Nelson's Cabell commits to Virginia
By Jerry Ratcliffe / Daily Progress sports editor
July 2, 2005

Virginia didn’t have to go far to find its eighth commitment for the football recruiting class of 2006. In fact, massive tackle B.J. Cabell was right under the Cavaliers’ collective noses.

The 6-foot-6, 297-pound, two-way performer is an all-district player from nearby Nelson County High School. If that wasn’t enough, Cabell just finished impressing UVa coaches at its recently completed football camp.

According to sources, Cabell delivered an eye-opening performance at the Cavaliers’ four-day camp, much like current starting right tackle Brad Butler did in his camp here a few years ago.

“They offered me [Friday] morning and I accepted almost right away,” said Cabell, who made The Daily Progress All-Central Virginia first-team as a junior offensive lineman.

Cabell, who has 30 varsity starts under his belt, played both offensive and defensive tackle for the Governors, who went 5-5 last season. He caught plenty of attention en route to becoming an All-Dogwood District player with his 300-pound plus frame. He was up to 325 pounds at one point but dropped weight while playing basketball for the Govs.

He attended junior recruiting days at both UVa and Maryland and was also being recruited by the Terps, Virginia Tech, N.C. State, South Carolina and Connecticut. No more.

Cabell said that the recruiting process is over for him.

“Virginia is where I wanted to be,” he said.

The Nelson County lineman said he grew up rooting for both the Cavaliers and Hokies, but chose UVa because of its strong academic reputation. He owns a 3.4 GPA and should qualify easily.

Cabell said he got strong looks from both Virginia’s offensive and defensive coaches during camp. Coaches told him they liked his footwork, his hustle and were extremely impressed with his leadership ability.

“I don’t really care where I play for Virginia, I just want to play,” Cabell said.

Be it “dribble” or drivel, Durant story draws fire
Early commitment allows Hokies, Allen to buy time
By Doug Doughty
THE ROANOKE TIMES

Among the responses to last week’s Notebook Plus (“Durrant’s moves a twisted tale”), one of the least flattering was from self-described “Proud University of Texas alum” Tim L.

“You people wonder why you’re called scumbags when you report the dribble you do,” Tim L. wrote.

When I write about basketball, yes, I guess I do write “dribble.”

I’m assuming that Tim L. meant “drivel,” but who am I to point fingers? As several e-mailers pointed out, it’s Kevin Durant, with one “n,” and not Kevin Durrant, which is the way I had it.

Most of the time, this column deals with issues and news – mostly recruiting — that pertain to Virginia Tech and Virginia. When I stray from that approach, as I did in last week’s column about Oak Hill Academy big man Kevin Durant and his transfer to Montrose Christian Academy, my fear is that a lot of the regular readership will turn elsewhere.

That shows how much I know. Part of the column dealt with Durant’s oral commitment to Texas and not North Carolina, which resulted in a link being posted on Texas fans’ boards and probably Carolina boards.

As frequently happens, when several Longhorn fans complain via e-mail, we were able to establish a healthy dialogue once I responded. It was not my intent to besmirch Durant or the University of Texas and its academics. I just felt that the Longhorns were in a better position than North Carolina to take an oral commitment at that time.

Carolina, after losing four players to the NBA Draft, could not risk alienating future frontcourt recruits by taking a commitment at this time from Durant, whose academics need some upgrading. That is not to imply that the Tar Heels did not make an offer to Durant or wouldn’t have taken his commitment at a later date.

The mistake I made, as I subsequently discovered, was to furnish my critics with more information about Durant’s academics than I had reported in the column. I felt I had the information from a good source, but since I didn’t have the numbers in front of me and felt they were somewhat incriminating, I didn’t put them in the column.

Turns out, if you reveal any information in an e-mail, especially to somebody you don’t know, it’s like putting it in print. I’ve heard it said that Durant’s numbers might be better than we've been led to believe, which might make sense, because multiple SAT or ACT scores may have been become known since Durant left Oak Hill.

