Whitey's World

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Bub and Tristan officially sign

It’s been known for some time, but now it’s official. Jontel “Bub” Evans and Tristan Spurlock will both be joining the Virginia basketball program next season.
The pair of high-schoolers have signed their letters of intent.
Here is the official release from the UVa media relations department.

For Immediate Release
November 25, 2008
CHARLOTTESVILLE—Virginia men’s head basketball coach Dave Leitao has announced the signing of two players to national letters of intent with the Cavaliers during the recent signing period. The players are 5-11 guard Jontel Evans (Hampton, Va.) and 6-7 forward Tristan Spurlock (Woodbridge, Va.).  Evans attends Bethel High School where he also plays football.  “In Jontel I think we’ve got a guy who can defend like I haven’t seen in a long time, especially on the ball,” Leitao said. “He takes great pride in it and brings a football mentality to the basketball court. Jontel’s speed, quickness and strength come out on offense and defense, but especially on defense. I think that’s going to add a whole lot to our program.”  Spurlock is attending Word of Life Christian Academy in Springfield, Va., this academic year after attending Montrose Christian School the last two years.  “Tristan has multidimensional abilities that I’ve always liked,” Leitao said. “He can shoot, pass, handle the ball.“

Friday, August 29, 2008

No Canada for Tat, Sene

The Virginia men’s basketball team will be two players short this weekend when it travels to Canada for exhibition games. Junior Solomon Tat and freshman Assane Sene will not be making the trip.
Here’s the press release from Virginia Media Relations.

CHARLOTTESVILLE—University of Virginia freshman center Assane Sene and junior guard/forward Solomon Tat will not travel to Canada with the men’s basketball team for three exhibition games this weekend (Aug. 30-31).

Sene will not make the trip due to pending clarification of his initial eligibility status.

Tat will not travel with the team pending clarification of his visa status.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Scholarship for Calvin?

Ten minutes before the press release came out with the news that Virginia big man Lars Mikalauskas had been booted from the team, I was talking with UVa coach Dave Leitao just outside his office at John Paul Jones Arena.
Leitao and I were talking about Tunji Soroye’s return to the program.
“For the two years we had him before his injury, he was a very important member of our team, particularly as a defensive anchor,“ Leitao said. “Hopefully we can get that and more, and he continues to develop as big guys tend to do when they get older – you get more things out of them.”
At that point, I asked Leitao if it was tough not to be able to award walk-on Calvin Baker a scholarship. He gave me one of the most curious answers in my three years of knowing him.
“God has a plan for all of us,” Leitao said. “Calvin knows that he has my complete trust and I have his complete trust and will always do what’s in the best interests of the program and each other. It always works itself out.”
Ten minutes later, God’s plan unfolded. Apparently, it did not include Mikalauskas, the Virginia fan favorite who was wrapping up a two-week vacation in Lithuania after working out hard in Charlottesville all summer following shoulder surgery.
The dismissal of Lars from the team means Leitao now has a scholarship to give to Baker (if he so chooses).
Leitao also gave me his thoughts on Will Harris’ decision to transfer to Albany.
“Injuries had a lot to do with his situation,“ Leitao said. “Will was a valuable member of our team from a personality standpoint. In today’s day in age guys want to transfer because they want to do more than they are doing at their current program. He feels like he wants to be a guy that is at the forefront of an offense, and transferring will hopefully give him an opportunity to do that.”