Cavaliers’ class rated as one of nation’s best for 2nd year in a row
Al Groh
By ED MILLER, The Virginian-Pilot
© February 6, 2003

CHARLOTTESVILLE — A year ago on national signing day, Virginia football coach Al Groh introduced a recruiting class rated by many analysts as one of the top 10 in the nation.
“I said at the time that if we got one more like it, we’d be really good,” Groh said. “If we got two more like it, we’d be as good as anybody.”

By Groh’s reckoning, Virginia is right on track. Wednesday, the coach unveiled another strong class of recruits, one that several analysts agree is among the nation’s 25 best.

“That’s two in a row,” Groh said. “Now we’re already thinking towards No. 3.”

The 21-member class is heavy on offensive linemen, receivers and linebackers — areas of particular need for Virginia, Groh said. It features 10 players from Virginia, including two from South Hampton Roads, and 11 from out of state.

“Even though there’s a lot of talent out there generally, we try to target the needs of the team,” Groh said. “We try to recruit to build the team, not for ego’s sake.”

Consequently, Virginia didn’t sign a tailback since it has several good ones returning. They signed just one quarterback, because they have three returning.

Rivals.com ranked Virginia’s class 19th, while the insider.com had it 22nd. Two others had the Cavs No. 24 and 25.

Rivals was the only Web site to include linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the class. Brooks, a high school All-American in 2001, signed with U.Va. last year but failed to qualify academically. He spent this past season at Hargrave Military Academy then enrolled at Virginia last month. Brooks is expected to participate in spring practice.

Highlighting the class are several players rated among the top 100 in the nation. Tight end Jonathan Stupar of State College, Pa., was rated the nation’s No. 33 player overall by SuperPrep. Linebacker Jermaine Dias of Hackensack, N.J., was No. 74. Center Jordy Lipsey of Longwood, Fla., was regarded as the top center in the nation by several recruiting services. Ian Yates-Cunningham, a lineman from Plano, Texas, was SuperPrep’s sixth-rated offensive lineman.

Locally, the Cavaliers signed Phoebus defensive back Philip Brown, considered by some to be the state’s top player, and two from Virginia Beach: safety Robbie Catterton of Kellam and receiver Shannon Lane of Salem.

“Robbie just shows up where the ball is,” Groh said. “And he’s got a good toughness about him.”

Groh praised Lane’s big-play ability. As for Brown, Groh called him a “shut-down corner,” adding, “Those are hard to find.”

Fourteen members of last year’s class played in 2002, a high number in major college football.

Groh said he doesn’t expect as many true freshmen to play this fall. “But I think there will be a good amount of these players who will be involved and will contribute,” he said. With recruiting wrapped up, Groh said he’ll turn his attention to hiring an offensive coordinator. Bill Musgrave resigned last month to become offensive coordinator for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.

 

Jenifer’s suspension alters roles for Cavs’ Mapp, Billet
By ED MILLER, The Virginian-Pilot
© February 6, 2003

Like him or not, and many Virginia fans have made no secret that they do not, Keith Jenifer played an average of 19 minutes in the Cavaliers’ last three games.
Coach Pete Gillen’s immediate challenge is to find someone to replace those minutes, with Jenifer suspended indefinitely after his arrest on an assault and battery charge.

The most likely candidate to log more minutes, beginning tonight against No. 8 Maryland, is backup point guard Majestic Mapp. But Mapp is coming off a 34-month layoff and four knee operations, and has yet to play more than 17 minutes in any game since returning last month.

“He’ll certainly play more,” Gillen said. “I think the knee is getting stronger. He hasn’t complained about it.”

With Jenifer out and with the ACC season reaching the halfway point, Virginia finds itself in the same situation as last year. Once again, the Cavaliers are forced to play their best shooting guard at point guard. Last year, it was Roger Mason Jr. This year, it’s Todd Billet.

Billet, a 6-foot junior, is the team’s best outside shooter and is more comfortable playing off the ball. Though he started the last three games at point guard, Billet shifted to shooting guard when Jenifer and Mapp entered the game off the bench.

With Jenifer out, Billet will likely have to play more minutes at the point where his play has been spotty. On the season, he has 50 assists and 52 turnovers.

