Little-used U.Va. senior savors night of glory
Rogers sparks victory over Terps
By Dave Johnson
Daily Press
Published March 11, 2003

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- The highlight of Jason Rogers' college basketball career before Sunday night? Maybe that six-point, four-rebound effort against Hampton as a freshman. Or those four blocked shots versus Grambling as a sophomore. The sad truth is, there were few choices.

One-hundred-and-fifty-one minutes. That was the amount of time he had spent on the floor in four seasons at Virginia. Not even the equivalent of four full games. All of that makes what happened Sunday night in University Hall all the more stunning. Travis Watson had probably the best game of his career, with 26 points and 15 rebounds. Todd Billet knocked down six 3-pointers. But the MVP of the Cavaliers' 80-78 overtime win against Maryland was a seldom-used senior named Jason Rogers.

"I couldn't believe it," Virginia coach Pete Gillen said. "I was stunned. He's never played like that in practice. I mean, some days he has good practices, but that's the best he's played in four years. He was spectacular. I'm not very smart; I didn't play him enough. I'll say it, you don't have to write it."

Where has Rogers been hiding his 6-foot-11 self? At the end of the bench with the walk-ons and trainers. He had played 10 minutes in conference games this year, half coming in a loss at Florida State. In that limited time, he was averaging 1.4 points and 1.2 rebounds a game. His career numbers were about the same.

Then came Senior Night, the final home game for Rogers and Watson, two of the four high school players who comprised Gillen's first recruiting class at Virginia. It was, no question, a token start. Everyone knew how things would work.

"I expected to be in there maybe two or three minutes," Rogers said. "Then I'd come out and have the crowd say thank you."

Instead, here's what he did in the first four minutes: He hit a jump hook, grabbed two rebounds, blocked a shot and dove into Virginia's bench for a loose ball. Gillen didn't even consider subbing for him. Rogers banked in a short jumper, he dunked off a fast break, he swatted away two more Maryland attempts near the basket. By halftime, he had 10 points and five rebounds. The crowd, which always roots for the underdog, was chanting his name.

"Honestly, when I threw down that jump hook, I was like, 'Dear God, just hit the rim,' " Rogers said. "I'm not going to lie: That was one of the ugliest things I've ever thrown at the rim. I was just praying to God it would connect with something. When it went in, I got a little momentum."

Get this: Until Billet knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers, the second with 12:58 left in the game, Rogers was the Cavaliers' leading scorer. He ended up with 12 points, six rebounds (including three on offense) and three blocks.

"He really did set the tone for the game," Billet said. "And it ran through the whole team. Without the intensity he showed, I don't think we win this game."

So will Rogers remain in the starting lineup? Gillen was coy when asked - "We're just going to enjoy tonight," he said - but need you ask? Rogers provided a spark this down-in-the-mouth team had needed for weeks.

Rogers basked in the moment.

"It was a fairy tale," he said. "I couldn't have asked to come out any other way. This was the best."
 

Rogers needed a chance
Opportunity earlier may have helped player, coach, team
Ken Bosserman/The News Leader

Pete Gillen was stunned. The University of Virginia head basketball coach couldn't believe what he watching Sunday night.

A 6-foot-11 player he had banished to the end of the bench four years ago was torching the No. 13 team in the country in the first start of his career.

Yes, Pete, Jason Rogers wasn't making you look very smart.

Gillen had forgotten about Rogers long ago. The only reason the Robert E. Lee graduate was on the playing floor for a start against Maryland was because it was Senior Night, and it's the custom for seniors to start their final home game.

Like a Hollywood script, Rogers seized upon the moment. He finally had his stage, which fittingly included a national television audience, to prove once and for all he belonged in the best basketball conference the country has to offer.

He didn't waste a precious second. In the game's first eight minutes, Rogers had five points, three blocks and two rebounds.

Mind you this performance was coming against the defending national champions' first-line players of Steve Blake, Drew Nicholas, Tahj Holden, etc. This wasn't the final two minutes of a blowout of a December cupcake which until Sunday was basically all Rogers had seen in four years. Rogers had become a master of meaningless minutes.

Against the Terps, Jason Rogers was barking with the big dogs.

"Tonight he showed everyone that he could play in this league, that he IS an ACC-caliber player," said fellow senior Travis Watson.

It didn't take long for a sequence he said was the defining moment of his career.

He came streaking down the left wing on a 2-on-1 fastbreak led by freshman Derrick Byars. Byars hit Rogers with a perfect pass, and he soared over Maryland's 6-foot-9 junior Jamar Smith for a nasty one-handed slam dunk that sent the crowd and his teammates into a frenzy.

"I was worried I had left the floor too soon, and would mess it up," Rogers said as he was surrounded by a horde of cameras and media for the first time in his career. "Man, by the time I'm 90 years old, I'll be telling my grand kids that I took off from half court."

