When Dave Leitao took control of the Virginia basketball program a year and a half ago, one of his main priorities was to turn around a rapidly drying recruiting pool. With his first recruiting class about to begin its first season in Charlottesville, it appears he has done just that.
Virginia's roster will feature five new names when the first jump ball is thrown in John Paul Jones Arena Nov. 12 against Arizona. All five stand above 6 feet 5 inches, providing the Cavaliers with the frontcourt depth they lacked last season.
Fresh off a prep year at Brewster Academy, 6-foot-6-inch freshman Will Harris should compete for a starting spot at small forward for Virginia. This former Connecticut recruit averaged 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists per game last winter.
Another player that could see significant action this season is four-star forward Jamil Tucker. This 6-foot-9-inch Indiana product is extremely versatile for his size and has the ability to stretch the defense to the three-point line as well as put the ball off the deck.
"Jamil will definitely help us this season," fellow recruit Ryan Pettinella said. "He has a lot of talent. He can shoot the ball well and also run the court."
Virginia's only guard recruit in 2006, 6-foot-5-inch Solomon Tat, played his high school ball in Georgia and is ranked by Rivals.com as the fourth best player in the state. His physical, punishing style of play should complement Virginia's smaller, quicker guard duo of Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds and earn him minutes as a freshman.
Tat has "been playing very well," current Cavalier Laurynas Mikelauskas said. "He's a guard who is an extremely strong and physical player. He can attack the basket and also has a very good jump shot."
Joining Mikalauskas down low this winter is Virginia's lone transfer recruit, Ryan Pettinella. After playing two seasons with the Penn Quakers, the 6-foot-9-inch Pettinella arrives in Charlottesville and will be expected to contribute on both ends of the floor. Much like Mikalauskas, Pettinella does the "little things" well and should help bolster a sometimes suspect interior defense for Virginia.
The final freshman joining Virginia this season is Louisiana's Jerome Meyinsse. A terrific student, Meyinsse brings his 6-foot-9-inch frame and a high energy level in the post to Charlottesville. Meyinsse is a prime candidate to redshirt this upcoming season.
"Jerome has been working very hard," Pettinella said. "He's been improving very quickly since he got here at the start of the summer."
Those in the recruiting world know, however, that a team is only as good as its next incoming class. With that in mind, Leitao has already begun piecing together 2007's incoming class. Although the official signing period is not for a few months, Leitao's staff has already acquired commitments from three 2007 standouts.
Dave Leitao's first commitment for his career at Virginia, 6-foot-1-inch point guard Sam Zeglinski, played one season in the backcourt alongside current Cavalier Sean Singletary. As a junior, Zeglinski averaged nearly 18 points, five assists and five rebounds per game.
Joining Zeglinski in Virginia's future backcourt will be four-star guard Jeff Jones. At 6 feet 4 inches, Jones has the potential to be special on the offensive end and should complement Zeglinski's pass-first style quite nicely.
Currently rounding out the class of 2007 for Virginia is 6-foot-7-inch small forward Eric Wallace. An in-state recruit, Wallace is a highlight machine who should rock the rims inside JPJ for years to come.
Without a doubt, Leitao has proven himself an effective recruiter in just his first two years at the helm. With tip-off less than two months away, Virginia basketball fans can now focus on victories on the court, not just recruiting visits.
Read More
Virginia baseball has an ace up its sleeve and in its bullpen — Dean Kampschror
By Xander Tilock | 10 hours agoThe senior pitcher is exactly what the Cavaliers need to succeed in 2025.
Wrestling gets blown out 34-9 on long road trip to Stanford
By Ryan Weiner | YesterdaySolid performances from its most reliable trio were not enough for Virginia.
Freshman excellence powers No. 5 men’s tennis past Boise State, No. 19 Alabama
By Thomas Baxter | 2 days agoVirginia, unlike many other regional hosts, held serve as its quartet's top seed.