Though Jenifer was not much of a scoring threat – averaging 4.4 points and shooting 30 percent in ACC games – he was second in the conference in assists/turnovers ratio, at 2.43. His absence leaves the Cavaliers short a ballhandler against one of the league’s best pressing teams.

Maryland, 6-1 in the ACC, is 11-1 at home. The Terps are 4-0 in ACC games in their new arena and have started five seniors at times this year. They have three steady ballhandlers in Steve Blake, Drew Nicholas and freshman John Gilchrist, and are the only ACC team that can match Virginia’s size inside.

Nicholas, a 6-3 senior, is averaging 18.9 points in ACC play and has scored in double figures in all but one game this season. It’s been a breakout year for Nicholas, who played in the shadow of guard Juan Dixon most of his Maryland career.

“I think he realized how good Juan was,” Maryland coach Gary Williams said. “And he realized Juan played behind Steve Francis his first year. “Drew’s a guy who has benefited from the four-year process.”

So has Blake, the most experienced guard in the ACC, and forward Tahj Holden, who leads the conference in blocked shots.

Virginia (12-7, 3-4 ACC) has not won at Maryland since 1993 and has not won any ACC road game in nearly 13 months, losing nine straight.

“We’ve got to win ballgames if we want to get into the NCAA tournament,” Mapp said after a loss to Georgia Tech Sunday. “It’s a big concern right now.”
 

Terps' title defense no longer unrealistic
Veteran players were prepared
BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Feb 06, 2003

Seven games into the season, the defending national champion in Division I men's basketball stood barely above .500.

Four days after losing to Indiana in a rematch of last season's NCAA final, Maryland had fallen to Notre Dame. A week later, Florida beat the Terrapins, who dropped to 4-3.

With only one starter back from 2001-02, Maryland no longer was invincible, and opponents knew it. So did the Terps.

"We didn't have any confidence," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "You lose Juan Dixon, Lonny Baxter, Chris Wilcox and Byron Mouton, you have to change your team, and you don't just do it by saying, 'OK, we got to play this way this year.' We had to get guys playing up to a level to compete against the teams we lost to.

"We just weren't good enough in December. It's as simple as that."

In the first week of February, the Terps look plenty good. Maryland is no lock to win another national title, but it appears capable of another extended run in the NCAA tournament.

The eighth-ranked Terrapins (6-1, 14-4) lead the ACC and take a five-game winning streak into their game tonight against Virginia (3-4, 12-7) at the new Comcast Center in College Park.

"Who knows? Maybe they'll go to the Final Four again," U.Va. coach Pete Gillen said.

In an era when college stars routinely bolt early for the NBA - the 6-10 Wilcox, who left after his sophomore season, is a case in point - Williams has been blessed. His 2001-02 team included three senior starters: Dixon, Mouton and Baxter. The Terps' rotation this season include seniors Steve Blake, Drew Nicholas, Ryan Randle, Tahj Holden and Calvin McCall.

Blake, a four-year starter at point guard, is on pace to finish among the top 10 in career assists in Division I. He's averaging 12.1 points, 5.7 assists and 1.9 steals and shooting 44.1 percent from 3-point range.

Nicholas, who started one game in his first three seasons, has capably replaced Dixon at shooting guard and leads Maryland in scoring (18.9 ppg).

The 6-9, 255-pound Randle averages 10.6 points and 7.7 rebounds. The 6-10, 270-pound Holden, a U.Va. recruiting target in high school, is the ACC's top shotblocker (2.7 per game). The 6-3 McCall averages 5.2 points.

Williams credits his veterans for holding the team together during its rough early stretch. The example they set inspired the Terrapins' newcomers: junior-college transfer Jamar Smith and freshmen John Gilchrist (Virginia Beach), Nik Caner-Medley, Travis Garrison and Chris McCray.

"Our seniors did a great job of never losing their confidence in those games," Williams said, "and that was a key for us in not getting down. . . . That was a test for them, because those guys already got the ring. They didn't have to do anything this year to be remembered as part of the best basketball team in Maryland's history."

The emergence of Nicholas has been one of the season's better stories. He's an anomaly in big-time college hoops: a big-time player who doesn't start until his senior season.

"A lot of young men, if they're not starting their sophomore year, they're transferring," Gillen said.

Nicholas, who's from Hempstead, N.Y., averaged about 17 minutes off the bench as a sophomore. A season ago, his playing time increased to about 20 minutes per game, and he averaged 7.1 points.

