember our season-ending loss to the Huskies in the Sweet Sixteen last year, a very competitive game that we lost by three points. This time, we pull off the upset. Trevor Bocanegra's foul-line jumper with four seconds left proves to be the winning margin. He scores off a pass from Buffalo Joe, one of the five assists he combines with 23 points and 9 rebounds. UConn also can't guard Anthony Carreno tonight; he makes 10 of 13 shots and scores 23 points of his own. Cavallini is again the star in our finals victory over #22 Alabama. It's a hard-nosed, defensive battle; Joe scores 20 points to lead all scorers, with Trevor adding 16 more. Joe deserves his selection as the tournament MVP. There's a handsome new piece of hardware in the UVA basketball program's trophy case this week. |
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12-27-2024, 09:16 AM
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#175 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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December 1, 2026
Recruiting Update We don't secure a commitment from Cedric Maddux this month, but our recruiting efforts are starting to pay off. We're now Cedric's favorite school, and that means we can bring him to Grounds in December. Virginia is the only team that has offered him. I'm hoping he'll stick with the program who loved him first and help us start 2027 off with good news. |
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12-29-2024, 06:06 PM
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#176 |
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Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Nice win in that pre-season tourney, portends well for moving through the OOC
__________________
Current dynasty: Playtesting chaos (Viperball 26) | OOTP Mod: Managerial Strategy Files | GM Excel Competitive Balance Tax/Revenue Sharing Calc | FBCB Mods on Github |
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01-09-2025, 07:41 AM
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#177 | |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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Quote:
Thanks very much! Granted, we're only a few games in, but it looks like we have two players, Bocanegra and Cavallini, who will be difficult for even the best teams in the nation to defend. They are both seniors, and they are both playing like seniors. As you'll soon see, your prediction about November and December turns out to be correct. Thanks for stopping by, and happy 2025! |
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01-09-2025, 07:58 AM
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#178 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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January 13, 2027
Code:
Yes, I'm flexing that #13 ranking a bit. It's the highest we've been ranked since Coach Whittaker's arrival. The only blemish on our non-conference record is a loss to a very good Duquesne team that has lost only once themselves. We lead 33-31 at the half, but fall victim to an outstanding performance from their senior guard, Jason Crone (21 points, career high 12 rebounds; 15 second-half points.) Crone has scored almost 1700 points in his career, so he's done this kind of thing before. Our Coaches' Invitational victories against USC, UConn, and Alabama are standing the test of time. They're all very good, and so is West Virginia, whom we squeak past in a very entertaining game in Morgantown. Joe Cavallini and Trevor Bocanegra continue to lead the way for us. Trevor drops 36 points on Georgetown, as the Hoyas basically dare him to shoot. He does so 27 times, which is a new UVA record. Joe would be the go-to guy for most teams, and for us he's Option 1A. He scores the 1000th point of his career against West Virginia. Coach Whittaker basically runs an eight-man rotation against the best teams. Jonathan Mooney and Larry Wallace play 15-20 minutes each, and Isaiah Young and Chris Como combine for about as many. I probably should have redshirted at least one player; oh, well. Code:
I don't think we're really the best team in the ACC, but it sure is nice to see us at the top of this list. Once again, the conference is absolutely loaded. Florida State and Virginia Tech, who both finished below .500 in the league last year, look like much better teams this time around. |
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01-09-2025, 09:09 AM
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#179 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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January 13, 2027
Code:
When he's asked why he and his fellow students didn't storm the court, fourth-year student David Barlow answers very simply. "It's a big win, yes, but you have to act like you've done this before." David's classmates Trevor Bocanegra and Joe Cavallini etch their names even more indelibly in the UVA basketball annals, sharing game scoring honors and contributing in other ways. And full credit to Larry Wallace, who comes off the bench and scores 14 points in 16 minutes, including two free throws that put us in the lead at the 6:56 mark of the second half. We never relinquish that lead, and there's rejoicing in Charlottesville tonight. Most of Coach Whittaker's players were not seriously recruited by programs like Duke. That makes this victory even sweeter. Record: 15-1 (1-0). Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 01-09-2025 at 09:10 AM. |
