The WAR ROOM is back and this special edition is full of hoops recruiting scoop! The Wahoos are coming off their exam break this weekend and face a Top 15 opponent but before that, the coaches were able to get back out on the road to do some more scouting and evaluating, which isn't always easy during the season. We'll give you a rundown of where each of Virginia's three assistants coaches were, who they saw, what they liked, and what it means for the program's recruiting efforts but not before we give you an overview of the current scholarship situation. How will the Cavaliers use the spots they have? And might they be looking to do something a little out of their norm when it comes to the one scholarship they have available in the 2017 class? We'll give you that info and more.
As always, what's said in the War Room, stays in the War Room. Let's go!
Staff hits the road
The exam break last week afforded UVa a chance to get its coaches out on the road to do some recruiting, which during the season is always a bit of a challenge. All three of the assistant coaches hit the trail following last Tuesday night's game in New York City before they returned to Charlottesville for practices following the weekend.
In short, Tony Bennett and his staff continue to widen the net in the 2018 and 2019 classes, while the focus in 2017 continues to be somewhat open ended. Sources say the Wahoos are continuing to assess their needs based on the current roster but in reality, they will know a great deal more once the four members of the 2016 class arrive on Grounds.
Talking to various sources this week, it certainly sounds like UVa may go best available, meaning the staff allows the various recruitments they're involved in to sort of just work themselves out. Four-star Rivals150 point guard Matt Coleman, for example, remains a player the Cavaliers are very high on and word is that Bennett and Jason Williford may be heading out tomorrow after Virginia's game with Villanova to see Coleman in action in the Chick-fil-a Classic in South Carolina depending on how the timing works out following the game. Regardless, UVa remains very interested and will continue to recruit him hard even though the thought is that the Hoos might not necessarily "need" a PG given the way guys have played this season.
One thing that happened last week while being out on the trail is that associate head coach Ron Sanchez got to see four-star Rivals150 signee Ty Jerome play live. And the thought process among sources is that his game is really continuing to develop even more. Between the summer and the start of his senior campaign, he's showing a lot and the Cavaliers love what they're seeing.
So what does all of that mean for 2017? Our read is that at this moment, UVa has the luxury of getting into a few "marathon" recruitments, like Coleman's, and looking to take the best player the staff can get at pretty much any position. That way, if things don't work out in their favor, they could (though Bennett isn't one to wait around much) pocket the scholarship and roll it over to 2018. Also, keep in mind that it's likely that Jay Huff will redshirt in 2016-2017, meaning that UVa would still have one member of that "class" if they decide to sit tight. That scenario also gives UVa the flexibility to do something similar in 2017 to what the staff did with four-star signee DeAndre Hunter this past summer: Find a guy in the summer, turn up the heat, and wrap it up in the fall. By that point, the 2016 kids will be in town for summer workouts and the staff would probably have a better feel for needs and fit. Either way, over the next two classes UVa has six spots to use and the staff is recruiting with that in mind: There are a lot of evaluations that need to be done.
The most important thing, our sources said, is that the lack of 2017 pressure gives the staff a chance to watch more 2018 and 2019 guys, which fits with Bennett's model in recent years. He likes to ID talent early, push hard to close, and then use the time he has available to scout younger players. It's a cycle that is working for the program and looks to be continuing to work as they move forward.
According to sources, Williford was in Washington, D.C. this past weekend attending several different tournaments in the area but he started his time on the trail in Charlotte seeing Jairus Hamilton, a 2018 guard that UVa feels like its gaining a lot of traction with. He visited for a football game this fall and got to meet Bennett and the staff. From there, Williford got a chance to see a lot of talent in D.C. this weekend including Brandon Slater, the four-star 2018 guard from Paul VI in Fairfax as well as 2019 DeMatha prospect Justin Moore. A new 2019 name on the board following Williford's time in D.C. is Karim Coulibaly, a standout 6-foot-9 post from St. Vincent Pallotti in Maryland by way of Mali. There were a couple of 2017 guys that he got a chance to see but the future was really where the focus was.
Assistant coach Brad Soderberg did a little tour in the midwest following the WVU game and got a chance to see several key targets. One was 2018's Joey Hauser, the 6-foot-8 younger brother of former target Sam Hauser. The Stevens Point (WI) native continues to project well in the 2018 class and is getting a lot of interest. Soderberg also got a chance to see 2018 prospect Nate Laszewski from Northfield (MA) Mt. Hermon as well as an intriguing name in the 2017 class: Vermont Academy's Christian David. He's someone our sources say the Cavaliers are very interested in at this point and they'll continue to track him going forward.