He had a career night going, and it wasn't even halftime. At the break, Rogers led the team with 10 points, six rebounds, three blocks and a University Hall record for times the fans adoringly chanted his name.

By the end, Rogers had logged 21 minutes, seven more than he had seen in nine previous cameos this seasons, scored 12 points and ripped down six rebounds, all career highs.

All of which left Gillen to face the obvious question. Why hadn't Rogers played more?

"I'm not very smart. You don't have to write it, I'll go ahead and say it," he said afterward.

"I couldn't believe it," Gillen said. "I was stunned. He was blocking shots, making baskets. I said, 'Damn ... that's the best he's played in four years.'"

You think, Pete?

Maybe if you have given the kid a chance, Sunday night may have been commonplace. But we'll never know that, will we?

Gillen has maintained Rogers isn't a good practice player. He doesn't perform well enough to warrant playing time. The sports landscape is filled with athletes who don't necessarily practice well, but once the bright lights are turned on, are ready to play. Conversely, there are those who light up practices and wilt under the game pressure.

Gillen should have at least thrown Rogers out there to see how he performs under game conditions.

You can't tell much by playing the last couple minutes of blowouts.

And let's face it, considering how badly Virginia has played over the last two seasons, the fire and passion Rogers brought to Sunday's game certainly could have been used.

Maybe Gillen wouldn't be looking up and seeing all the vultures that have been circling this season.

Besides the practice issue, Gillen and his staff wanted Rogers to redshirt his freshman season to get stronger and improve his game. Rogers didn't want to redshirt, and that didn't go over well with Gillen.

"I think Pete was angry over Jason's decision, and he's never forgotten," said LaVerne Rogers who isn't afraid to speak out on her son. "I've learned Pete's good at telling a player what he wants to hear.

"All Jason ever wanted at Virginia was an opportunity, and as parents, we don't think he got a fair deal," she said as her voice rose. "But now it's time to move on. What's done is done."

But while family, friends and fans have vented their frustrations for four years, Rogers exhibits true class.

"I don't harbor any negative feelings whatsoever," Rogers said.

But Jason, doesn't a game like you had make you wonder what might have been or the least bit bitter?

"Absolutely not," he quickly replied. "Yes, I'm elated over the way I played -- shocked is more like it -- but to me winning the game is the most important."

True class all the way.

Thank you, Jason, for all the memories from Lee High to Virginia.

Hubert F. Grim III is the sports editor of The News Leader. He can be reached at hgrimiii@newsleader.com

 

Florida high school star picks Virginia
Cavs add point after big victory

After watching Virginia beat Maryland, point guard T.J. Bannister calls off a visit to Texas.

By DOUG DOUGHTY
THE ROANOKE TIMES

   While a second victory over Maryland may not have gotten Virginia an NCAA Tournament bid, it might have gotten the Cavaliers a point guard.

    Virginia entertained 5-foot-11 T.J. Bannister on Sunday night and, Tuesday morning, he made an oral commitment to the Cavaliers.

    Bannister averaged 21 points and 11 assists this season for Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville, Fla., where he is coached by ex-Jacksonville University star Rex Morgan.

    "I ask the kids to wait to make a commitment until they get back from their visit," Morgan said. "He called me Monday night to say that that's [UVa] where we wanted to go. I asked him to sleep on it and he didn't change his mind overnight."

    Bannister visited Ohio University last month and cancelled a trip to Texas.

    "Virginia's been in touch with him for the past three weeks," Morgan said. "He was interested in them early, but they had a point guard."

    UVa's involvement with Bannister coincided with the indefinite suspension of sophomore guard Keith Jenifer, who requested a release from his scholarship last week.

    "They're getting a good player," Morgan said. "Nobody's been able to press him in the four years he's started for me."

    As a junior, Bannister made 144 of 157 free throws (91.7 percent).

    "Last year, everybody thought he was going to Alabama," Morgan said. "Texas got involved when it looked like T.J. Ford might go pro; then, Alabama backed off because its point guard was staying.

    "T.J. [Bannister] has been around. He knows players and he was aware of the situation with Virginia losing its point guard. This was a good spot for him."

Pledges boost arena project
Mar 12, 2003

CHARLOTTESVILLE - The University of Virginia, which is trying to raise $128 million to build a multi-purpose arena, recently received pledges that should allow it to break ground in the next 90 days, sources said. U.Va. has yet to announce these gifts.

The project includes a 15,000-seat arena that will replace University Hall, as well as a parking garage and connector road. U.Va. wants to open the arena by the start of the 2006-07 school year. If the school breaks ground by this summer, the project should be completed on schedule.