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01-09-2025, 01:28 PM
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#180 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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February 1, 2027
Recruiting Update We hear from Cedric Maddux today, and the news is wonderful. He'll be playing his college basketball at the University of Virginia. If the national (world) rankings are to be believed, Cedric ranks 26th among point guards in this recruiting class, and he's a top 200 player overall. The emergence of Anthony Carreno and the promise of Aaron Jackson give us the ability to be patient with Cedric. I can't see a version of the universe in which he isn't at least a valuable rotation player, and he projects to be significantly better than that. Cedric's ceiling is that of a lead guard who can handle, create, and score. His arrival completes our three-man recruiting class. Welcome to the UVA basketball family, Cedric! |
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01-09-2025, 01:53 PM
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#181 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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February 6, 2027
Code:
Perhaps it's not surprising that, after the emotions of the thrilling win over Duke, we stumble on our trip to Wake Forest. We don't defend as well as we can against the Deacs, and their outside shooters make us pay. It's also not surprising that we bounce back at home against VT. Trevor Bocanegra plays as well as he ever has--36 points, 15 rebounds--and we get 23 points more from Larry Wallace. Trev drops 30 more on Boston College three nights later, and he scores the 2000th point of his UVA career at Virginia Tech. Trevor ranks second in ACC scoring with 21.6 PPG. He's just behind James Carl of Miami, who lit us up for 35 the other evening. Duke exacts some revenge on us at Cameron Indoor Stadium, and we round out the first half of our ACC schedule with a solid win at Clemson. Code:
Raise your hand if you picked Georgia Tech to lead the ACC at the halfway point. I didn't think so; neither did I. They have a tough road ahead, with four ranked teams left to play, but they just defeated North Carolina to take the conference lead. Guess who we play next? Here's a hint: they're located in Atlanta. |
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01-10-2025, 11:42 AM
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#182 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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March 11, 2027
Code:
You read that right. For the first time, Coach Whittaker has led his team into the Top Ten. The second half of the ACC schedule doesn't turn out to be quite as difficult as we expected it might be. Maryland, who looked like a powerhouse in December and January, fades back to the pack. North Carolina, however, looks like the best team in the country, and has no problems taking care of us at the Dean Dome. Otherwise, we make it through the rest of the schedule unscathed. Against Wake Forest, Joe Cavallini misses a triple double by a single rebound, finishing with 22 points, 12 assists, and 9 boards. The Florida State game deserves a closer examination. Code:
Swish. On to overtime we go! We battle back and forth in similar fashion for the next five minutes. Lewis ties the game at 98, scoring with 20 seconds remaining. This time, Joe Cavallini has the ball when it's time to send up the last shot...and it bounces off the rim. The clock reads all zeroes. It's looking like we'll need at least five more minutes to settle this one. But, wait...there's a whistle! Kevin Grim has made contact with Cavallini, and the referee calls the foul. Cav Man will step to the line with two chances to make a game-winning free throw. Joe makes the first, rendering the second one meaningless and earning a spot in our list of Heroes of the Night. John Steinberg, too, deserves mention. The three minutes of court time John sees tonight is almost exactly in line with his average; he's played 171 minutes in 50 appearances as a Hoo. But the Richmond product can stroke it--he's made 56% of his shots as a collegian, and when we need him tonight, he's money. And then there's Trevor Bocanegra. His 27 free throw attempts are one shy of the NCAA record; his 21 makes are two short of the mark. His 37 points are a career high. He'll match that scoring output against NC State, and we need almost every one of his points that night. By the time Trevor, Joe Cavallini, and Scott Chambliss accept the honors due them on their Senior Night, we've clinched second place in the ACC behind the Tar Heels. Trevor (31 points, 10 assists, 9 rebounds, 2 steals), Joe (14 points, 5 rebounds), and Scott (10 points, 8 rebounds) all play well in their final JPJ appearance. Trevor apparently does all these things while fighting through the pain of a finger he dislocates (and re-locates) during the game. Code:
For the first time in Toby's three years at UVA, we have a first round bye in the ACC tournament. That's given Trevor's finger time to heal completely. |
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01-10-2025, 01:00 PM
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#183 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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March 12, 2027
ACC Tournament, Second Round Code:
On the strength of a career-best offensive explosion from Trevor Bocanegra, we advance to the ACC tournament semifinals. The senior wing established two new UVA records once held by Sébastien Petit. Trevor's 43 points surpassed Petit's single-game record of 40, set in 2020. And Trev's 2299 career points place him ahead of Petit, who finished his career with 2267. One more three-point basket would have enabled Trevor to tie a third UVA mark. We needed a big game from Bocanegra, who was one of the only Cavaliers who could find the range tonight. Record: 28-4. March 13, 2027 ACC Tournament Semifinal Code:
Seventeen of Trevor's 38 points come from the free throw line. He and Anthony Carreno combine to go 32-for-34 from the stripe; that's a .941 percentage. We need those free throws, too; the Seminoles make six more baskets than we do. It's not a sustainable formula for winning, but for a single game, it works just fine. Record: 29-4. March 13, 2027 ACC Tournament Championship Code:
Coach Whittaker slows the pace down a bit for this game, hoping to negate the advantage of the Tar Heels' superior athleticism. The tactic works fairly well on an evening when one of our more notable qualities--our ability to make free throws--abandons us. The Hoos shoot just under 74% from the line, and tonight we make only half of our 34 attempts. Trevor Bocanegra scores 20 points, giving him 101 in three tourney games, and Joe Cavallini completes a nifty double-double. But it's Larry Wallace, who provides a necessary spark off the bench, who's named the PotG. Coach Whittaker and his players joyfully cut down the net, and the Cavaliers add a new trophy to our collection. On to the Big Dance! Record: 30-4. |
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01-12-2025, 11:31 PM
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#184 |
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Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Sheesh, what a season. Now the real test begins!
__________________
Current dynasty: Playtesting chaos (Viperball 26) | OOTP Mod: Managerial Strategy Files | GM Excel Competitive Balance Tax/Revenue Sharing Calc | FBCB Mods on Github |
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01-13-2025, 08:11 AM
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#185 | |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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Quote:
Thanks! It's been an exciting run. I hope it continues for a while longer. I had two reasons to believe this could be our best season so far: Trevor Bocanegra and Joe Cavallini. They are both seniors this year, and they're the most talented players we've had at UVA since I arrived. Trevor finished high school as a high four-star recruit, the #27 player in the country, Maryland's Mr. Basketball, and a high school All-American. He's developed into the player Toby's predecessor, Tom Schumann, thought he'd be. Joe wasn't far behind: a solid four-star talent, ranked #47 overall. They led a recruiting class that was ranked #22 in the nation, and fourth in the ACC. You hope a class like that one will develop into a Golden Generation, and that's what they've looked like so far this year. I haven't had the same kind of success with recruiting. My three classes at UVA have all been #100 or lower, and each has ranked in the bottom half of the ACC. I hope that doesn't mean this year will be our one chance to achieve greatness before we settle into a place where we're battling to make the NCAA tournament every year. That made me wonder how well UVA recruited before Coach Whittaker came along. Coach Schumann is still active. He's the Coaching Assistant at Stanford. He doesn't have a high Recruiting skill; it's only 26. And his head recruiter was Alec Mazur, who's remained at UVA to work with Coach Whittaker. Virginia's Prestige has ranged from 68 to 79 (it's 77 now). The Cavaliers brought in a four-star player about every other year during Coach Schumann's tenure, and he signed one five-star talent: Olen Guth, in 2017. Olen went on to be an All-ACC big man. Long story short: I might need to pick up my game a bit, or this season might turn out to be the exception, rather than the rule. Thanks, as always, for stopping by! |
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01-13-2025, 10:23 AM
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#186 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Cincinnati, OH
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Congrats!
