The WAR ROOM is back and this special edition is full of football and hoops recruiting scoop! The Wahoos are returning to Scott Stadium this weekend where there will be a number of intriguing visitors expected when Virginia hosts Syracuse. We'll give you the latest on the list and talk to you about who the Cavaliers are expecting, including one key player at a position of need. Can they keep the positive momentum in this recruitment going? Meanwhile, on the hardwood the Hoos were named a preseason Top 10 team this week, as expected, and continue to move forward on the recruiting trail. We'll tell you about the changes to this year's fall recruiting strategy and give you the names of the players UVa is bringing in for a visit this weekend as well as what we're hearing about next weekend's scrimmage when it comes to visitors.
As always, what's said in the War Room, stays in the War Room. Let's go!
Visitors expected
While this game is a must-win for the Cavaliers on the field, it's also a key opportunity for them from a recruiting standpoint. Word we've heard is that Virginia is expecting to host a number of quality prospects across the 2016, 2017, 2018, and even the 2019 classes. While some of them are camp guys, i.e. players who might be a ways from an offer, some of them are guys who either already have offers or are in serious consideration for one.
Let's start with the commits, where it sounds like UVa is expecting six from its 2016 class: Cole Blackman, Darrius Bratton, Nick Grant, Chris Moore, Stephen Spanellis , and Matt Terrell.
From there, there are a few uncommitted 2016 prospects expected, including Miles Noye, Jack Quiggle, and Garrett Rigby.
But by far the one that the staff will be focused on the most is three-star Hermitage defensive tackle Sulaiman Kamara, who as of Thursday was planning to be in Scott Stadium this weekend. Since Marques Hagans took over his recruitment, Virginia has been able to make some nice headway with the 6-foot-1, 290-pound defensive lineman, something that would have really shocked us not that long ago. With a top five that features ECU, North Carolina, Temple, UVa, and Wake Forest, this is a great opportunity for the Cavaliers. Needless to say, defensive tackle is a position they really are looking to address in this class and it's the one glowing weakness of the group as a whole. Getting Kamara would be the perfect fit in terms of what their needs are and who's available in state.
From the 2017 class, Virginia is expecting almost 20 prospects, though again not all of them are going to be offer-level guys. But there are definitely a few worth mentioning. Dakota Davis, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound offensive lineman from Glenelg (MD) is expected, as is DeMatha quarterback Beau English. Wake Forest (NC) Heritage wide receiver Zach Gemmell is also planning to visit in addition to Joel Honigford, an offensive lineman from Sugarcreek (OH) Garaway, Daniel Horne, an offensive lineman from C.D. Hylton, Johnny Jordan, an offensive lineman from Gonzaga, and Johnathan Lewis, a quarterback from St. Peter's Prep in New Jersey. UVa is also expecting to host Tennessee offensive lineman Justin Satterfield and Pennsylvania tight end Griffin Sestili.
Underclassmen event is set
As we transition to hoops, we talked last week about Michael Okauru, the 6-foot-3 guard from Raleigh (NC) Ravenscroft. Word we continue to hear is that Tony Bennett holds this kid in pretty high regard and despite the fact that UVa has not offered, it's becoming more and more likely that the Cavaliers will at some point. Soon? That's hard to say. With the scholarship situation being what it is in that class, Bennett and his staff aren't going to toss out offers without a great deal of thought and deliberation.
Okauru is someone the staff likes a lot and he's also one of three prospects the Wahoos will host this weekend, the lone 2017 player expected. He'll be joined by 2018 guard Myles Dread and 2018 forward Jarius Hamilton.
As you might recall, UVa is tweaking its strategy this fall. Rather than bring in a bunch of recruits, most of which are likely to have just been in town for Elite Camp in the late summer, the Cavaliers decided that they wanted to bring in just a few guys because it allows for more meaningful visits. As such, the annual underclassmen event got paired down considerably.
In talking to sources, we continue to get the vibe that Virginia will take its time in 2017 but Okauru is a guy the staff really likes. And it's easy to see why given his skillset and length. Dread was a guy that we were impressed with this summer and we continue to hear great things about the 6-foot-6 Hamilton.
Next weekend could be interesting
Since the Cavaliers will look to bring in a few recruits for the Blue-White Scrimmage that's being held on Saturday afternoon, next weekend is shaping up to be one to watch as well.
In talking to sources, it certainly sounds like the focus here is on the team and not showcasing the program to recruits. Truth be told, Bennett has sort of given his assistant coaches the directive that while recruiting remains an important priority, the biggest priority right now is the team. That's why you're not hearing about a great number of visits, since the assistant coaches are out on the road basically whenever the team has an off day. If there's practice, all coaches have been there working rather than out on the road.
In any event, if what we're hearing is right the Cavaliers could have four-star Rivals150 point guard Matt Coleman in the house next weekend along with an intriguing 2018 prospect: Nate Laszewski. The four-star forward from Northfield (MA) Mt. Hermon is picking up interest and the Cavaliers are a team that could make a push at some point. Word we've heard is that Brad Soderberg has the Hoos in a good spot early on.