Sanchez, meanwhile, was in the northeast before the WVU game and then stayed there after. The main kids we hear he watched was Blair Academy 2017 prospect Deng Gak, a long, athletic big man that has been picking up some traction lately, as well as Jerome and four-star 2018 guard Jahvon Quinerly. That's a name folks might want to file away as well given that Virginia's interest appears to be growing.
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!
Staff hits the road
The exam break last week afforded UVa a chance to get its coaches out on the road to do some recruiting, which during the season is always a bit of a challenge. All three of the assistant coaches hit the trail following last Tuesday night's game in New York City before they returned to Charlottesville for practices following the weekend.
In short, Tony Bennett and his staff continue to widen the net in the 2018 and 2019 classes, while the focus in 2017 continues to be somewhat open ended. Sources say the Wahoos are continuing to assess their needs based on the current roster but in reality, they will know a great deal more once the four members of the 2016 class arrive on Grounds.
Talking to various sources this week, it certainly sounds like UVa may go best available, meaning the staff allows the various recruitments they're involved in to sort of just work themselves out. Four-star Rivals150 point guard Matt Coleman, for example, remains a player the Cavaliers are very high on and word is that Bennett and Jason Williford may be heading out tomorrow after Virginia's game with Villanova to see Coleman in action in the Chick-fil-a Classic in South Carolina depending on how the timing works out following the game. Regardless, UVa remains very interested and will continue to recruit him hard even though the thought is that the Hoos might not necessarily "need" a PG given the way guys have played this season.
One thing that happened last week while being out on the trail is that associate head coach Ron Sanchez got to see four-star Rivals150 signee Ty Jerome play live. And the thought process among sources is that his game is really continuing to develop even more. Between the summer and the start of his senior campaign, he's showing a lot and the Cavaliers love what they're seeing.
So what does all of that mean for 2017? Our read is that at this moment, UVa has the luxury of getting into a few "marathon" recruitments, like Coleman's, and looking to take the best player the staff can get at pretty much any position. That way, if things don't work out in their favor, they could (though Bennett isn't one to wait around much) pocket the scholarship and roll it over to 2018. Also, keep in mind that it's likely that Jay Huff will redshirt in 2016-2017, meaning that UVa would still have one member of that "class" if they decide to sit tight. That scenario also gives UVa the flexibility to do something similar in 2017 to what the staff did with four-star signee DeAndre Hunter this past summer: Find a guy in the summer, turn up the heat, and wrap it up in the fall. By that point, the 2016 kids will be in town for summer workouts and the staff would probably have a better feel for needs and fit. Either way, over the next two classes UVa has six spots to use and the staff is recruiting with that in mind: There are a lot of evaluations that need to be done.
The most important thing, our sources said, is that the lack of 2017 pressure gives the staff a chance to watch more 2018 and 2019 guys, which fits with Bennett's model in recent years. He likes to ID talent early, push hard to close, and then use the time he has available to scout younger players. It's a cycle that is working for the program and looks to be continuing to work as they move forward.
According to sources, Williford was in Washington, D.C. this past weekend attending several different tournaments in the area but he started his time on the trail in Charlotte seeing Jairus Hamilton, a 2018 guard that UVa feels like its gaining a lot of traction with. He visited for a football game this fall and got to meet Bennett and the staff. From there, Williford got a chance to see a lot of talent in D.C. this weekend including Brandon Slater, the four-star 2018 guard from Paul VI in Fairfax as well as 2019 DeMatha prospect Justin Moore. A new 2019 name on the board following Williford's time in D.C. is Karim Coulibaly, a standout 6-foot-9 post from St. Vincent Pallotti in Maryland by way of Mali. There were a couple of 2017 guys that he got a chance to see but the future was really where the focus was.
Assistant coach Brad Soderberg did a little tour in the midwest following the WVU game and got a chance to see several key targets. One was 2018's Joey Hauser, the 6-foot-8 younger brother of former target Sam Hauser. The Stevens Point (WI) native continues to project well in the 2018 class and is getting a lot of interest. Soderberg also got a chance to see 2018 prospect Nate Laszewski from Northfield (MA) Mt. Hermon as well as an intriguing name in the 2017 class: Vermont Academy's Christian David. He's someone our sources say the Cavaliers are very interested in at this point and they'll continue to track him going forward.
Sanchez, meanwhile, was in the northeast before the WVU game and then stayed there after. The main kids we hear he watched was Blair Academy 2017 prospect Deng Gak, a long, athletic big man that has been picking up some traction lately, as well as Jerome and four-star 2018 guard Jahvon Quinerly. That's a name folks might want to file away as well given that Virginia's interest appears to be growing.
That is it for this week, and as always, what's said here, stays here!