__________________
Email: [email protected] |
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01-13-2025, 10:24 AM
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#187 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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March 15, 2027
This year, we're not watching the NCAA tournament selection show with a sense of wonder. We have 30 wins, we're #1 in RPI, and we're the ACC tournament champions. We're definitely in the field, and we'll be seeded well. However, we do get a chance to cheer when we discover we've been awarded the top seed in the South Region. North Carolina gives the ACC two top seeds. And both of the other #1 seeds come from Philadelphia...but neither of them is Villanova. Temple and St. Joseph's earn that honor. I'm also excited to see that Amherst makes the field, too. Coach David Getty guided the Mammoths to a 24-9 record and New England Conference regular season and tournament championships. A veteran team led by seniors Carter Keegan and Reece Reynolds, supplemented by high-scoring redshirt soph Colton Mullins (remember them? ), they'll be the #12 seed in the East Region.March 18, 2027 NCAA South Region, First Round Code:
However, we have Trevor Bocanegra and Joe Cavallini, and they do not. Trev struggles from three-point range, but otherwise, they're in star mode all game long. At this stage of the season, all you have to do is win, and that's what we do. Unfortunately for Amherst, they do not. The Mammoths lose to #5 seed Duquesne, 67-53. You might remember Duquesne beating us back in December. Record: 31-4. March 20, 2027 NCAA South Region, Second Round Code:
When I recruited Chris at Amherst, I envisioned him as a dangerous scorer at the mid-major level. At Virginia, he's probably going to settle into a role as a source of instant offense off the bench. There's a place for a player like that, however, and tonight Chris plays his role to perfection...literally. Toby Whittaker's Cavaliers return to the Sweet Sixteen for the second consecutive year. Last year, that felt like "mission accomplished." This time around, there's still work to be done. Record: 32-4. March 26, 2027 NCAA South Region Semifinal: the Sweet Sixteen Code:
The Bulldogs make a charming Cinderella. They first eliminate the blue-blooded Kentucky Wildcats, and then they send their in-state rivals from Charlotte home, too. We end their dream, but it isn't easy. In fact, it's 45-43, their way, at halftime. Like many teams, the Bulldogs have problems guarding Joe Cavallini. Buffalo Joe scores 14 of his 23 points and grabs 7 of his 11 rebounds after intermission. Thanks in large part to him, the Cavaliers advance to the regional final for the first time in our history. Record: 33-4. March 28, 2027 NCAA South Region Final: the Elite Eight Code:
Which task is easier: knocking out Cinderella teams who have caught fire during the postseason, or vanquishing top seeds who have successfully defended their positions? On their way to the regional final, Villanova blew out Southern California, squeezed past Alabama, and beat Louisville handily. The Wildcats, therefore, took down a six, a three, and a two seed to make it to tonight's contest...and they very, very nearly eliminate a one seed, too. With eight minutes left to play, Villanova leads 76-68. The last 35 seconds of the game features a rollercoaster of events featuring Wildcats guard Robert Ross. We're ahead, 84-82, when Robert takes the ball on the right wing and tries to slice to the hoop, but Larry Wallace picks his pocket. As Larry races into the frontcourt, we have a 3-on-2 advantage. Larry passes to Joe Cavallini, and receives the ball back from him. As Larry powers to the rim, his shot is blocked: Robert Ross refuses to give up on the play, runs the length of the floor, pins Larry's shot to the glass, and grabs the rebound himself. Thirteen seconds later, the Wildcats tie the score on a basket by Gary Bode. We now have 11 seconds to work with. Coach Whittaker has the "hands team" in the game, our five best ballhandlers, including big man Scott Chambliss. The last thing we want is a live ball turnover. Nevertheless, everyone in the building knows the ball will be in the hands of Trevor Bocanegra or Joe Cavallini. It's time to ride or die with our senior stars. Wallace inbounds the ball to Anthony Carreno, and he first finds Trevor near the logo on the right side. Joe pops free at the top of the key, and Trevor passes it to him. Then Trev makes a diagonal cut to give himself some space, and as he looks up, the ball is already on its way to him. Robert Ross is closing quickly. Trevor has just enough time to catch and shoot. The whistle sounds while Trev's shot is still in the air. It's no good, but the ubiquitous Ross has been called for a foul! Trevor has scored 32 points thus far tonight. He's taken six free throws and made them all. Neither of his last two shots touch the rim at all. A second later, the buzzer sounds. We're in the Final Four. Record: 34-4. |
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01-13-2025, 10:31 AM
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#188 | |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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Quote:
Thanks, Chas! As you can now see, Trev Bocanegra and Joe Cavallini decided they weren't quite through playing Virginia basketball yet. They're leading us on a really great ride, one that will be recognized by several banners in the John Paul Jones Arena. One will honor them as ACC regular season champions, and one will mark their ACC tournament victory. We'll find out soon what the third banner will say. Thanks for joining us on our ride! |
