Rutgers sophomore basketball player Todd Billet, who Virginia coach Pete Gillen originally recruited two years ago, announced todayhis intentions to transfer to Virginia. Billet, a 6-foot, 185-pound guard, averaged 16.6 points and 4.2 assists and earned third-team Big East honors last year for the Scarlet Knights.
"The main factor in my decision is I want to be part of something special and play in the NCAA Tournament and compete for a national championship," Billet said.
Billet, who is from Middletown, N.J., considered Virginia before deciding to stay close to home and attend Rutgers. His brother Geoff was an assistant coach at Rutgers at the time he committed. Billet's familiarity with Virginia allowed him to make a quick decision about transferring.
"The process was sped up because I visited the school before, I'm familiar with the coaches, and I know some of the players," he said.
Although Billet must sit out the 2001-2002 year to comply with NCAA rules for transfers, he still will have two years of eligibility left. But he will join a crowded backcourt, which includes Majestic Mapp, Roger Mason Jr., incoming freshman Jermaine Harper and Keith Jenifer, if Jenifer qualifies academically.
"I believe you can never have enough good players," Billet said. "It will be our advantage to have so many good ball handlers and decision makers on the court at the same time."
Billet's main asset is his long-range shooting ability. He shot 41 percent from beyond the arc last year and set a Rutgers school record for threes in a season with 82.
"Billet is very good at both setup and transition offense," said Mike Sullivan, a recruiting expert for Insidersreport.com. "He rarely makes mistakes, and he is a great get for Virginia."
The graduation of long-range specialist Keith Friel will leave a void in the lineup that Billet hopes to fill.
"I have always been able to shoot the ball since I was little," Billet said. "But as important, I play very hard and will do whatever it takes to help Virginia win."
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With the addition of Billet and a solid recruiting class, the Cavaliers' future looks bright. Jason Clark and Harper both have qualified academically, but Elton Brown and Jenifer still need to improve their scores before they can suit up next year. Also in the mix is 7-foot high school center Sagana Diop, who must decide between Virginia, North Carolina and declaring for the NBA Draft, which he must announce by the May 13 deadline for underclassmen. California's 6-foot-10 center Nick Vander Laan has requested to transfer and visited Charlottesville this weekend, but he still plans to visit other schools before making a final decision.
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