School officials have said they need commitments for at least $80 million before they can begin construction. U.Va. entered this month with about $60 million in pledges. - Jeff White
 

Guard says yes to U.Va.
Bannister among best in Florida
BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Mar 12, 2003

T.J. Bannister and J.R. Reynolds became friends at AAU basketball tournaments and at the Nike summer camp in Indianapolis. They'll be teammates at the University of Virginia, starting next season.

"We used to always talk about playing together," Bannister recalled yesterday.

Reynolds, a 6-2 shooting guard from Oak Hill Academy, signed with U.Va. in November. Bannister, a 5-10, 165-pound point guard from Jacksonville, Fla., committed yesterday to Virginia, which he visited over the weekend.

The NCAA's spring signing period opens next month. Bannister, 18, was a four-year starter at Arlington Country Day, one of Florida's premier programs, and is the top player in Jacksonville.

He averaged 21 points and 11 assists this season and is expected to be named all-state for the third straight year. He shot about 85 percent from the line during his career.

"He'll be a great player for Virginia," ACD coach Rex Morgan said. "You can't press him."

U.Va.'s search for another point guard intensified after sophomore Keith Jenifer was suspended from the team early last month. Jenifer was released from his scholarship last week.

Bannister, who has qualified academically, had numerous scholarship offers in the fall, Morgan said, but his family "made the decision that he was going to wait till the spring" to sign. Most of the schools that were recruiting Bannister chose not to wait and signed other point guards in November. Ohio was among those still pursuing him.

"I think everything happens for a reason," said Bannister, who has a 3.2 grade-point average. "I'm just happy to be at Virginia right now."

 

Subject: Everything you wanted to know about TJ BANNISTER but were afraid to ask . . .
Posted by: NorthernExposure on Wed Mar 12 2003 1:23:05 AM
Message:

Having just read a zillion clips on our latest recruit, I thought I'd
share my view of what to expect from T.J. Bannister. While I am in no
way an "insider", I have observed enough recruiting and recruiting
hype the past 25 years to get a good sense on a player, especially
someone who has received as much attention as Bannister.

As a sophmore, Bannister was on quite a few to 10 or top 20 lists
(that's ALL players, not point guards). As a junior he made a number
of top 20 and top 30 lists. As a senior, at least at this stage, you
won't find him on many top 50 lists, in fact, he's fallen out of a
lot of top 100 lists.

Why the precipitous drop? I suspect that his high ranking as a
sophmore and junior was in part because he played for a top national
program in Jacksonville, Florida - Arlington County Day. Playing for
a top school, he would be one of the few underclass man seen by most
recruiting gurus. The fact that he was 5-10 as a sophmore didn't hurt
him because he might grow.

He didn't grow. And that combined with the fact that scouts don't
have confidence in his outside shot led to his drop in the rankings.

But while he is small (he's closer to 5'10 than 5-11) he also has a
number of good to excellent qualities that he has shown on a
consistent basis in high school. He can penetrate, a skill our team
this year so desperately lacked. By most accounts he has a good
handle and is a good passer, skills we also need. He is an
outstanding free throw shooter, knocking down 92 per cent as a
junior. He has above average speed for a point. Some have said
blazing but I think that's a bit of hyperbole - he gets by players as
much with good moves and hesitation as pure speed. He's still fast.

On the downside, while he can get into the paint he has a tendancy to
get caught in the air, leading to turnovers. And he hasn't shown
himself to be a shooter despite a lot of playing time in high school,
so I have doubts as to whether he'd ever be an outside threat.

I don't know about his defensive skills.

Appears to be a very good student - had a 3.9 gpa at one point.

He's a fan of the Florida Gators and wanted desperately to go there.
As an underclassman, when he was so highly ranked, most people
assumed he'd go there. But Florida, which has young point guard
talent, did not offer. Hope he uses that to motivate himself to
improve his game.

What follows are observations of others cut and pasted from various
sites:

Very capable and confident floor leader. Teams with Dwan Youmans to
form the top backcourt duo in the state of Florida.

This game was the TJ Bannister show. He drove pass his defenders and
scored with ease. He stroked the three. He dished out assists and he
even talked a little trash. He told Champagnat’s Andres Ibon that he
was too slowed to guard him and than he blew by him for an easy lay
up. Champagnat’s star point guard, Martin Osamini could only watch
from the bench as Bannister shook, rocked, and scored on his
teammates. Champagnat’s responded with Francisco Rasio and Manuel
Guezman. The inside/outside combo gave Champagnat a third quarter
lead, but ACDS save their best run for the fourth quarter. They
outscored Champagnat 24-15.

Having come off a big win last week against Miami Christian,
Northwest Christian had every reason to believe it could play with
Country Day. Well, the Apaches' point guard T.J. Bannister gave them
at least 30 reasons why they still aren't quite there yet as
Bannister dropped 30 on them to lead Country Day to a 62-48 win at
Dillard in the MLK Classic.
Bannister's complete domination of the game was something that the
Eagles were just unable to slow down as Bannister knocked down 19 of
20 free throws en route to his 30
Bannister's dead eye free throw shooting, as he knocked down 14
consecutive free throws after missing his only one in the 2nd
quarter. According to his coach, Bannister shot 144 for 157 from the
free throw line last season which is at a 92% clip that would be tops
in the NBA.