As for the news that point guard Tywon Lawson was the most valuable player on Oak Hill’s team, I don’t think that dimishes Durant’s stock as the No. 2 prospect in the country. Note: the word is “prospect.” If they become available for the NBA draft in the same year or even had they come out this year, Durant probably would have been selected before Lawson, based in large part on potential.

Lisa Smith, wife of Oak Hill head coach Steve Smith, provides the following statistics on Durant: He shot 65.4 percent from the field and 76.5 percent from the free-throw line, averaging team highs of 19.6 points and 8.6 rebounds. He also had 70 dunks.

To clarify an issue raised in last week’s column: Durant, while he won’t be 19 until the late summer in 2007, will be eligible for the 2007 draft. The new NBA age limit of 19 is based on a player’s age Dec. 31 of the calendar year in which he’s drafted.

As I attempt to clear out my in-box, let me share one final thought from my “friend” Tim L.

“Fact is you have a crappy job and do a crappy job at it,” he wrote. “Keep up the crappy work!”

TONY LANGLEY, coach of the D.C. Warriors’ AAU basketball team that features Virginia Tech recruits Nigel Munson and Jeff Allen, said Friday that everybody is on the same page regarding Allen’s proposed 2007 arrival in Blacksburg.

Allen, most valuable player in DeMatha’s victory over Cardozo in the City Title Game, will be a senior next season but may not have the combination of GPA and test scores to be able to go directly from high school to college (oops, there we go again).

Tech, on the other hand, currently does not have a scholarship available for the 2006-2007 season, although it would not be unusual for a grant to open before the end of next season.

“He’s in summer school right now at DeMatha,” Langley said. “We’re in the process of seeing where he’s going to wind up academically. He may have to consider reclassifiying.”

In other words, he wouldn’t graduate from DeMatha, a practice that would allow him to improve his grade-point average while taking an extra year at a prep school. If he were to graduate from DeMatha next year, his GPA would be frozen.

“He’s academically on target to graduate from DeMatha,” Langley said. “The question is, will his GPA be high enough to qualify for a Division I scholarship in the core [curriculum].”

Allen’s commitment allows both him and the Hokies to buy some time, Allen to see if he can qualify academically and Tech to see if its scholarship figure remains stable.

“Anything’s liable to happen,” Langley said. “You know how Division I schools are. At this point, it will give Jeff an opportunity to strengthen his academics. He’ll end up with Nige anyway.”

B.J. CABELL’S RESEMBLANCE to another Central Virginia lineman, Brad Butler, played a big part in Virginia’s decision to offer him a scholarship after his appearance this week at their camp.

Cabell, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive guard from Nelson County, became the eighth player to commit to the Cavaliers for 2006.

“He’s the best that we’ve ever had at his position,” said Governors’ head coach Tim Crawford, who has been associated with the program for 25 years.

Virginia hasn’t had a football letterman from Nelson County since defensive back Billy League in 1970-71. League went on to coach the Governors.

Crawford said Virginia and Maryland were the schools most interested in Cabell, who had letters from Oklahoma, Nebraska, Florida and Florida State.

Butler, who will be a four-year starter for the Cavaliers at offensive tackle, was an unheralded prospect going into his senior year at E.C. Glass in Lynchburg.

QUARTERBACK KAM CHANCELLOR from Maury High School in Norfolk may have improved his stock by directing his team to the championship game of a 7-on-7 tournament last weekend in Charlottesville. Friendly High School of Fort Washington, Md.

Along the way, Maury defeated a Landstown High School team that included the nation’s No. 1 prospect, Percy Harvin, and fellow wideout Damon McDaniel. They also hooked up with the nation’s No. 2 receiver prospect, Vidal Hazelton from Staten Island, N.Y., who hinted that he might consider a transfer to Landstown for his senior year.

