The WAR ROOM is back and this edition is full of football and hoops recruiting scoop! With Rivals Camp set for tomorrow in Richmond, we'll break down the various UVa targets/commits that will be in attendance but not before we look at two visitors worth noting, one of which is a transfer already on Grounds taking his official visit. Then we'll transition to the hardwood, where the first evaluation period of the spring will send coaches to three main cities this weekend to watch various targets. We'll tell you which Virginia coaches are expected where and what prospects they will be watching. We'll also touch on two other important searches for the basketball program.
As always, what's said in the War Room, stays in the War Room. Let's go!
A couple of visits of note
Before we get to the names of those we'll be keeping an eye on tomorrow at Rivals Camp, we wanted to touch on two visits going on. The first is a potential transfer addition and that's Stanford tight end Charlie Hopkins. The 6-foot-6, 260-pound fifth-year senior transfer is someone we first heard about on Wednesday, though at the time we were asked to keep the name quiet. Now that his official visit has begun, it'll be interesting to see how this one plays out. According to our source earlier this week, UVa had still not offered but it did appear things were headed in that direction. His visit will run through tomorrow.
Saturday is also the day that three-star running back Tre Harbison is expected in town. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound back from Shelby (NC) Crest trimmed his list recently to five with UVa remaining in the mix along with the likes of Pitt, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest.
Big time talent set to converge on Richmond
Starting bright and early tomorrow morning over at Collegiate, the Rivals Camp Series will bring its regional stop back to RVA and CavsCorner will be in attendance to cover it as always. The list of UVa targets expected to attend is pretty lengthy.
Everyone knows that the offensive line is a big focus for the Wahoos in this class which is why what we see from the big men in the trenches will be especially important tomorrow. In addition to four-star tackle target Daniel Horne.
Elsewhere, it should be a great crop of defensive linemen as always at the camp. One of the key guys we'll be watching will be four-star DE Eric Crosby from Ocean Lakes.
From there, the one-on-one battles between receivers and DBs will be a big part of the event. We'll be interested to see how Eric Kumah.
On the other side matching up against them, we'll be watching targets like Lake Taylor's Devon Hunter.
Among the linebackers we'll be keeping tabs on tomorrow is Bayside's Ricky Slade that you'll also be hearing a lot about.
Finally, of the quarterbacks we'll be seeing in town, the one that sticks out the most might be Alex Faniel, who recently transferred to Glen Allen where he'll team up with Blackman this upcoming season.
The first open weekend
As we transition to the hardwood, all eyes will be on Hampton, New Orleans, and Dallas this weekend as its the first open evaluation period of the spring. Coaches will be on the road watching players and UVa will no doubt be among that group.
According to our sources, as he is wont to do, head coach Tony Bennett will bounce between venues as Jason Williford sets up shop in Hampton to watch the EYBL games and Ron Sanchez moves between Dallas (adidas) and New Orleans (Under Armour). Since Virginia's third assistant coaching position is open right now Vic Sfera, who serves as the technology and scouting assistant, will also be on the road and like Sanchez, we hear Sfera will also be between those two cities this weekend.
Now, in terms of what UVa's "mission" is this weekend the theme according to those we trust isn't so much on shopping as it is on focusing on the guys UVa has already identified. This is sort of a see-and-be-seen weekend in some ways. In addition, it'll give Bennett a chance to sit and really watch the targets UVa is honing in on right now.
No question that the staff will see Sacha Killeya-Jones in New Orleans with Team Felton. But in addition, the coaches will also be focused on a smaller list of players than in some evaluation sessions of the past.
The biggest group of players will be in the Commonwealth, as Nike's circuit brings several key targets to Hampton for the first session of EYBL. UVa will watch four-star power forward V.J. King with Team Takeover. Not much has changed in regards to Mamadi, though we got more information on UVa's pursuit of King this week. We're still not ready to say that the Wahoos will be a definite player but there's a little more here than we had previously heard. According to our sources, things are going well between the two sides. The staff has been working to build a solid foundation with both King and his mother, who were both very impressed during their (somewhat random) trip to Charlottesville to see the Cavaliers play Louisville.