T.J. BANNISTER: As noted above, T.J. Bannister took home the MVP
trophy with an impressive performance in the finals, which followed
his 16 point, 9 assist effort in the semi's. Bannister is a lightning
quick creator who can both pull up and slash to the hoop. His assist
totals evidence his ability to distribute as well.

Bannister is a solid point guard that can blow by defenders with a
nice dribble drive. He did a good job of feeding the ball into the
post and finding Washington coming off of high screens. He still
needs to develop a nice shot from deep but with a team so loaded,
Bannister didn’t need to focus on his offense. He finished the night
with 9 points, 7 assists and 3 steals

Bannister, who is 5-10, 164, ran his team well and was very effective
against difficult opposition in the Nike Camp. He admits to picking
up a reputation as a non-shooter, but he made two mid-range jumpers
in a Monday evening game. His most obvious problem is a tendency to
compensate for a lack of size by leaving his feet trying to make
plays. That habit will generate scoring opportunities for him and his
teammates, but too often will lead to turnovers. It's the kind of
thing that tends to work against ordinary high school competition but
rarely against the better talent on college rosters. If he ends up in
the SEC, it is something he will need to cure. It still could happen,
even though Florida may not be the destination.

Bannister, who is ranked #25 nationally in the junior class by the
HOOP SCOOP, as well as #3 among point guards in the junior class, is
also an outstanding student (3.9 gpa). However, on the basketball
court Bannister is a point guard who reminds you of a less explosive
version of Kevin Johnson. Not only does he always keep the ball low
to the ground and push the ball in transition, but Bannister also has
great ball handling and passing skills, which makes it extremely
difficult to press him. So all Bannister needs to do now is continue
to work on outside shooting.

Yes, he's small and not the greatest perimeter shooter but he doesn't
force a lot of shots, runs an offense smoothly and relishes the role
of lead ballhandler. He'll never be an all-conference contender, but
coaches won't be pulling their hair out with him running the attack.

This kid is a point guard in every sense of the word. He thinks pass
first, and very rarely makes a bad one. He is lightning quick, and
can hit pull up jumpers, while leading the break. Some high majors
really need to jump on this kid, while he is still available.


 

Top-Ranked Virginia Downs #9 Notre Dame 14-8 in Men's Lacrosse
Christmas ties career high with four goals to pace Cavaliers.
March 11, 2003

Charlottesville, Va. - Virginia used two four-goal runs in the second half to gain a 14-8 win over Notre Dame this afternoon at Klöckner Stadium. With the win the Cavaliers move to 4-0 this season, their best start since they won six straight to open the 1996 season. The loss dropped the ninth-ranked Fighting Irish to 3-1.

Sophomore John Christmas tied his career high with four goals and added two assists to lead the Cavalier offense. Senior Chris Rotelli and freshman Matt Ward each scored three times and assisted on another score. Overall Virginia's starting attack scored eight goals and chipped in with six assists.

Both offenses came ready to play, scoring twice in the opening six minutes. Rotelli scored UVa's first two goals, but Dan Berger and Matt Howell answered each time for the visiting Irish. The Cavaliers controlled the ball for much of the first and fired off 19 shots, but goalie Stewart Crosland was tremendous with nine of his 21 saves in the period. Christmas and Joe Yevoli each found the back of the net after the initial offensive flurry to give the Cavaliers a 4-2 lead at the end of the period.

Each team scored once in the second quarter in a period that wasn't nearly as explosive as the first as Virginia built a 5-3 halftime lead.

The Cavaliers blew the game open early in the second half as Christmas and Ward both scored twice in first three-and-a-half minutes to propel them to a 9-3 lead. The Fighting Irish responded with a run of their own, however. They capitalized on three Virginia penalties with extra-man goals by Howell, Patrick Walsh, and Berger to trim the margin to three (9-6) at period's end.

Just as they did to start the third quarter, the Cavaliers erupted for four consecutive goals to begin the fourth period. Billy Glading's only goal of the game at 12:08 helped shift the momentum to Virginia's side and end Notre Dame's third quarter run. Rotelli tallied his third of the game at 9:24, while Zach Heffner scored the first goal of his career 14 seconds later. Ward converted on a fast break pass from Christmas to extend UVa's lead to 13-6 midway through the quarter. Notre Dame's Matt Karweck and Travis Wells sandwiched another goal by Christmas to close the scoring.

Virginia returns to action against Towson this Sunday (March 16) at Klöckner Stadium at 3:30 pm.