Virginia and Virginia Tech have been in touch with Chancellor, a 6-foot-4, 200-pounder who has a 3.0 grade-point average. He was rated the No. 6 prospect in South Hampton Roads by the Virginian-Pilot, behind Harvin, Granby wide receiver Chris Bell, McDaniel, Oscar Smith defensive lineman Bob Whitmore and Hickory defensive lineman Ronnell Brown.

Happy Anniversary, Hokies!
by John Galinsky
Jul 01, 2005

A year ago today, I wrote a column welcoming Virginia Tech to the ACC. In an otherwise cheerful hello to our new conference neighbors to the southwest, I helpfully pointed out that the Hokies would lose - often and badly - in nearly every sport during their first year in the league. For some reason, it wasn't roundly appreciated.

Well, a year later, after examining the results of Year One and having received several ill-tempered e-mails from loyal Tech supporters, I must say, with all due respect, humility and graciousness: I was right.

Yes, the Hokies won the ACC football championship and did better than expected in men's basketball. Frank Beamer and Seth Greenberg each was named (deservedly) ACC coach of the year. Those accomplishments deserve our kudos and a respectful pause.

(Respectful pause.)

Now let's look at everything else.

Virginia Tech fields varsity teams in 19 other sports and finished near the bottom of the ACC in 17 of them. The exceptions were wrestling (1st) and women's swimming and diving (5th). The rest of the Hokie athletics "programs" - and I use that term loosely - ranged from mediocre to dismal.

In the ACC, the Hokies finished last or tied for last in men's golf, men's soccer, women's lacrosse, women's tennis and softball. (Somehow the softball team made the NCAA tournament despite a 4-13 conference record.)

Overall, Tech's record in head-to-head competition against other ACC teams was 59-99, a winning percentage of 37.3. Well done! Thank goodness for football (7-1), wrestling (5-0) and men's basketball (8-8), because the other 18 teams combined to lose 70% of their ACC matchups. Women's lacrosse (0-5) and women's tennis (0-11) didn't win any.

When you look at the complete sports spectrum, the Hokies finished with a winning record against just one ACC school: fellow newcomer Miami. (Tech won eight of 15 head-to-head matchups with the Hurricanes.) The Hokies went 10-10 against Maryland and had losing records against the other eight conference schools. And interestingly enough, they fared especially poorly against - guess who? - the University of Virginia.

Let's look at that closely, shall we? Yeah, we know, Tech won the football matchup 24-10. For many Hokie fans, and some Cavalier fans, that's all that matters. Fine, you folks care about one sport. Take your limited interest, your narrow allegiance and your one-trick pony home, and stop reading now.

For those who value a broad-based athletic department and overall excellence, let's continue. Even you Hokies have some things to be proud of. You split with the Cavaliers in men's basketball. You stomped Virginia in wrestling, and you even upset the then-#2 'Hoos in men's soccer. But that's pretty much where it ends.

Virginia won the only baseball game (the other two were rained out), the men's tennis matchup, both women's basketball meetings, the women's lacrosse game (18-3!), both women's soccer matches (by a combined score of 11-0), three of five softball games, the women's tennis contest and the volleyball match.

The final total: Virginia 13, Virginia Tech 6.

And it almost certainly would have been worse had the Hokies fielded teams in men's lacrosse, women's rowing and women's golf - all UVa strong suits.

Look it up: Virginia finished higher than Virginia Tech in the ACC standings in 17 of 21 sports. The Cavaliers won five ACC championships to one for the Hokies (just football…the wrestling team lost to North Carolina in the ACC tournament). UVa finished 13th in the Directors' Cup standings, 45 spots ahead of VT.

No doubt some of you will view this as sour grapes, a pathetic attempt to save face after finishing behind the Hokies in both marquee sports. Well, duh. Of course it is.

But it's also a little dose of perspective and a reminder that Virginia Tech has a long way to go before becoming competitive in a true all-sports conference. Maybe that time will come as the Hokies benefit from their inclusion in the ACC. In the long run, all of their sports should improve as a result of ACC recruiting and ACC money - if the school doesn't just pour it all into football.

