The WAR ROOM is back and this edition is full of football and basketball recruiting scoop! We'll take a look at some intriguing visitors expected on Grounds this weekend when UVa begins camp season with a one-day event on Saturday. We'll give you the details on several of the visitors, including a pair of running backs that are expected to be in town. We'll also get into an interesting twist for a key offensive line target and what that could mean for the Cavaliers before we get into some odds and ends. On the hardwood, we'll break down where things stand right now for UVa with its lone 2017 scholarship as well as the guards on the board in 2018 before we explain why this summer will be very different for the staff.
As always, what's said in the War Room, stays in the War Room. Let's go!
Cavaliers expecting visitors this weekend
With camp season here, Bronco Mendenhall and his staff will start to welcome a lot of prospects to Charlottesville over the course of the next month. But what's most intriguing about this weekend's first camp might be the pair of running backs that are expected to be on Grounds.
We just profiled PK Kier, the three-star Winchester prospect that's committed to James Madison but was offered by UVa in the past week or so. Well, word is the 5-foot-11, 206-pound back will be in Charlottesville this weekend for a visit. As you could tell from his interview with us, Virginia could be on commitment watch given the timing of the visit. But is he ready for that right away? That will be the question UVa tries to answer.
But he's not the only RB that UVa will be trying to close on, as we've confirmed with three-star Yulee (FL) bruiser Jamari Peacock that he will also be making the trip to Charlottesville for the event. This is obviously a big visit since UVa has been making such a strong push for the 5-foot-11, 245-pound back over the past couple of months. Peacock told us he'd be coming into town on Friday and leaving on Saturday with no other scheduled visits on tap. We've made no bones about saying that Peacock was likely UVa's top target at the position, so clearly they will be hoping to add him to the fold before he leaves town. While we won't advise folks to expect that, we also know how much sway the Cavaliers have had in this recruitment without him actually seeing the school and all of the coaches.
It makes for an intriguing couple of days for running backs coach Mark Atuaia and as well as his fellow coaches.
Of course, Kier and Peacock won't be alone this weekend. Word is that recently offered offensive lineman Chris Glaser, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound guard from Solon (OH) will also be in attendance. And this is another one the Cavaliers are trying to flip. The Miami of Ohio commit has been hard to get up with but sources we spoke to in the last 48 hours said they wouldn't be surprised if he flipped. The question at this point is who might be the one to get him. UVa has certainly made a big push very recently but a potential offer from Michigan State looms large.
Another interesting visitor is three-star OL Johnny Jordan. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Gonzaga prospect seemed like a potential commitment when UVa offered earlier this year but the two sides didn't seem to stay close for long. So this visit is a bit of a surprise in some ways. The question may come down to how UVa views him at guard versus center moving forward.
The latest on Cole Bentley
UVa has been well positioned for some time with three-star offensive lineman Cole Bentley and recently, he announced that he had a final two and that he'd be committing on Sunday, June 12. As we told you at the time, UVa was among those final two. But in the days thereafter, Louisville came through with an offer for the 6-foot-4, 286-pound Belfry (KY) native.
That the Cards have entered the fray for the in-state prospect seems to have messed with his timeframe a bit. We've been doing our best in reaching out to him to schedule an interview but thus far, we haven't been successful. Still, sources in the southeast feel like UL should be considered a legitimate threat but that UVa and Purdue were both very much still in the mix.
Given the way UVa and Garett Tujague have continued to work tirelessly to add OL talent in this class (including moving on Glaser and offering three-star Eugene (OR) tackle Cody Shear this week), we expect the Cavaliers to push hard for Bentley but to also push hard for a host of guys on the offensive line.
We still consider UVa to be the frontrunner for four-star Rivals250 target and
Highland Springs standout Mekhi Becton as well as Greensboro (NC) Dudley tackle Bryson Speas. But just looking at the numbers, the Wahoos are going to need another inside guy as well, which is why Bentley makes so much sense.