Also in Hampton this weekend will be 2017 guard Nick Rakocevic, though we're not exactly sure how high on the radar he remains at this point in time. But with Bennett and Williford watching, he certainly could push his way back to the forefront.
Away from the 757, five-star target Khadim Sy. If you're looking for a guy who might make the most sense given what UVa is looking for and the relative competition, it might be the 6-foot-8 forward. Though at one point he was set to run with BWSL, on Thursday we were told that he'd instead be with the Upward Stars.
Lastly, at the UA event will be Markelle Fultz and the D.C. Blue Devils. Word on that front is that UVa feels pretty good about where things stand. Again, like many others we've listed, Fultz is a hot commodity and getting him won't be easy. But given that UVa's message this weekend is to sort of "turn up the heat" on its various targets, that kind of attention will be hard even for guys like Fultz to miss.
The latest on the coaching and transfer fronts
One thing that was clear to us in talking to sources this week is that there's been no real movement on either the coaching or transfer searching fronts. At this point, we fully expect UVa to move at a measured pace in finding its third assistant coach (as well as a new director of player development guy since Brad Soucie will be going with Ritchie McKay to Liberty). But word is that Bennett is in no rush to fill that spot, instead choosing to focus on recruiting and finishing up his end-of-year meetings with players. Speaking of, barring something very unforeseen, we don't expect any other transfers out of UVa's program. Word we've heard is that Devon Hall will be staying and that there are no others considering moving on.
Now, as far as transfers coming in, sources say the Cavaliers still feel a little iffy about making any real pushes until Justin Anderson decides whether he's staying or going because it will have such a big impact on the player they might be able to go after. As of yet, we don't get the sense that the staff has seen much on the transfer wire that they want to go after right away. We've been saying for weeks that Anderson's decision would have a big impact on that and as of yet, he hasn't really been leaning this way or that. Word we heard Thursday was that he was still waiting to hear from the advisory board. Sources still feel like he could come back or leave, with both sides being just as likely.
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!
A couple of visits of note
Before we get to the names of those we'll be keeping an eye on tomorrow at Rivals Camp, we wanted to touch on two visits going on. The first is a potential transfer addition and that's Stanford tight end Charlie Hopkins. The 6-foot-6, 260-pound fifth-year senior transfer is someone we first heard about on Wednesday, though at the time we were asked to keep the name quiet. Now that his official visit has begun, it'll be interesting to see how this one plays out. According to our source earlier this week, UVa had still not offered but it did appear things were headed in that direction. His visit will run through tomorrow.
Saturday is also the day that three-star running back Tre Harbison is expected in town. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound back from Shelby (NC) Crest trimmed his list recently to five with UVa remaining in the mix along with the likes of Pitt, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest.
Big time talent set to converge on Richmond
Starting bright and early tomorrow morning over at Collegiate, the Rivals Camp Series will bring its regional stop back to RVA and CavsCorner will be in attendance to cover it as always. The list of UVa targets expected to attend is pretty lengthy.
Everyone knows that the offensive line is a big focus for the Wahoos in this class which is why what we see from the big men in the trenches will be especially important tomorrow. In addition to four-star tackle target Daniel Horne.
Elsewhere, it should be a great crop of defensive linemen as always at the camp. One of the key guys we'll be watching will be four-star DE Eric Crosby from Ocean Lakes.
From there, the one-on-one battles between receivers and DBs will be a big part of the event. We'll be interested to see how Eric Kumah.
On the other side matching up against them, we'll be watching targets like Lake Taylor's Devon Hunter.
Among the linebackers we'll be keeping tabs on tomorrow is Bayside's Ricky Slade that you'll also be hearing a lot about.