More than anything, perhaps this will make Hokie fans think for a few seconds before gloating about football, as they've done incessantly, insufferably for seven months. Think about all that futility in cross country, baseball, tennis and volleyball. Think about it, please, and pretend you care.

If that results in just one brief pause, even a disrespectful one, then this article will have been worth it.

Blue-chip recruit Caracter keeps Cavs in his plans
Compared to LeBron James as eight-grader, rising high school senior from N.J. could be just what Virginia program needs to get back on track
Chris Insolera, Cavalier Daily Senior Writer

It didn't take him very long.

In less than three months on the job, new men's basketball coach Dave Leitao -- the man in charge of making Virginia hoops matter again -- has already begun to rekindle the imagination of a demoralized fan base, as well as create a national buzz around his program. That's what happens when Derrick Caracter, a highly skilled, widely hyped 6'9", 300-pound forward from New Jersey, names Virginia -- yes, lastplace in the ACC, can't even make the NIT Virginia -- as one of the final four schools he is considering in his college search, along with Villanova, Memphis, and Louisville.

"Virginia's inclusion on that list was a big surprise to many," said Jay Hodgkins, who covers Cavalier basketball recruiting for the Virginia rivals network site TheWagonOnline.com."It showed that the new coaching staff has made a quick and significant impact."

Why is Caracter's recruitment such a big deal? The polished behemoth is so good that he was once considered the No. 1 prospect in his high school class. Before his freshman year, ESPN.com asked if he was the next Lebron James.Some have compared him to a young Moses Malone, while Kevin Boyle, his high school coach at St. Patrick's High School in Elizabeth, NJ, says he's a taller version of Charles Barkley. Everyone who watches him says that he has the skills -- and especially the size -- to dominate the college game and eventually the NBA.

"Caracter's game is really sound," said Dave Telep, the national recruiting director for Scout.com. "He's a terrific passer at his size and a fine finisher around the rim. He's not overly athletic but he uses his body to get him places and he's crafty. He'll face you and stick mid-range jumpers with ease. Caracter is a terrific prospect, especially when he's in good shape, like he is heading into the summer."

Caracter's problem, however, according to some in the recruiting circles, is that he is not always in good shape, both physically and mentally. Ever since he gained national fame for becoming the first eighth grader to participate in the prestigious Nike All-America camp in 2002, critics have accused him of being too complacent, claiming that he lacks the work ethic and the maturity necessary to become a great player. They point out that he missed 13 games due to academic suspension during his freshman year; that he left St. Patrick's for a year after that season because of disciplinary problems and that he has had trouble controlling his weight. The fact that Caracter is now the No. 35 ranked prospect in the country, according to Rivals.com, speaks volumes for how much his stock has fallen over the last several months.

Caracter, who is currently preparing for Reebok ABCD Camp, an exclusive prospect showcase in Teaneck, NJ, could not be reached for comment. Boyle, however -- a celebrity in the coaching ranks who has won several state titles and sent numerous players to Division I programs, as well as Al Harrington (of the Atlanta Hawks) and Samuel Dalembert (of the Philadelphia 76ers) to the NBA -- defended his big man and said that Caracter has been given an unfair rap.

"I think his work ethic is much improved, especially since he came back [to St. Patrick's] from public school after his sophomore year," he said. "People get on him about his weight when he wears his baggy shirts, but if you touch his stomach, it's like a wall."

Boyle also explained Caracter's perceived complacency, arguing thathis immense skill, not a lack of desire, engenders this criticism.

"His ability to shoot the ball and the pass the ball sometimes hurts him in high school, against lesser competition, because he can do it with such ease," Boyle said. "But it will help him at a higher level. He possesses the whole package of skills, and they will start shining even more once he starts playing against the best of the best. For Derrick not to be at the top of his class is ridiculous. He will be drafted very high [in the NBA] one day."

The fact that Caracter outplayed the current No. 1 prospect in his class, Greg Oden, a 7'0" center from Indiana, at the 2004 ABCD Camp; and that he was named the Junior of the Year in New Jersey by the Newark Star Ledger after leading St. Pat's to the ultra-competitive Tournament of Champions final, support Boyle's claim that reports of his big man's demise are greatly exaggerated.