Williams gets his shot in Atlanta
Finally, a quick note on another highly-rated player on UVa's board. Four-star Cox defensive end Jordan Williams, fresh on the heels of his own move into the Rivals250, will be in Atlanta this weekend for the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge. With a top five of Clemson, Ohio State, Tennessee, UVa, and Virginia Tech, it'll be interesting to see how he holds his own against some of the nation's best offensive linemen.
Updating the 2017 picture
As we transition to the hardwood, we thought that it would be a good time to check in with sources about where things stand for Tony Bennett and the Cavaliers when it comes to their lone 2017 scholarship. The vibe we continue to get is that UVa is pushing harder for some than others but interestingly, the trend to move away from "needing" a PG continues.
Now, it might seem odd to say that and then make the case that of the 2017 guys on the board, the Hoos might be pushing hardest for four-star Gonzaga guard Chris Lykes. But that seems to be the case, per sources we've spoken to at length this week. Lykes clearly has a unique skillset, which is why Virginia's coaches were happy that the D.C. native made it through visits to both Miami and Villanova last week without committing. The staff, per sources, feels like the further away from those trips he gets without doing so, the better it is for UVa.
At this point, he's expected to participate in next week's NBPA Top 100 Camp and word we've heard is that an unofficial visit to UVa in advance of the event is trending from possible to likely. Assistant coach Jason Williford is certainly pushing for it and the timing works for Virginia too since all of the 2016 enrollees will be on Grounds by then.
It is curious, though, that Lykes and his father would come down for an unofficial rather than an official visit. In talking to sources, there's no clear reason as to why that's the case but right now, that's where things are.
UVa remains in the fight for four-star Reading (PA) guard Lonnie Walker but coming off of his unofficial visit following the EYBL stop in Hampton, it seems like optimism has dipped ever so slightly from Virginia's point of view. The reality for the Keystone State standout right now is that he's just been inundated with noise in his recruitment. He already wasn't the easiest kid to get ahold of but now it's become even more difficult. Word we've heard is that (as we expected) Jay Wright is going to try to make a statement here and fend off the other powerhouse programs for the in-state target. And that makes a lot of sense for all parties. Timing could be crucial, though. Regardless, the Wahoos will keep pushing.
And then there's four-star Norfolk native Matt Coleman. There has been so, so much conversation on the board about the Oak Hill prospect and in truth, that's to be expected. At this point, we can't tell you that UVa doesn't think as highly of him or that the Cavaliers are "moving on." But we can tell you with certainty that they aren't pushing the way they had in the past. Our best read on the situation is that once it became clear that Coleman wasn't close to ending his recruitment, the staff took the viewpoint that we've had for some time: If it was going to happen, it would have.
Now, we don't want to make it out as if UVa will stop recruiting the kid altogether. They won't. But the staff certainly hasn't made him a top priority recently in the ways they did before. Simply put: They have other fish to fry.
We're not at the point where we'd call this one done but the writing appears to be on the wall and it would take a serious reversal in momentum for us to think otherwise.
Lastly in 2017, there's No. 2-ranked five-star forward Michael Porter. We said several weeks ago that we were at the point with the uber-talented small forward that we'd spend some time on him when it was right and since Virginia made his top five, that seems to suffice. Not to ruin anyone's dreams or anything but in talking to sources, the staff is very clear on the way this one looks. They know full well that Washington has a big, big lead on the field and that isn't likely to change. But this is the perfect year for UVa to get into a marathon recruitment where the risk is minimal and the reward is substantial. The Cavaliers, per our sources, feel like they are a distant second in this race and so they'll keep plugging in hopes that Porter decides he'd be best served playing in the ACC for a year rather than for his godfather and father. Yeah, it's a long, long shot. But it's worth the energy.
So what about 2018?
One of the interesting pieces of intel that we've gotten in the past week or so relates to the 2017 scholarship by way of 2018 scouting. The Cavaliers don't just like the guard targets they have in 2018. They have truly fallen in love with them.