"You don't see a lot of patience from players sometimes to wait their turn," Williams said. "But in Drew's case, he's played every year, and he's played more each year. I think he realized how good Juan was, and he knew that Juan had played behind Steve Francis his first year.

"Drew's a guy that's really benefited from the four-year process. Nobody said when he came here that he was going to leave early or anything else, so he could be a college basketball player without those distractions."

 

Groh-th continues at Virginia
Signings keep Cavs on track
BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Feb 06, 2003

CHARLOTTESVILLE - After landing a nationally acclaimed recruiting class in 2002, Virginia football coach Al Groh had a stock answer for people who asked about the state of his program.

"What I said was that we had gotten a terrific class last year, and if we got one more like it, we'd be really good, and if we got two more, we'd be as good as anybody," Groh recalled yesterday at Scott Stadium.

"We're on track with that. We got another very strong class."

Virginia, coming off a 9-5 season, yesterday received letters of intent from 21 players. Another player, the most celebrated member of the recruiting class, wasn't included on the list the school released. But that's only because linebacker Ahmad Brooks already is enrolled at U.Va.

Brooks, USA Today's defensive player of the year as a Hylton High senior in 2001, started classes at Virginia last month. He signed with U.Va. in 2002 but failed to meet NCAA eligibility requirements, as did nose tackle Keenan Carter, who also re-signed yesterday.

The 6-3, 243-pound Brooks spent the fall semester at Hargrave Military Academy, and Carter is enrolled at Fork Union Military Academy.

CNNSI.com last night ranked Virginia's class 22nd nationally. Another Web site, theinsiders.com, had it at No. 19.

Counting Brooks, exactly half the class is from Virginia. Two other recruits, center Jordy Lipsey and offensive lineman Ian-Yates Cunningham, have ties to the state. One of Lipsey's brothers played football at Washington and Lee, and another is still on the team there. Cunningham, whose grandparents live in Ettrick, is a cousin of the late Arthur Ashe.

Virginia's 2002 recruiting class included numerous tailbacks, among them Wali Lundy, who capped his freshman season by earning MVP honors in the Dec. 28 Continental Tire Bowl.

"This class isn't quite as jazzy in terms of numbers, because offensive linemen don't have numbers," Groh said. "Last year, we had a lot of numbers: 'This guy rushed for this, that guy rushed for that, this guy scored X amount of touchdowns.' But these numbers - 6-6, 318; 6-6, 309 - those numbers impress me."

Five offensive linemen signed with U.Va. yesterday, including West Springfield High's Marshal Ausberry (6-6, 318 pounds), Cunningham (6-6, 309) and Jefferson Forest High's Eddie Pinigis (6-7, 282).

Among the candidates to replace all-ACC wideout Billy McMullen next season will be Hermitage High's Fontel Mines, who signed yesterday. Like McMullen, the 6-5, 205-pound Mines is a tall, sure-handed receiver from Henrico County.

"Billy's the second all-time leading receiver in the history of the ACC . . . so in all fairness to Billy and to anybody who tries to reach that mark, that's a heck of a target," Groh said.

"That being said, I think probably that Fontel is a little bit taller right now, probably a little bit heavier and a little faster [than McMullen]."

Vince Redd, who stunned recruiting analysts Monday by choosing Virginia over Tennessee, is a 6-6, 243-pound outside linebacker from Elizabethton, Tenn. Coach Pete Gillen has agreed to let Redd play basketball at Virginia, too.

"If this is another Julius Peppers-type of player, then we'll be well-pleased with the situation," Groh said. "I'm sure both parties would be."

The final addition to the class was Oakton High's Danny Prentice, who committed after receiving a scholarship offer Tuesday. Prentice made The Washington Post's All-Metro first team at linebacker in 2002.

The last two uncommitted players on Virginia's wish list when yesterday dawned, defensive end Chris Ellis and linebacker Turk McBride, signed with Virginia Tech and Tennessee, respectively. Another U.Va. target, Robinson High's Chase Anastasio, is bound for Notre Dame.

Even so, Groh said, the Wahoos' recruiting "went very well. We're well-pleased with it. It's two in a row, and now we're already thinking toward No. 3."
 