Finally, the other name we've heard as a potential visitor next weekend, though no confirmation as of yet has come, is 2018 four-star point guard Darius Garland from Nashville. Garland, who already has an offer from Virginia, is going to have a big recruitment and it's clear that the staff is making him a priority very early on.
That is it for this week, and as always, what's said here, stays here!
As always, what's said in the War Room, stays in the War Room. Let's go!
Visitors expected
While this game is a must-win for the Cavaliers on the field, it's also a key opportunity for them from a recruiting standpoint. Word we've heard is that Virginia is expecting to host a number of quality prospects across the 2016, 2017, 2018, and even the 2019 classes. While some of them are camp guys, i.e. players who might be a ways from an offer, some of them are guys who either already have offers or are in serious consideration for one.
Let's start with the commits, where it sounds like UVa is expecting six from its 2016 class: Cole Blackman, Darrius Bratton, Nick Grant, Chris Moore, Stephen Spanellis , and Matt Terrell.
From there, there are a few uncommitted 2016 prospects expected, including Miles Noye, Jack Quiggle, and Garrett Rigby.
But by far the one that the staff will be focused on the most is three-star Hermitage defensive tackle Sulaiman Kamara, who as of Thursday was planning to be in Scott Stadium this weekend. Since Marques Hagans took over his recruitment, Virginia has been able to make some nice headway with the 6-foot-1, 290-pound defensive lineman, something that would have really shocked us not that long ago. With a top five that features ECU, North Carolina, Temple, UVa, and Wake Forest, this is a great opportunity for the Cavaliers. Needless to say, defensive tackle is a position they really are looking to address in this class and it's the one glowing weakness of the group as a whole. Getting Kamara would be the perfect fit in terms of what their needs are and who's available in state.
From the 2017 class, Virginia is expecting almost 20 prospects, though again not all of them are going to be offer-level guys. But there are definitely a few worth mentioning. Dakota Davis, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound offensive lineman from Glenelg (MD) is expected, as is DeMatha quarterback Beau English. Wake Forest (NC) Heritage wide receiver Zach Gemmell is also planning to visit in addition to Joel Honigford, an offensive lineman from Sugarcreek (OH) Garaway, Daniel Horne, an offensive lineman from C.D. Hylton, Johnny Jordan, an offensive lineman from Gonzaga, and Johnathan Lewis, a quarterback from St. Peter's Prep in New Jersey. UVa is also expecting to host Tennessee offensive lineman Justin Satterfield and Pennsylvania tight end Griffin Sestili.
Underclassmen event is set
As we transition to hoops, we talked last week about Michael Okauru, the 6-foot-3 guard from Raleigh (NC) Ravenscroft. Word we continue to hear is that Tony Bennett holds this kid in pretty high regard and despite the fact that UVa has not offered, it's becoming more and more likely that the Cavaliers will at some point. Soon? That's hard to say. With the scholarship situation being what it is in that class, Bennett and his staff aren't going to toss out offers without a great deal of thought and deliberation.
Okauru is someone the staff likes a lot and he's also one of three prospects the Wahoos will host this weekend, the lone 2017 player expected. He'll be joined by 2018 guard Myles Dread and 2018 forward Jarius Hamilton.
As you might recall, UVa is tweaking its strategy this fall. Rather than bring in a bunch of recruits, most of which are likely to have just been in town for Elite Camp in the late summer, the Cavaliers decided that they wanted to bring in just a few guys because it allows for more meaningful visits. As such, the annual underclassmen event got paired down considerably.
In talking to sources, we continue to get the vibe that Virginia will take its time in 2017 but Okauru is a guy the staff really likes. And it's easy to see why given his skillset and length. Dread was a guy that we were impressed with this summer and we continue to hear great things about the 6-foot-6 Hamilton.
Next weekend could be interesting
Since the Cavaliers will look to bring in a few recruits for the Blue-White Scrimmage that's being held on Saturday afternoon, next weekend is shaping up to be one to watch as well.
In talking to sources, it certainly sounds like the focus here is on the team and not showcasing the program to recruits. Truth be told, Bennett has sort of given his assistant coaches the directive that while recruiting remains an important priority, the biggest priority right now is the team. That's why you're not hearing about a great number of visits, since the assistant coaches are out on the road basically whenever the team has an off day. If there's practice, all coaches have been there working rather than out on the road.
In any event, if what we're hearing is right the Cavaliers could have four-star Rivals150 point guard Matt Coleman in the house next weekend along with an intriguing 2018 prospect: Nate Laszewski. The four-star forward from Northfield (MA) Mt. Hermon is picking up interest and the Cavaliers are a team that could make a push at some point. Word we've heard is that Brad Soderberg has the Hoos in a good spot early on.
Finally, the other name we've heard as a potential visitor next weekend, though no confirmation as of yet has come, is 2018 four-star point guard Darius Garland from Nashville. Garland, who already has an offer from Virginia, is going to have a big recruitment and it's clear that the staff is making him a priority very early on.
That is it for this week, and as always, what's said here, stays here!