Our sources say Bennett and Co. have three main guys at the top of the board: Four-star guard Jahvon Quinerly , four-star guard Darius Garland, and four-star guard Brandon Williams.
We'll start with Quinerly, the 6-foot, 150-pound playmaker from Hackensack (NJ) Hudson Catholic. There is no doubt at this point that he is the guy Bennett likes most of all and keep in mind, Bennett isn't usually a recruiter who "lists" players on the board in this kind of way. Once the offer is out there, UVa generally looks at the guys as being relatively equal. But that doesn't seem to be the case here as Bennett really has fallen in love with this kid's game. The offer list right now seems sort of light, so it's great for UVa's chances that the staff tossed out the offer so early. Already No. 31 overall in the Rivals150 for 2018, Quinerly is definitely primed to have a big summer.
Garland, meanwhile, is only five spots behind Quinerly in the 2018 rankings and the Nashville (TN) Brentwood Academy guard would be a perfect fit for the Cavaliers. He's got some growing to do but even at 5-foot-11, 140 pounds the staff really loves his overall game. Like Quinerly, Garland can do a lot of really good things really well. And we all know how Bennett loves complete guards.
And then there's Williams, No. 69 overall in the Rivals150. You might not have heard his name much because at this point, sources say, UVa has yet to offer. But that's not due to a lack of interest. Bennett just hasn't seen the kid enough live yet.
But when we tell you that the 6-foot-1, 170 pounder hails from Encino (CA) Crespi....the dots should start to connect. That is, after all, the home of a certain California point guard who will soon be a four-year starter for the Wahoos. As Virginia scouts Williams, they see a lot of similarities in his game with that of London Perrantes but make no mistake, Williams isn't on the radar solely because of where he's from. He's also a guy the staff could really see being a great fit in Charlottesville. The biggest issue that UVa would have here is that Arizona is Williams' dream school and the Wildcats have offered.
Other 2018 storylines
UVa feels very good about where things are with guards in 2018. The staff doesn't feel as good about where they are with bigs, though. And that's going to be a big focus for them next month during the evaluation period. They are going to be looking for a specific thing: A Darion Atkins/Akil Mitchell type of big man. Granted, Mamadi Diakite is a perfect fit athletically for this type of player but in 2018, UVa is determined to find this sort of recruit.
The problem with recruiting big men at such an early age is that most of the players who will eventually be the springy, mobile guy with length that the staff wants....they don't have the length yet. Right now, they're undersized 4s who haven't hit their growth spurts. The big men that are on the radar are either elite beasts that UVa doesn't typically target or the bigger, plodding types who don't have the feet to do what UVa wants/needs.
Now, there are some forwards that Virginia is clearly in on. That list certainly includes four-star Stevens Point (WI) native Joey Hauser. You probably recognize the name, as the 6-foot-8, 210 pounder is the younger brother of Sam Hauser, who chose Marquette over UVa in the class of 2016. Marquette and Wisconsin will both be tough to beat but sources say the Cavaliers are feeling good about where they are right now. The key thing will be staying in the fight and getting him on Grounds.
Another forward that UVa is very high on is four-star Spartanburg (SC) native Zion Williamson. The 6-foot-5, 230 pounder has a nice offer list so far but he hasn't quite cracked the national-level recruit offers just yet. We would expect him to have a big summer.
As we said above, Virginia wants to find a springy big man in this class and has plenty of room to use the scholarships on pretty much anyone. So look for this to be a big focus for Bennett and his staff over the next few months.
This summer's schedule
Lastly, just a quick note on how this summer will be a bit different than ones in the past. As everyone knows, Virginia will be taking a trip to Spain in August and there's no doubt that it will give the team an important opportunity to develop going into the season given that the roster turnover will be substantial.