If nothing else, Caracter would fill a huge hole on a Cavalier team in desperate need of some frontcourt help.

"We need a young man to help our frontline," assistant coach Rob Lanier said.

Leitao, out of the country conducting a basketball camp in Italy, could not be reached for comment, but one has to believe that his disciplinarian ways, as well as his reputation for instilling toughness in players, are just what Caracter needs to live up to his tremendous potential.

So what are the chances that Caracter is in the starting lineup, running the pick and roll with Sean Singletary, when Virginia plays its first game at the brand new John Paul Jones Arena in the 2006?

"U.Va. can be considered the hot school right now with Caracter, but overcoming the head start that great recruiters like Rick Pitino from Louisville and John Calipari at Memphis have will be difficult," Hodgkins said. "The fact that Caracter didn't commit to either of those schools on his recent trips is encouraging, though. The longer the Virginia staff has to work on Caracter before he makes his decision, the more likely he will end up as a Hoo."

Though NCAA rules prohibit coaches from commenting on specific players, Lanier -- who joined Leitao's staff after four years as the head coach at Siena and who made his name as a recruiter by wooing superstar guard T.J. Ford to Texas -- outlined the selling points he and his fellow coaches will pitch to the best of the best in the upcoming months.

"The opportunity to play, to be a cornerstone, is going to be here," Lanier said. "We have a great new coach, we play in the best conference, and we are the number one public institution in the country."

Derrick Caracter has all the talent to be one of the cornerstones for a program with nowhere to go but up. He would be a force in the ACC, maybe Leitao's first All-American. If he came here, he has all the tools to become the best Cavalier big man since that guy named Sampson was roaming around the Lawn. Perhaps Caracter could silence his critics once and for all, end decades worth of basketball frustration at U. Va. and lead Virginia back to the Final Four.

"We'd be happy if Derrick Caracter went to U.Va. to play for Dave Leitao," Boyle said.

Most Virginia fans would probably agree.

Pre-pre-season questions for the post-Gillen era
Sean McLernon, Cavalier Daily Sports Editor

If what they say about good things taking time is true, then Virginia basketball fans have reason to believe things may be looking up.

After a coaching search that took over a month to complete, Athletic Director Craig Littlepage hired DePaul's Dave Leitao to replace Pete Gillen. Then, once Leitao had assumed head coaching responsibilities, he took over two months before finalizing his staffof assistant coaches Gene Cross, Rob Lanier, and Steve Seymour and director of basketball operations Drew Diener.

This, of course, is not necessarily a bad thing. Other than the fact that the new Virginia staff may be slightly behind in the recruiting process, there is nothing wrong with Leitao taking his time and making sure that he hires the best staff he can. Just as there was nothing wrong with waiting almost five weeks before bringing in Leitao, as long as he proves to be the right man for the job. The staff seems to be off to a good start, considering that rising high school senior Derrick Caracter -- a player who has been compared to LeBron James in terms of talent -- is seriously thinking about playing at Virginia.

As far as the upcoming season goes, however, patience will be a valuable commodity for anyone close to the Virginia men's basketball program, which experienced a last place finish in the ACC, a coaching change and a mediocre recruiting year. Putting together a team that will be competitive in the uber-conference that is the ACC won't likely happen overnight.

With that in mind, here are the top five questions (in no particular order) surrounding the Cavaliers coming into the last seasonat University Hall a full four months before the season is set to begin. After all, if Littlepage and Leitao are going to come up with some good answers, it will probably take them a while...

1. How much weight will Sean Singletary be able to carry on his shoulders?

It's pretty clear that ACC All-Freshmen team selection Singletary is the most talented starter returning to the program. He showed heart and poise under pressure playing the point guard position last season.