Virginia: Groh happy with heavy-duty class
Cavaliers get 300-pounders
By Dave Johnson
Daily Press
Published February 6, 2003

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- The way Virginia coach Al Groh sees it, his football program is two-thirds of the way toward becoming a national championship contender.

The Cavaliers followed up last year's breakthrough recruiting class with another solid group, this one heavier in size than in eye-popping numbers. Recruiting analysts aren't ranking this 22-member class as high as last year's, but most have it among the nation's top 25. Rivals100.com ranked the Cavaliers 19th.

It's certainly good enough, Groh believes, to keep things rolling.

"We had gotten a terrific class last year, and I said if we got one more like it, we'd be really good," Groh said. "And if we got two more, we'd be as good as anybody. We're on track with that. We got another very strong class. I think it's going to make us, when we get everybody integrated into the operation, very good.

"This class isn't quite as jazzy in terms of numbers, because offensive linemen don't have a lot of numbers. To balance out what we need, these numbers - 6-(foot)-6, 318; 6-6, 309 - impress me. I don't know how that affects the rating of that class, but I know from evaluating the talent that this group is strong in its athletic ability."

Of the 22 players in this year's class - including linebacker Ahmad Brooks, who signed last year but didn't qualify in time - eight are either offensive or defensive linemen. That includes 6-foot-6, 318-pounder Marshal Ausberry, who ESPN's Tom Lemming listed as the 15th-best offensive tackle in the nation. And center Jordy Lipsey, who Max Emfinger lists as the No. 1 offensive lineman in the country.

Groh tapped into Texas to nab 309-pounder Ian-Yates Cunningham, into New Jersey for 292-pounder Gordie Sammis and just down Route 29 to the Lynchburg area for 282-pounder Eddie Pinigis. The Cavaliers also re-signed 325-pound nose tackle Keenan Carter, originally a 2002 signee who spent the past year at Fork Union.

"I think it's an imposing group," Groh said of the linemen. "They reflect the way we want our linemen to look."

There's also some speed in the class. The fastest player might be Philip Brown of Phoebus High, who Groh called "a shut-down corner." Or maybe Emmanuel Byers, Deyon Williams or Shannon Lane, three wideouts who have a chance to play early.

"At the necessary positions, there's a good deal of speed," Groh said. "For one thing, these linebackers can all get up and run. I think there's real good firepower at the wide receivers position. We got a real good cover corner. And these linemen, if you really want to have a team that can move, it has to be there, too. I think there's very good athletic ability among these linemen."
 

New class keeps Cavs on course
Although not ranked in the top 10, this recruiting class keeps UVa on pace to become a national power, says Al Groh.

By DOUG DOUGHTY
THE ROANOKE TIMES

CHARLOTTESVILLE - After making a big splash with his first recruiting class, Virginia football coach Al Groh went for the ripple effect this year.
"This class isn't quite as jazzy," said Groh, whose first class included six 1,000-yard rushers. "Last year we had a lot of numbers. This guy rushed for this; this guy rushed for that. This guy scored X number of touchdowns.

"Offensive linemen don't have numbers, but numbers like 6-6, 318 or 6-6, 309 ... those impress me."

The Cavaliers' 2002 recruiting class was ranked among the top 10 in the country by some services.

This one is safely in the top 25, ranging from 19th on rivals.com to 25th by SuperPrep.

"We had a terrific class last year," Groh said, "and what I said was, 'If we get one more like it, we'd be really good, and, if we got two more like it, we'd be as good as anybody.'

"We're on track with that. We got another very strong class."

UVa signed seven SuperPrep All-Americans, including four out-of-state players ranked among the top 100 prospects in the country by at least one nationally recognized service.

They were Harrisburg, Pa., tight end Jon Stupar; Longwood, Fla., center Jordy Lipsey; Plano, Texas, offensive lineman Ian-Yates Cunningham; and Hackensack, N.J., linebacker Jermaine Dias.

Lipsey and Cunningham have state ties, Lipsey as the brother of two current or past Washington and Lee football players and Cunningham as a relative of tennis legend Arthur Ashe.

The Cavaliers announced 21 signees, but they weren't the same 21 that had appeared on most lists. Former Parade All-American Ahmad Brooks, a 2002 signee who enrolled earlier this month, is not on the list. Danny Prentice, a linebacker and running back for Oakton High School, was the surprise.