The trip will also change UVa's normal summer rhythm. This (barring some sort of miracle) means no Elite Camp this year. At this point, the schedule is just too tight to try and fit it in. There's no time when the program could reasonably expect players to come when the staff would be in a position to evaluate. So, that's going to put an even larger onus on July recruiting, which the staff is prepared for. It might also too mean a little more travel in the fall to see players during high school games, too.
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!
Cavaliers expecting visitors this weekend
With camp season here, Bronco Mendenhall and his staff will start to welcome a lot of prospects to Charlottesville over the course of the next month. But what's most intriguing about this weekend's first camp might be the pair of running backs that are expected to be on Grounds.
We just profiled PK Kier, the three-star Winchester prospect that's committed to James Madison but was offered by UVa in the past week or so. Well, word is the 5-foot-11, 206-pound back will be in Charlottesville this weekend for a visit. As you could tell from his interview with us, Virginia could be on commitment watch given the timing of the visit. But is he ready for that right away? That will be the question UVa tries to answer.
But he's not the only RB that UVa will be trying to close on, as we've confirmed with three-star Yulee (FL) bruiser Jamari Peacock that he will also be making the trip to Charlottesville for the event. This is obviously a big visit since UVa has been making such a strong push for the 5-foot-11, 245-pound back over the past couple of months. Peacock told us he'd be coming into town on Friday and leaving on Saturday with no other scheduled visits on tap. We've made no bones about saying that Peacock was likely UVa's top target at the position, so clearly they will be hoping to add him to the fold before he leaves town. While we won't advise folks to expect that, we also know how much sway the Cavaliers have had in this recruitment without him actually seeing the school and all of the coaches.
It makes for an intriguing couple of days for running backs coach Mark Atuaia and as well as his fellow coaches.
Of course, Kier and Peacock won't be alone this weekend. Word is that recently offered offensive lineman Chris Glaser, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound guard from Solon (OH) will also be in attendance. And this is another one the Cavaliers are trying to flip. The Miami of Ohio commit has been hard to get up with but sources we spoke to in the last 48 hours said they wouldn't be surprised if he flipped. The question at this point is who might be the one to get him. UVa has certainly made a big push very recently but a potential offer from Michigan State looms large.
Another interesting visitor is three-star OL Johnny Jordan. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Gonzaga prospect seemed like a potential commitment when UVa offered earlier this year but the two sides didn't seem to stay close for long. So this visit is a bit of a surprise in some ways. The question may come down to how UVa views him at guard versus center moving forward.
The latest on Cole Bentley
UVa has been well positioned for some time with three-star offensive lineman Cole Bentley and recently, he announced that he had a final two and that he'd be committing on Sunday, June 12. As we told you at the time, UVa was among those final two. But in the days thereafter, Louisville came through with an offer for the 6-foot-4, 286-pound Belfry (KY) native.
That the Cards have entered the fray for the in-state prospect seems to have messed with his timeframe a bit. We've been doing our best in reaching out to him to schedule an interview but thus far, we haven't been successful. Still, sources in the southeast feel like UL should be considered a legitimate threat but that UVa and Purdue were both very much still in the mix.
Given the way UVa and Garett Tujague have continued to work tirelessly to add OL talent in this class (including moving on Glaser and offering three-star Eugene (OR) tackle Cody Shear this week), we expect the Cavaliers to push hard for Bentley but to also push hard for a host of guys on the offensive line.
We still consider UVa to be the frontrunner for four-star Rivals250 target and
Highland Springs standout Mekhi Becton as well as Greensboro (NC) Dudley tackle Bryson Speas. But just looking at the numbers, the Wahoos are going to need another inside guy as well, which is why Bentley makes so much sense.
Williams gets his shot in Atlanta
Finally, a quick note on another highly-rated player on UVa's board. Four-star Cox defensive end Jordan Williams, fresh on the heels of his own move into the Rivals250, will be in Atlanta this weekend for the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge. With a top five of Clemson, Ohio State, Tennessee, UVa, and Virginia Tech, it'll be interesting to see how he holds his own against some of the nation's best offensive linemen.