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01-13-2025, 01:46 PM
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#189 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 3, 2027
We are joined in the Final Four by Michigan State, Texas A&M, and North Carolina. We'll play the Spartans in the national semifinal. NCAA National Semifinal: the Final Four Code:
We trail Michigan State by a 37-32 margin at the intermission. Ronald Cooper is touching the paint on every Spartans possession, finding John Dunigan for too-easy baskets inside or kicking the ball out to Walter Edington for triples. Meanwhile, the Spartans are forcing us to take bad shots, and not many of them are dropping. After the break, Anthony Carreno starts to better use his quickness to contain Cooper. We begin to show Edington some double coverage, and he obliges by starting to misfire from long range. Meanwhile, Trevor puts his team on his back once again. When the Spartans give him room, Trev pulls the string on his jumper. When they close down on him, he drives past them and scores, or draws a foul. Trevor's three-pointer gives us a 59-58 lead with 6:25 to play, a lead we never relinquish. Meanwhile, Texas A&M eliminates our nemesis from Chapel Hill. We'll face the Aggies in Monday's national championship game. Record: 35-4. |
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01-13-2025, 02:43 PM
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#190 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 6, 2027
NCAA National Championship Game Code:
The Aggies' path to their first NCAA title looks a bit like the one UVA has been following. They won the NIT the season before we did, and returned to the Big Dance after a three-year absence. Senior stars Davis Frechette, Hilton Briceno, and Carlos Moskowitz save their best basketball for their final season, leading their team to a Big XII conference tournament title and, then, a run to the national championship that took them past a trio of ACC opponents: Duke, UNC, and UVA. Aggies coach Stefan Bannon is an offensive guru, and his team becomes only the second to score at least 90 points against us in 40 minutes this season (UNC is the other). Moskowitz controls the game like a symphony conductor. They're a worthy champion. Trevor Bocanegra leads all scorers with another 30 points, putting him past the 2500 mark for his career. Stumbling at the last hurdle hurts, but at the same time, we've come a long way in three years. Will we look back one day and see that the 2026/27 season was the beginning of a Golden Age for Virginia basketball? Or, will we remember it--somewhat sadly--as the one year when UVA caught lightning in a bottle? Graham Sims went to the Final Four and lost before he won his first national championship at Lafayette. Then he went to Villanova and won seven more. How will Toby Whittaker's story play out? It's fun to dream, isn't it? Record: 35-5. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 01-13-2025 at 05:02 PM. |
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01-13-2025, 05:11 PM
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#191 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 5, 2027
Code:
Davis Frechette didn't have the best game against us in the national championship final--he encountered early foul trouble--but he was a dominant force all season long. We faced another of the country's best big men, John Dunigan, in the Final Four, too. Trevor is certainly a deserving All-American, taking third place behind the nation's leading scorer and an excellent, all-around lead guard. Code:
I was pulling hard for Trevor to win ACC Player of the Year. Chris Cloutier was an excellent rim protector who could also score, but I'm not sure I'd trade Trevor for him. At least Trev received the first team All-ACC recognition he deserved. Joe was beaten out for the first team by All-American Richard Bishop from Maryland. There's no shame there. |
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01-13-2025, 05:26 PM
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#192 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 7, 2027
Code:
We were pretty good at everything, and not really bad at anything besides stealing the ball and letting other teams score assisted baskets. We were best at scoring, grabbing offensive rebounds, and making free throws. Actually, we were best at doing enough things well enough to win basketball games, and I'll take that every time. Code:
Code:
Code:
Goodness, I'm boring. I started the same five players in all 40 games again this season. I don't think I've ever had a player average as many PPG as Trevor Bocanegra did this year. I really wish he'd managed to score 1000 points this season. John Steinberg and Chris Como have glowing reputations as shooters, and they lived up to their billing this season. Both of them, especially John, played most of their minutes against other teams' reserves. I wonder if they'll do as well when they face tougher opponents? |
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01-13-2025, 05:57 PM
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#193 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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2026/27 Senior Snapshots
Code:
Scott's career followed a nice progression, culminating in two years as a starter. He was never a star, but we didn't need him to be. His classmates had those roles covered. We needed Scott to do a variety of other, less heralded things, and he did those things consistently. Pulling back the curtain and taking a look at the ratings reveals what a quirky player Scott was. He was an elite post defender, but he was not a good defensive rebounder, and he had an almost complete aversion to blocking shots. His rating for jump shots was nonexistent, but he could shoot threes; as a senior, he made a higher percentage of his triples than any player in our core rotation. Code:
Buffalo Joe won me over from my first day at UVA. I liked his ability to do a good job at almost any task a basketball player can be asked to perform. As a sophomore, Joe became our starting power forward, regularly battling players four or five inches taller. We needed him to assert himself more offensively as a junior, and after shifting to the three spot, that's exactly what he did. He reprised that role as a senior, and while he was not the leading man, he was as good a wingman as a team could ask for. As you'd expect from a talented all-rounder, Joe appears all over our career leader boards: fourth in scoring; fifth in rebounding; eighth in assists; fourth in three-pointers made. Code:
I was tempted to simply type three words: "Thank you, Trevor." What a career he's had. He has a reasonable claim to the title of Virginia's greatest ever player. Sebastien Petit, who was a three-time All-American and the ACC Player of the Year, is probably still a half-step ahead of him, but it's a very close call. And Seb's teams never made it out of the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. How much credit should Trev get for being part of teams that won the NIT, made the Sweet Sixteen, and reached the championship game? Trevor is UVA's all-time leading scorer, but he also places second all-time in assists and fourth in rebounds. While not being known as a deadly marksman, he's tops on our list for three-pointers made, too. When you recruit a high school All-American, you expect him to develop into a star. Needless to say, that's what Trevor did. Thanks for the memories, gentlemen. |
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01-13-2025, 06:21 PM
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#194 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 10, 2027
Trevor Bocanegra is invited to join the party for the opening night of the professional draft. Dressed in a sharp new suit from The Men's and Boys' Shop, Trevor greets the news of his selection with the 6th overall pick with a bright smile. He's the second player in UVA history to become a lottery pick; Olen Guth, class of 2021, was also chosen at #6. His teammate, Joe Cavallini, will be his teammate at the professional level, too! Joe was selected with the #36 pick. Code:
Our trio of three-star talents puts our recruiting class in the middle of the ACC pack. Duke grabs four of the top 62 players in the nation, led by #5 overall recruit Harris Warr. Malik Galloway is our highest-regarded recruit, but Cedric Maddux will arrive on Grounds as a more accomplished, more promising player. Alec Mazur asks for a raise, and with the news that our AD will be increasing our budget, I don't hesitate to give it to him. A lead recruiter with a 100 rating is worth $180K a year. Our Prestige takes a nice seven-point jump, up to 84. |
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01-13-2025, 06:35 PM
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#195 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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May 1, 2027
Eighteen different programs try to lure Toby Whittaker away from Virginia, but he's not interested in moving. Toby's former assistant, David Getty, accepts the head job at Akron. In one sense, he's making a lateral move; Akron's Prestige (51) is barely higher than Amherst's (48). However, the Zips play in a more prestigious conference, and their budget and facilities are better. Gerry Johnson, Toby's former X-and-O man, will be leaving after seven years at UVA. He'll become the new head coach at Delaware State. Coach Johnson's place will be filled by Deandre Halliburton, making his collegiate coaching debut. Coach Halliburton, 28, is a bright and talented young coach with ratings of 79 for Offense and 61 for Defense. His three-year contract will pay him almost $152K per year. We don't have any scholarships available for players in the transfer portal. |
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01-14-2025, 10:04 AM
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#196 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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July 1, 2027
Recruiting Preview What are we looking for this recruiting season? Fully formed versions of Trevor Bocanegra, Joe Cavallini, and Scott Chambliss. All kidding aside, our roster is fairly balanced right now. We have five big men on scholarships, one of whom is a senior. We have five wings, including two seniors. None of our three pure guards are in their final season. Ideally, our three scholarships will go to at least one wing, possibly two. We need a big man more than we need a point guard. Our budget went up about $40,000 this season; it's now $739,021/year. We spent all of that and more on hiring assistant coaches, but we'll still have about $27,000 to spend on recruiting each month. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 01-14-2025 at 10:12 AM. |
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01-14-2025, 11:30 AM
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#197 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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August 1, 2027
Making it to the national championship game, and the resulting boost to our Prestige, has made more highly-regarded recruits consider playing for UVA. Here's our initial call list: Code:
Yes, you read that right. A five-star recruit is demonstrating Very High interest in playing for us. I didn't hesitate to offer him a scholarship. Let's meet him now. Code:
Grayson Kitchen plays with a bit more edge than the modern, sharpshooting wing, paying more attention to rebounding and defense than many perimeter players. We're wasting no time with Grayson. He has an offer in hand already, and we'll recruit him as heavily as we can. We're also very interested in Jake Gardiner, a four-star SF from northern Virginia. Code:
There are several other players we're looking at closely. Right now, they're not enamored enough with us to put us on their lists. I'll wait to see if any of them become willing to visit Grounds; if they do, I'll tell you more about them. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 01-14-2025 at 01:08 PM. |
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01-14-2025, 01:33 PM
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#198 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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September 1, 2027
I feel good about our chances of signing Grayson Kitchen. We're still the only program to offer him, and he's still got us first on his list. Jake Gardiner holds offers from Duquesne and Iona, but he says he'd prefer to play at Virginia. The more I think about it, the less concerned I am about finding playing time for both Grayson and Jake. I'm going to offer Jake a scholarship, too. I really like two of the big men we've been recruiting: Myles Burks and Hayden Allen. Unfortunately, both of these five-star players have offers from teams they really like. Myles has Pittsburgh at the top of his list, while Hayden favors North Carolina. Both players are Virginia natives. Myles lists us fourth among his "top five," so we can bring him to Charlottesville for a visit. Code:
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01-14-2025, 02:09 PM
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#199 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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October 1, 2027
Grayson Kitchen's high school colors are navy and orange, so the prevalence of those two colors in his wardrobe may or may not indicate his intention to play basketball at the University of Virginia. The fact that no other program is recruiting him now is a more positive sign. We are also in the lead for Jake Gardiner's commitment. Duquesne and Iona have not withdrawn their offers, so they're still in the running. When Myles Burks received an offer from us, he took Duke off his list, and the Blue Devils left the contest. Now it appears the Dukies will sign Hayden Allen instead. Myles still prefers Pitt and UNC. If we can't have him, I'd prefer the Tar Heels not get him. Now things get interesting...no, they get downright odd. Last month, I took a peek at the players who hadn't yet received a scholarship offer. Usually, if I sort them according to their star ratings, the top of the list is usually occupied by four-star players with Low interest in playing for UVA. This time, the player at the top of the list was Taylor Rathbone, a five-star prospect from Virginia, with a High degree of interest in our program. When I took a closer look, I discover he's the NUMBER TWO PROSPECT IN THE COUNTRY. Code:
To put it simply, Taylor is a baller. Listed as a small forward, he's best described as a "basketball player." He rebounds like a big man and locks down opposing perimeter players. He can shoot, and he can handle the ball in a pinch. Now it gets even weirder. Western Albemarle High School is located TWELVE MILES FROM UVA. How did I not see Taylor earlier? I always cast my net widely at the beginning of a recruiting season. The only players I filter out are those with Very Low interest. All I can figure is that Taylor wasn't considering Virginia at all during the summer, and that when nobody courted him, he decided to take a longer look at the university just up the highway. Taylor picked up an offer from West Virginia last month. He's about to get one from the University of Virginia, too. We'll bring him to Grounds, and Coaches Whittaker and Mazur will make the short trip to the Rathbone home. Yes, I am offering scholarships to three 6'6" small forwards. I'll solve the problem of finding playing time for all three of them later, if I need to. |
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01-14-2025, 02:26 PM
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#200 |
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College Prospect
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 1, 2027
Decision Day To nobody's surprise, we receive a commitment from a 6'6" small forward from the state of Virginia today. Which one is it? It's Jake Gardiner. We predict Jake will be the best shooter of the three, with the deepest range. He's also the quickest, and the least likely to be a productive rebounder. No matter what else happens, we'll be bringing in at least one wing who ranks among the top 60 players in the country. Welcome to Cavalier basketball, Jake! Grayson Kitchen doesn't commit today, but it appears his recruitment is closed. Perhaps we'll receive good news from Grayson in time for the holidays. And Taylor Rathbone has moved us to the top of his list, too. West Virginia is still in the running, but no other school has made him an offer. We can use three very good small forwards...we can use three very good small forwards...we can use three very good small forwards... |
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