Prentice's mother said her son had committed orally to Nevada-Las Vegas before Virginia called with an offer Tuesday night, after he had played in a basketball game. Groh said the Cavaliers had been tracking Prentice, rated the No.42 player in Virginia by The Roanoke Times, for more than a year.

Groh said the Cavaliers would have signed more than 21 players if they had been able to get top in-state prospects Chase Anastasio and Chris Ellis, who committed to Notre Dame and Virginia Tech, respectively, but he felt no need to approach the NCAA maximum of 25.

According to current projections, Groh says he thinks the Cavaliers will be able to sign more than 20 players again next year. There also was room for Groh to bring back two walk-ons, fullback Kase Luzar and deep snapper Ryan Childress, both awarded scholarships before the 2002 season.

 

UM looks to retain hold over Virginia
Lacking ACC road victory and Jenifer, Cavaliers scare streaking Terps; Lacking ACC road victory and Jenifer, Cavs scare Terps after 5 wins in row
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By Gary Lambrecht
Sun Staff
Originally published February 6, 2003

COLLEGE PARK - Will they fold early, fold late or push back and test their opponent for 40 rugged minutes? Will they be desperate to counter a well-earned reputation as a team that can't win away from home and has trouble sustaining good defensive play? And will they thrive or fall with their point guard position in flux?

These are some of the things the No. 8 Maryland Terrapins are wondering as they study the Virginia Cavaliers, who visit Comcast Center tonight to round out Maryland's first trip through its Atlantic Coast Conference schedule.

If history holds up, the Terps will maintain their hold on first place by having their way with Virginia, which replaced four starters from a disappointing squad, yet still sports the same troubling tendencies.

Maryland (14-4, 6-1), which has won five straight games and 10 of its past 11, has owned the Cavaliers in recent years. The Terps have won eight of their past 10 meetings with Virginia, including nine in a row in College Park, where Maryland has won its past five games by an average of 18 points.

The word has long been out on Virginia, which has played in one NCAA tournament game under fifth-year coach Pete Gillen. Get the Cavs away from Charlottesville and have some fun at their expense.

A year after losing seven of its last nine road games - a slide that relegated it to the National Invitation Tournament - Virginia (12-7, 3-4) is at it again. The Cavaliers are 1-6 on the road, and have yet to win a league contest in someone else's gym.

"That's been their history in the past. They haven't played well on the road," Maryland senior guard Calvin McCall said of the Cavaliers. "I'm expecting them to come in here and try to get a road win. I think our whole team is expecting their best shot. At the same time, they're going to get our best shot."

That could stop Virginia, which has one of the top post players in the league in senior center Travis Watson, one of the ACC's more prolific scorers in Rutgers transfer Todd Billett and one of its feel-good stories in junior backup point guard Majestic Mapp, who is back after battling serious knee injuries for nearly three years.

But some things haven't changed, such as the Cavaliers' inability to stop people. Virginia has often resembled a sieve on defense in recent seasons, particularly when forced out of its transition preference and into a half-court game. The problem was so glaring that last spring Gillen hired Rod Jensen, the head coach at Boise State for the previous eight years, to run the defense.

Things have not worked out as planned. The Cavaliers rank dead last in the ACC in scoring defense (73.5 ppg), and have surrendered an average of 82 points in their six road losses.

What's more, Virginia should be without point guard Keith Jenifer this evening. Jenifer, the former Towson Catholic player who fouled out and played only 20 minutes in Saturday's 80-60 loss at Georgia Tech, was arrested on assault and battery charges in Charlottesville on Sunday and has been suspended indefinitely by Gillen.

That leaves the point guard duty in the hands of Billett (14.3 ppg) and Mapp. Billett is more comfortable playing the off-guard. Mapp is still feeling his way back after missing 70 consecutive games spanning 1,032 days. He is averaging 9.8 minutes in the past five games.

That could spell trouble against a deep Maryland team that has shown voracious patterns on defense. The Terps are forcing 19.2 turnovers per game, including 17.4 against the league, and lead the ACC with an average of 11.5 steals.

"We haven't been able to overwhelm teams too much with our offense, but we're getting control of games for stretches of two or three minutes with our defense," said Maryland coach Gary Williams. Yet he says the Jenifer suspension could have a positive effect on Virginia.

"Sometimes you can overcome that. You don't know if that hurts them or if it will get them more ready to play," he said. "I'm sure they would like to get a road win in the conference. I'm sure Virginia will come in here flying."