Updating the 2017 picture
As we transition to the hardwood, we thought that it would be a good time to check in with sources about where things stand for Tony Bennett and the Cavaliers when it comes to their lone 2017 scholarship. The vibe we continue to get is that UVa is pushing harder for some than others but interestingly, the trend to move away from "needing" a PG continues.
Now, it might seem odd to say that and then make the case that of the 2017 guys on the board, the Hoos might be pushing hardest for four-star Gonzaga guard Chris Lykes. But that seems to be the case, per sources we've spoken to at length this week. Lykes clearly has a unique skillset, which is why Virginia's coaches were happy that the D.C. native made it through visits to both Miami and Villanova last week without committing. The staff, per sources, feels like the further away from those trips he gets without doing so, the better it is for UVa.
At this point, he's expected to participate in next week's NBPA Top 100 Camp and word we've heard is that an unofficial visit to UVa in advance of the event is trending from possible to likely. Assistant coach Jason Williford is certainly pushing for it and the timing works for Virginia too since all of the 2016 enrollees will be on Grounds by then.
It is curious, though, that Lykes and his father would come down for an unofficial rather than an official visit. In talking to sources, there's no clear reason as to why that's the case but right now, that's where things are.
UVa remains in the fight for four-star Reading (PA) guard Lonnie Walker but coming off of his unofficial visit following the EYBL stop in Hampton, it seems like optimism has dipped ever so slightly from Virginia's point of view. The reality for the Keystone State standout right now is that he's just been inundated with noise in his recruitment. He already wasn't the easiest kid to get ahold of but now it's become even more difficult. Word we've heard is that (as we expected) Jay Wright is going to try to make a statement here and fend off the other powerhouse programs for the in-state target. And that makes a lot of sense for all parties. Timing could be crucial, though. Regardless, the Wahoos will keep pushing.
And then there's four-star Norfolk native Matt Coleman. There has been so, so much conversation on the board about the Oak Hill prospect and in truth, that's to be expected. At this point, we can't tell you that UVa doesn't think as highly of him or that the Cavaliers are "moving on." But we can tell you with certainty that they aren't pushing the way they had in the past. Our best read on the situation is that once it became clear that Coleman wasn't close to ending his recruitment, the staff took the viewpoint that we've had for some time: If it was going to happen, it would have.
Now, we don't want to make it out as if UVa will stop recruiting the kid altogether. They won't. But the staff certainly hasn't made him a top priority recently in the ways they did before. Simply put: They have other fish to fry.
We're not at the point where we'd call this one done but the writing appears to be on the wall and it would take a serious reversal in momentum for us to think otherwise.
Lastly in 2017, there's No. 2-ranked five-star forward Michael Porter. We said several weeks ago that we were at the point with the uber-talented small forward that we'd spend some time on him when it was right and since Virginia made his top five, that seems to suffice. Not to ruin anyone's dreams or anything but in talking to sources, the staff is very clear on the way this one looks. They know full well that Washington has a big, big lead on the field and that isn't likely to change. But this is the perfect year for UVa to get into a marathon recruitment where the risk is minimal and the reward is substantial. The Cavaliers, per our sources, feel like they are a distant second in this race and so they'll keep plugging in hopes that Porter decides he'd be best served playing in the ACC for a year rather than for his godfather and father. Yeah, it's a long, long shot. But it's worth the energy.
So what about 2018?
One of the interesting pieces of intel that we've gotten in the past week or so relates to the 2017 scholarship by way of 2018 scouting. The Cavaliers don't just like the guard targets they have in 2018. They have truly fallen in love with them.
Our sources say Bennett and Co. have three main guys at the top of the board: Four-star guard Jahvon Quinerly , four-star guard Darius Garland, and four-star guard Brandon Williams.