Obviously Singletary will not be able to do everything, but he will have to take his play to the next level if Virginia is going to have a fighting chance at respectability this season. We all know how much of a talent he is, but it is unclear how far the young player will be able to take this team in the upcoming season.

2. Who will play the four?

Between Singletary, T.J. Bannister, J.R. Reynolds, Adrian Joseph and Gary Forbes, the Cavaliers have plenty of talented guards. The weak spot, however, is the post positions. Just considering size and skill set, it seems like starting Jason Cain at the four spot and putting Tunji Soroye at center is the option that makes the most sense. And if Donte Minter can become a significant contributor, the Cavaliers would have even more flexibility in the paint.

In an ideal world, the starting five would be the five most talented players on the team. But even though Gary Forbes has had success playing the small forward position despite the fact that his preferred position is two-guard, it doesn't seem like he has the size to bang around in the paint.

3. Will any of the freshman be able to make an immediate contribution?

A far cry from the years earlier this decade when Pete Gillen could lure McDonald's All-Americans and national AAU champions to Charlottesville, this year's class is seriously lacking star power. Rivals.com gives Mamadi Diane, Laurynas Mikalauskas and Sam Warren only three stars each out of a possible five.

All three may develop into strong players, but it will likely be an uphill battle. This holds true even for the 6'8" Mikalauskas, despite the fact that Virginia is so desperate for front-court talent. If the Cavaliers are going to improve, at least one of these three will have to exceed expectations.

4. Will the players respond well to Leitao?

The new Virginia coach has been described as a no-nonsense disciplinarian, quite a departure from his predecessor. Leitao has had a fair amount of success in his career, but all of the players on the 2005-06 team came to play for Pete Gillen, not Dave Leitao, so there will certainly be an adjustment to be made there.

5. Will this year's team be affected by an Elton Brown-like cancer?

The brooding center who seemed to always crack under pressure brought down the entire team last season with his me-first attitude. In several games during the season when the Cavaliers were doing well with Brown sitting on the bench, the senior complained about his lack of playing time instead of supporting his teammates who were doing well. If this year's team wants to improve upon its 4-12 ACC record, there can't be anyone like Brown bringing the squad down.

There are plenty of question marks, but if the pieces fall into the right places the Cavaliers may be able to make a return trip to the postseason in 2005-06, even if that means fans will have to settle for berth in the NIT.

UVa.'s Hagan doesn't miss football
Inside ACC Nation
Chris Graham
chris@augustafreepress.com

Tom Hagan didn't take long to think the question over.

"Not really," Hagan told the "ACC Nation" radio show after being asked if he missed football, where the former Cave Spring star was a prep All-America at punter before earning a full ride at the University of Virginia.

Hagan struggled in his two seasons as Al Groh's punting specialist, averaging 36.7 yards per kick as a freshman in 2002 and 34.8 yards as a sophomore in 2003 before making the switch from the gridiron to the diamond.

The rising senior hit .286 for the Cavs in '05 and is now working on his game in Covington in the Valley League with an eye on doing what he can to impress the big-league scouts who are regulars on the summer circuit.

"It's been fun playing every day and getting a lot of at-bats. It really helps you to be able to work on things every day as opposed to during the season, when you're only playing three or four days a week. Now you can do it every night," said Hagan, who was leading the Lumberjacks with a blistering .377 average, .476 on-base percentage and eight stolen bases in 15 starts through Wednesday's action.

Hagan is looking forward to his final year in Charlottesville - where the Cavaliers are expected to make some noise on the national scene after back-to-back appearances in the NCAA tournament.

"We've got four or five guys who were picked in the draft who are going to be coming to school next year. They'll probably make an immediate impact. We lose Ryan Zimmerman, Dan Street, Scott Headd, so there will be some spots open. It should be pretty interesting," Hagan said.

As interesting as football?

"It was fun while it lasted," Hagan said of his time in the Virginia football program. "I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play two sports coming in. I really did want to play baseball, but I wasn't going to turn down that free ride for football. I weighed my options and decided last spring that it would be better for me to concentrate on baseball. And here I am."