NOTES: Watson leads the ACC in rebounding (10.4) and has posted 47 career double doubles. ... Maryland guards Steve Blake and Drew Nicholas each could reach 1,000 career points tonight. Blake needs 11. Nicholas, Maryland's leading scorer, needs 13. Blake also is one assist shy of 15th place on the all-time list, and could move into 13th place by recording nine assists. ... After tonight, Maryland plays its next two games and three of its next four on the road.



 

‘Xbox’ system sets off Terps’ scandal
Player asked parents for it at dinner with recruiter
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By Jon Morgan and Lem Satterfield
Sun Staff
Originally published February 5, 2003, 10:53 PM EST

COLLEGE PARK -The University of Maryland football recruiter who lost his job for allegedly giving cash to a Baltimore prospect did so when the youth said he wanted a $200 "Xbox" video game system for Christmas, according to sources familiar with the incident.

Neither the recruiter, Rod Sharpless, nor the youth, Victor Abiarimi of the Gilman School, have spoken publicly about the matter -which Terrapins head coach Ralph Friedgen termed a "terrible mistake."

"I have known this person for 25 years and he is a very good person and a very good man. And he is going through a tough time right now. My heart and prayers go out to him," said Friedgen, in his first public comment on the incident.

Sharpless allegedly gave Abiamiri money on more than one occasion, totaling a little more than $300. NCAA rules strictly forbid schools from luring student-athletes with gifts or cash.

Abiamiri has returned the money, sources said.

The bulk of the $300 came after Abiamiri, at a dinner out with Sharpless and his parents, expressed a desire for an Xbox but was told he would not be getting one for Christmas because it would be costly and might interfere with his studies, according to several sources familiar with the youth's account who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Later in the evening, Sharpless discreetly passed him money and told him to buy it himself, sources said.

Friedgen did not refer to Sharpless by name or reveal any details of the alleged recruiting violation.

Friedgen hired Sharpless in 2001. Both attended Maryland in 1972, Friedgen as a graduate assistant for the athletic department and Sharpless as an undergraduate and linebacker for the football team.

Several sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the 53-year-old assistant coach resigned after Friedgen was informed last week about the alleged payments.

The university is conducting an investigation and has notified the NCAA. Friedgen said he believes the incident is a so-called "secondary violation" that will not, under NCAA rules, result in significant penalties.

A university may not, however, field a player it has improperly recruited. Abiamiri, one of the nation's top high school defensive linemen wooed by Maryland committed to play for Notre Dame.

Abiamiri's attorney, David B. Irwin, declined comment. Sharpless did not respond to messages left at his home. A Maryland athletic department spokesman declined comment.

Made by Microsoft Corp., Xbox is a popular console game that is played on a television screen. It retails for about $200, with individual games costing czang:approximately $50. The Xbox was launched by Microsoft in 2001 to compete with Sony's top-selling Playstation 2. In addition to games, the Xbox can play DVDs and audio CDs and permits users to play czang:against other Xbox owners over the Internet.

Friedgen, at a news conference to announce the year's recruits, defended the university. "We are committed to running an honest program and a clean program. I think you can look at my record for 35 years and it will show that," he said.

"No coach can guarantee every single person associated with the program will always act appropriately. However, if a mistake is made, we will fix it," he said.

Cavs' Rookies Are Unsteady
By Jim Reedy
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, February 6, 2003; Page D03

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Two weeks ago, Devin Smith was a factor for Virginia, scoring 17 points in an upset win over Wake Forest. He followed with six points in the next two games. Smith's roommate, fellow wing player Derrick Byars, had three points against Wake, then put up 26 in the next two games.

The two newcomers are perhaps the streakiest players on the team, perfectly capable of a scorching performance one night and an almost invisible game the next. Thursday night, when their first season of Division I basketball continues at No. 8 Maryland, what Smith and Byars will contribute is anyone's guess.

"It's kind of hard to adjust [to this level] and play consistent every night," said Smith, a 6-foot-5 sophomore who transferred this year from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.

Virginia Coach Pete Gillen said some inconsistency is to be expected, particularly considering Smith's September knee surgery and the recent shoulder injuries suffered by Byars, a 6-7 freshman.