We'll start with Quinerly, the 6-foot, 150-pound playmaker from Hackensack (NJ) Hudson Catholic. There is no doubt at this point that he is the guy Bennett likes most of all and keep in mind, Bennett isn't usually a recruiter who "lists" players on the board in this kind of way. Once the offer is out there, UVa generally looks at the guys as being relatively equal. But that doesn't seem to be the case here as Bennett really has fallen in love with this kid's game. The offer list right now seems sort of light, so it's great for UVa's chances that the staff tossed out the offer so early. Already No. 31 overall in the Rivals150 for 2018, Quinerly is definitely primed to have a big summer.
Garland, meanwhile, is only five spots behind Quinerly in the 2018 rankings and the Nashville (TN) Brentwood Academy guard would be a perfect fit for the Cavaliers. He's got some growing to do but even at 5-foot-11, 140 pounds the staff really loves his overall game. Like Quinerly, Garland can do a lot of really good things really well. And we all know how Bennett loves complete guards.
And then there's Williams, No. 69 overall in the Rivals150. You might not have heard his name much because at this point, sources say, UVa has yet to offer. But that's not due to a lack of interest. Bennett just hasn't seen the kid enough live yet.
But when we tell you that the 6-foot-1, 170 pounder hails from Encino (CA) Crespi....the dots should start to connect. That is, after all, the home of a certain California point guard who will soon be a four-year starter for the Wahoos. As Virginia scouts Williams, they see a lot of similarities in his game with that of London Perrantes but make no mistake, Williams isn't on the radar solely because of where he's from. He's also a guy the staff could really see being a great fit in Charlottesville. The biggest issue that UVa would have here is that Arizona is Williams' dream school and the Wildcats have offered.
Other 2018 storylines
UVa feels very good about where things are with guards in 2018. The staff doesn't feel as good about where they are with bigs, though. And that's going to be a big focus for them next month during the evaluation period. They are going to be looking for a specific thing: A Darion Atkins/Akil Mitchell type of big man. Granted, Mamadi Diakite is a perfect fit athletically for this type of player but in 2018, UVa is determined to find this sort of recruit.
The problem with recruiting big men at such an early age is that most of the players who will eventually be the springy, mobile guy with length that the staff wants....they don't have the length yet. Right now, they're undersized 4s who haven't hit their growth spurts. The big men that are on the radar are either elite beasts that UVa doesn't typically target or the bigger, plodding types who don't have the feet to do what UVa wants/needs.
Now, there are some forwards that Virginia is clearly in on. That list certainly includes four-star Stevens Point (WI) native Joey Hauser. You probably recognize the name, as the 6-foot-8, 210 pounder is the younger brother of Sam Hauser, who chose Marquette over UVa in the class of 2016. Marquette and Wisconsin will both be tough to beat but sources say the Cavaliers are feeling good about where they are right now. The key thing will be staying in the fight and getting him on Grounds.
Another forward that UVa is very high on is four-star Spartanburg (SC) native Zion Williamson. The 6-foot-5, 230 pounder has a nice offer list so far but he hasn't quite cracked the national-level recruit offers just yet. We would expect him to have a big summer.
As we said above, Virginia wants to find a springy big man in this class and has plenty of room to use the scholarships on pretty much anyone. So look for this to be a big focus for Bennett and his staff over the next few months.
This summer's schedule
Lastly, just a quick note on how this summer will be a bit different than ones in the past. As everyone knows, Virginia will be taking a trip to Spain in August and there's no doubt that it will give the team an important opportunity to develop going into the season given that the roster turnover will be substantial.
The trip will also change UVa's normal summer rhythm. This (barring some sort of miracle) means no Elite Camp this year. At this point, the schedule is just too tight to try and fit it in. There's no time when the program could reasonably expect players to come when the staff would be in a position to evaluate. So, that's going to put an even larger onus on July recruiting, which the staff is prepared for. It might also too mean a little more travel in the fall to see players during high school games, too.
That is it for this week, and as always, what's said here, stays here!