Finally, of the quarterbacks we'll be seeing in town, the one that sticks out the most might be Alex Faniel, who recently transferred to Glen Allen where he'll team up with Blackman this upcoming season.
The first open weekend
As we transition to the hardwood, all eyes will be on Hampton, New Orleans, and Dallas this weekend as its the first open evaluation period of the spring. Coaches will be on the road watching players and UVa will no doubt be among that group.
According to our sources, as he is wont to do, head coach Tony Bennett will bounce between venues as Jason Williford sets up shop in Hampton to watch the EYBL games and Ron Sanchez moves between Dallas (adidas) and New Orleans (Under Armour). Since Virginia's third assistant coaching position is open right now Vic Sfera, who serves as the technology and scouting assistant, will also be on the road and like Sanchez, we hear Sfera will also be between those two cities this weekend.
Now, in terms of what UVa's "mission" is this weekend the theme according to those we trust isn't so much on shopping as it is on focusing on the guys UVa has already identified. This is sort of a see-and-be-seen weekend in some ways. In addition, it'll give Bennett a chance to sit and really watch the targets UVa is honing in on right now.
No question that the staff will see Sacha Killeya-Jones in New Orleans with Team Felton. But in addition, the coaches will also be focused on a smaller list of players than in some evaluation sessions of the past.
The biggest group of players will be in the Commonwealth, as Nike's circuit brings several key targets to Hampton for the first session of EYBL. UVa will watch four-star power forward V.J. King with Team Takeover. Not much has changed in regards to Mamadi, though we got more information on UVa's pursuit of King this week. We're still not ready to say that the Wahoos will be a definite player but there's a little more here than we had previously heard. According to our sources, things are going well between the two sides. The staff has been working to build a solid foundation with both King and his mother, who were both very impressed during their (somewhat random) trip to Charlottesville to see the Cavaliers play Louisville.
Also in Hampton this weekend will be 2017 guard Nick Rakocevic, though we're not exactly sure how high on the radar he remains at this point in time. But with Bennett and Williford watching, he certainly could push his way back to the forefront.
Away from the 757, five-star target Khadim Sy. If you're looking for a guy who might make the most sense given what UVa is looking for and the relative competition, it might be the 6-foot-8 forward. Though at one point he was set to run with BWSL, on Thursday we were told that he'd instead be with the Upward Stars.
Lastly, at the UA event will be Markelle Fultz and the D.C. Blue Devils. Word on that front is that UVa feels pretty good about where things stand. Again, like many others we've listed, Fultz is a hot commodity and getting him won't be easy. But given that UVa's message this weekend is to sort of "turn up the heat" on its various targets, that kind of attention will be hard even for guys like Fultz to miss.
The latest on the coaching and transfer fronts
One thing that was clear to us in talking to sources this week is that there's been no real movement on either the coaching or transfer searching fronts. At this point, we fully expect UVa to move at a measured pace in finding its third assistant coach (as well as a new director of player development guy since Brad Soucie will be going with Ritchie McKay to Liberty). But word is that Bennett is in no rush to fill that spot, instead choosing to focus on recruiting and finishing up his end-of-year meetings with players. Speaking of, barring something very unforeseen, we don't expect any other transfers out of UVa's program. Word we've heard is that Devon Hall will be staying and that there are no others considering moving on.
Now, as far as transfers coming in, sources say the Cavaliers still feel a little iffy about making any real pushes until Justin Anderson decides whether he's staying or going because it will have such a big impact on the player they might be able to go after. As of yet, we don't get the sense that the staff has seen much on the transfer wire that they want to go after right away. We've been saying for weeks that Anderson's decision would have a big impact on that and as of yet, he hasn't really been leaning this way or that. Word we heard Thursday was that he was still waiting to hear from the advisory board. Sources still feel like he could come back or leave, with both sides being just as likely.
That is it for this week, and as always, what's said here, stays here!