"Part of it has been the newness for young players, but I think also part of it is they've had some injuries and missed some practice time," Gillen said. "But they're both good players and if they both play well together I think that certainly elevates our team a lot."

Both players have proven themselves as perimeter shooters, but they have done it with noticeably different styles. Smith, a junior college all-American last season, is most dangerous as a spot-up shooter. Byars is 30 pounds leaner and more athletic than Smith but is still finding his place in college basketball.

Playing with a right knee that isn't completely sound after surgery in the fall to repair a partially torn meniscus, Smith averages 9.8 points while shooting 37 percent on three-pointers. The injury has affected his mobility and kept him from doing some of the conditioning work he said he needs to lose some of his 230 pounds.

"I don't want it to seem like I'm trying to baby it or anything, so I just won't say anything when it bothers me," he said. "It bothers me sometimes, especially tendinitis. I just fight through it and just keep playing."

Smith scored in double figures four times in the team's first six games, including 15 against Kentucky and 24 against Michigan State. But he has looked a step slow since, scoring less than five points in five of 13 games.

Byars, who averages 7.8 points per game with 40 percent shooting on threes, has been similarly inconsistent, though he put up 15 against Florida State and 11 against Georgia Tech in the past two games. He combined for 53 points against Gardner-Webb, Wofford and East Tennessee State but went scoreless against Duke and Michigan State.

"He puts pressure on himself, he presses," Gillen said. "I think he's his biggest enemy sometimes."

Admitting he has always been hard on himself, Byars said his adjustment to college life in general last semester featured the insecurities and growing pains that plague many college freshmen.

"Like everybody else, it's been difficult," he said. "It's been very difficult adjusting to school life, being away from my home in Memphis. It's just been very difficult as a freshman, but I think I'm adapting pretty well to it now."

Byars, who also is working through the lingering soreness of injuries to each of his shoulders, can't figure out exactly why he has been so up and down this season.

"I don't know. I just try to stay confident," Byars said. "Maybe that's the biggest part of the difference between my performances: staying confident."
 

Cavs Think New Recruits Are a Class Act
By Jim Reedy
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, February 6, 2003; Page D04

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Feb. 5 -- When he introduced his first recruiting class last year, a group rated among the nation's 10 best, Virginia Coach Al Groh was quick to point out that the Cavaliers would need two or three more top-notch classes to reach their goals.

Today, as the national signing period opened, Groh announced the signing of 21 recruits he believes collectively fulfill that standard. Stocked with offensive linemen, wide receivers and linebackers, Virginia's 2003 class was ranked in the top 25 by most recruiting analysts.

"We're very pleased to have put together a second very strong class, especially as it was able to fulfill areas that we very specifically targeted to fill in talent spots on this roster," Groh said. "That's two in a row, and we're already thinking toward number three."

Like last year, the Cavaliers' strategy of targeting players with high national profiles meant they waited on several players until the final days. They received commitments Monday from two of the nation's highest-rated linebackers, Jermaine Dias and Vince Redd, but lost out on linebacker Turk McBride (Tennessee) and wide receiver-safety Chase Anastasio (Notre Dame).

Virginia, which started all freshmen and sophomores on the offensive line in its resounding Continental Tire Bowl win over West Virginia, added five more highly regarded players up front, including Texas native Ian-Yates Cunningham and Florida's Jordy Lipsey, one of the nation's best centers.

"They're a pretty imposing group," Groh said. "The class isn't quite as jazzy in terms of numbers because offensive linemen don't have a lot of numbers . . . but these numbers -- 6-6, 318, 6-6, 309 -- impress me."

The class isn't as heavy on offensive skill players as last year's, but quarterback Kevin McCabe and tight end Jonathan Stupar were ranked among the top 10 at their positions. Four wide receivers, led by Virginia natives Shannon Lane and Fontel Mines, represent what Groh called "really good firepower."

Virginia also has linebacker Ahmad Brooks, a Hylton graduate who was touted as the crown jewel of last year's class but did not qualify academically. After spending the fall semester at Hargrave Military Academy, Brooks enrolled at Virginia last month and will participate in spring practice.

 

High school basketball star LeBron James ruled eligible to play
Wednesday, February 5, 2003
By TOM WITHERS
ASSOCIATED PRESS

AKRON, Ohio (AP) - LeBron James can put his high school jersey back on for at least a few more games.

