Abbott finished his sophomore yea in high school with a 5-0 record and 1.53 ERA. He batted .358. UVA is his dream school. so he committed shortly after receiving the offer.

Seems that the successor to Bo is pretty much a sure thing and it's not CTB.

ICYMI, VaPreps has the story on 2017 center Dajour Dickens transferring to nearby Miller School.

Link: Dickens on the move

Apparently Thon is now attending some place called the Athlete Institute Academy in Canada. I wonder if he will every play a game in college for anyone? Just a hunch but I bet he plays overseas for a year before being drafted. Its the first "school" I have ever seen that offers to host kid birthday parties at their facilities.

http://www.athleteinstitute.ca/home/

In case you missed it on the front page, Ferber takes a look at what Brian O'Connor has built for the baseball program and how it can be a sort of indicator for why Tony Bennett's hoops program is also on the way to championship success.

Link: Real success comes from the top

Aldridge and David West! It will be an awesome fundamental veteran team to watch!

#13 player in 2016 class out of Florida. 6'9 SF type who has played SG, but is starting to outgrow the backcourt.

Recent article from the Auburn site has us in his "narrowed" list of 12. Any chatter on whether we'll be a factor?

Rumors are going around that what the Mavericks may want to do is sign and trade with the Lakers for Jeremy Lin and the Lakers really want young players or draft picks and really like JA. Fact that the Mavericks historically don't keep rookies gives me hope Anderson can help our team in transition with young talent. Russell, Clarkson, Randle and JA is a nice young core. Just rumors, but maybe my dream is coming true. Did anyone catch Mitchell playing in Summer League?

I know Tony values a very efficient offense, but the more the college game and even pro game opens up to that three-point line you always need a guy who teams fear from that range to spread the floor.

The last two years whether it's been Joe or even Justin last year before the injury, we've had a guy you couldn't afford to leave open. Now we have plenty of guys who can shoot the ball, but there are times certain guys can just be left open and you take your chances.

I think the guy next season who has potential for teams not wanting to be left open even if he's been inconsistent throughout his career would be Nolte. Just the fact from the four position he can stretch the defense out and have a capability to knock down that three will be huge.

LP- Can certainly knock down the shot, but as our facilitator, he certainly can't be counted on unless he's at the two position.

Hall-Thompson- Both guys seem like slashers to me and probably can knock down the occasional jumpshot but I wouldn't fear them from behind the line.

MB- Another guy who can knock down the shot, but until that flat shot gets more rotation he too is not that much of a worry as of right now.

MS- Another guy who is a better slasher than shooter at this point in time.

Now we know the development in this program is second to none and who knows who will take that next step, but we need a guy that every team scouts that they can't leave open in clutch moments so the floor is spread so we can operate inside which is our strength in my opinion going into next season.

Virginia is projected to score the highest point total ever recorded in Capital One Cup history (not that it's a long history, but still!). Yes, football is the biggie, but we have an amazing sports program that will attract the right football coach if London can't get it done. We will go all out if we need a new coach.

http://www.streakingthelawn.com/201...-program?_ga=1.184155427.441355871.1435347941

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The Commonwealth once again has a couple of the top players, as the first Rivals100 for 2017 is now live.

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Good stuff from Jason Stamm on three-star Florida linebacker Brock Miller, who released a top eight yesterday with UVa in the mix.

Link: Miller is setting his priorities

The WAR CLOSET is back and this edition is full of hoops and more hoops. We have the scoop on summer practices, and which players have grown a few inches and which have put on a few pounds and other interesting tidbits. Also hear about CTB's new contract and succession plans. Get all the important info on our basketball team right here only in the War Closet.As always, what's said in the War Closet, stays in the War Closet. Let's go!

First we'll discuss CTB's new contract. CTB has been rightfully rewarded with a contract he truley deserves. Although we don't know all the details we do know that it was a 30 year/105 million dollar contract with 50 million guaranteed. There is also a succession plan that Tony's son will coach UVA when CTB retires.
There is also good news concerning summer practice. There had been rumors about Tobey and his MMA fighting, not only did we verify this news but found out he is still undefeated with a record of 9-0. In addition, he has gained 15 lbs and increased his bench pressing to over 400 lbs. Malcolm has reconstucted his shot and release where he now has an arch that has actually touched the scoreboard in JPJ arena. After chasing rabbits most of the summer Shayok was discovered by a USA Olympic track coach who believes that Marial would be a serious gold medal contender in the triple jump. In a good news/bad news situation Nolte had a serious accident this summer where he lost his vision in one of his eyes. He now has become a serious dead eye. It's been rumored that Seth Curry backed out of a shooting contest with him. Reuter has had a difficult start to life in college. It has been reported that he broke the windows in his dorm and was snacking on the glass during a binge eating session last week. He continues to look very sharp in practice. Very good news about Wilkins who had a 4 inch growth spurt this summer and while teaching his dad Dominque some new dunks he caught his elbow on the top of the backboard and now has a scar to prove it. Deciding that he needed to work on his footwork Gill enrolled in the Charlotte Ballet this summer. Apparently he has done so well that he has now decided to forgo any potential basketball career to instead concentrate on his ballet. Of course his buddy London says Anthony's decision is based on him liking those pink tights so much.
There's much more to report but you will need to stay tuned for the next edition of War Closet.

Andrew Abbott is a 6' 145# left handed pitcher from Nathalie, VA. He pitched for the Evoshields Canes last summer. He will graduate high school in 2017.

Very disappointing to lose out to these last minute suitors. Oh well, come on down MD