The 18-year-old basketball superstar was cleared by a judge Wednesday to continue playing after losing his eligibility for accepting two free sports jerseys, valued at $845, from a clothing store.

"It confirms our belief that the he never should have been suspended," said James' attorney, Fred Nance.

James still must sit out at least one more game and his eligibility remains in question pending another court hearing Feb. 19.

Summit County Judge James R. Williams issued a temporary restraining order that allows James, expected to be the No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft, to play immediately.

Williams ordered James to sit out one of St. Vincent-St. Mary's final four regular-season games. The school said he would miss a game against Toledo Scott on Feb. 23, four days after the hearing when Williams will grant a permanent injunction or go to trial.

"I look forward to getting the final hearing behind us so that LeBron can focus entirely on his schoolwork, basketball and his friends, just like any other teenager, as much as possible," said James' mother, Gloria.

Principal David Rathz was disappointed that James wasn't exonerated. The school had defended James and said the punishment was too severe.

"I like things clear-cut," he said. "This is a tie. I don't like ties."

St. Vincent-St. Mary, ranked No. 1 by USA Today, plays this Saturday in Trenton, N.J.

James, a 6-foot-8 senior, already missed one game after the Ohio High School Athletic Association on Friday declared him ineligible for accepting the two "throwback" jerseys, which are from a popular line of clothing that re-creates the style of old sports jerseys right down to the stitching.

Commissioner Clair Muscaro declared James ineligible for violating an OHSAA bylaw that says an athlete loses eligibility "for capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving gifts of monetary value."

In a one-hour hearing, Williams listened to arguments from OHSAA attorney Steven Craig and Nance. The judge met privately with both sides in his chambers for much of the morning before bringing them into the courtroom. James did not attend the hearing.

Williams said in his ruling that James would suffer "immediate and irreparable injury" without a court order. He did not say why he overruled the OHSAA.

During his argument, Nance challenged Muscaro's authority to rule on James' eligibility and pointed out that if James wanted to, he could have long ago capitalized on his fame.

Nike, Adidas and other companies are in a bidding war for James, often compared to a young Michael Jordan.

"If he was about capitalizing on his fame, he would have been in Los Angeles or New York last weekend signing multimillion dollar contracts instead of sitting on the bench," Nance said.

Nance did not absolve James for accepting the jerseys, but said the punishment was too severe.

"He's made mistakes," Nance said. "He's an 18-year-old kid, but he didn't deserve the ultimate sanction of losing his eligibility."

The OHSAA found that the store gave James the Gale Sayers and Wes Unseld jerseys for free, in exchange for James posing for pictures to be displayed on its walls.

Nance accused Muscaro of rushing to judgment and not properly investigating before ruling. The lawyer said James was given the jerseys by a store employee, Joseph Hawthorn, as a reward for making the honor roll.

Hawthorn is a friend of Eddie Jackson, James' father figure, who is serving a three-year sentence for mortgage and mail fraud.

Nance also said the OHSAA last year had capitalized on James' fame by moving state playoff games involving St. Vincent-St. Mary to larger venues.

On several occasions, Nance referred to an orange OHSAA handbook and called some of the agency's rules: "ambiguous at best."

Craig countered all of Nance's assertions, and in his argument said that James should have known better than to accept the jerseys for free.

He rebuffed Nance's statement that Muscaro wasn't thorough in his investigation, and said the commissioner tried but could not get in touch with James.

Craig said Muscaro called the school to get the player's version of how he obtained the jerseys, and was told, "He won't talk to you, you have to talk to his mother."

Craig also wondered why Nance would criticize the way Muscaro handled his inquiry on the jerseys when he didn't protest the way the commissioner dealt with James accepting a $50,000 Hummer as a gift from his mother.

Muscaro's decision to rule James ineligible came four days after the OHSAA cleared him of any wrongdoing for accepting the custom-made vehicle.

James' fame has brought attention to every move he makes, and Wednesday's hearing was no exception. A media throng _ including seven camera crews _ were in the packed courtroom.

Craig argued that although James is a special basketball player, he doesn't have special privileges.

The OHSAA lawyer concluded his by remarks by quoting a line from the movie "Spiderman."

"With great power comes great responsibility," Craig said. "LeBron James, through his athletic ability, his charisma and the like, has amassed considerable power, and with that, considerable responsibility."