Thanks for sharing
2 Likes
Tyler Lundblade visited late in the season, says he hears from UVA the most. 6’5 shooter from TX transferring into Greensboro Day. . I expect he’ll end up a late signer now.
3 Likes
Maybe 3rd scholly if things break like we’d hope? As an aside seems like Lucas Taylor is picking up some P5 steam lately, any news on our recent communication w him ?
More like 4th in Spring as a possible 2022 a year early if things break right.
Nope. 1) They’re in no rush to offer scholarships to guards who might say yes. 2) As long as there’s some hope of getting to see players live at some point, there’s no rush of anything. 3) If there’s an offer that surprises any time soon, I would look for it to be a forward. Think there’s one or two there that people aren’t talking about that they’ve found in film study, and no status to protect with anyone else.
2 Likes
Weren’t the Hoos in on Cleveland?
Yep…
Now I have another question: I just saw on Zagsblog that the Las Vegas AAU event for later this month has been cancelled. The Peach Jam had previously been cancelled. Judging from comments by Chet Holmgren’s father, he had not yet decided whether to let his son participate in the Las Vegas event. I inferred from his statement that he had refrained from saying, “No”, almost in anticipation that the games would not occur. So… While college coaches are not allowed at these games, the matches were supposed to be streamed for all to see. Are there any AAU events that will still happen, were any UVa targets scheduled to participate in them, and, finally, how likely is it any of Virginia’s targets will actually play? I wouldn’t think any of the primary 2021 targets would play, but are there any thoughts of others? Thanks.
Well first a rant to put the Vegas thing in perspective lol For a long time, the last live period of the summer was unofficially known as Vegas week. Several huge events. Everything and everyone was there. Until last summer when the NCAA changed the calendar to eliminate it. To be seen as distancing the NCAA from shoe companies, they got rid of the only two live weeks that weren’t dominated by shoe events. Funny how that worked. Gary Charles organized the Fab 48 there annually. Great great event with top shoe teams from different brands against each other. We found Kadin Shedrick there, DeAndre Hunter, London Perrantes too. So anyway this canceled tournament is sort of the last remnant of Vegas week he’s trying to keep alive.
All the events that are going on are regional. As you can imagine, some states are more receptive than others. Texas and Georgia have been particularly active. Several in the midwest this past weekend Ohio Indiana, Wisconsin. Nothing at all in the Mid-Atlantic. Think there’s some stuff planned in the northeast coming up. Everything is streamed, and better quality than in the past. Although still not great in some cases.
As far as players Virginia is activity recruiting, I can’t think of any that have taken part. Trey Kaufman’s program Indiana Elite did stream their scrimmages. Of course they don’t need to see them anyway. It’s all about evaluating others. A lot of kids have really helped themselves the past few weeks. I’ve noticed a couple mentioned as standouts and the next day they’re picking up their first offers or first high major. I’m sure there’s also a few that would have been better off to stay home. I heard Coach Soderberg once say, exposure sometimes means getting exposed.
I know there’s a couple of '21s they’ve discovered on streams that are a little under the radar. Probably not about to be offered scholarships but they’ll keep following them up. 2022s are mostly what they’re tuning in to see. As far as obvious players they might have been checking out…
Ryan Mutombo. I suspect UVA has already passed on him anyway. He played a couple weeks ago in the Atlanta event Williford talked about watching. Don’t get the impression he helped himself.
Angelo Brizzi. His team played at the same event actually against Mutombo’s team. Would have been a good opportunity for him but he didn’t make the trip. Understandable.
James White. Another 6’5 guard from Georgia they’ve looked at some. He’s been okay at two events. Probably nothing that’ll earn a UVA offer yet.
Kaleb Washington. Another GA guy, 6’8 wing. Haven’t heard anything about UVA interest but he’s been fantastic. Recruitment should take off.
'22 Isaac McKneely. I mentioned they watched his AAU scrimmages. First class production too.
'22 Bruce Thornton. PG from Evan Nolte’s old high school. Had some really good games. Definitely helped his chances of being recruited by UVA.
'22 Colin Smith. TX forward has been terrific. Reeling in offers too.
3 Likes
I hope the staff is all over Colin Smith. I said it in the 2022 thread, but he is the perfect DeAndre Clone but he does somethings better at this stage (shot blocker). Sucks that his sister is going to stanford for Volleyball. Bet that will be somewhat of a factor. But it also shows hes willing to leave the midwest in the era of COVID.
2 Likes
VT lost last week their recruiting coordinator, as well as a bench assistant coach to ECU. I don’t really follow VT closely, but on the surface it seems like a major hit for Young’s program after one year.
4 Likes
This kid’s best offer a week ago was Wofford. Put up 30 on a shoe team last week. Boom. Holding the events is controversial I guess, but no denying some kids are benefiting.
2 Likes
Message board etiquette is a by-product of size and longevity, along with very diligent oversight from an active boardhost.
I’ve been on sports message boards since 1991, when we developed a UVA page in Trilogy and within a year another board grew on AOL. Both started out well, but growth creates unintended dynamics, especially when boards are self-managed.
It is because of the turmoil that existed on UVA’s AOL board, and to a lesser degree on Trilogy, that served as the impetus for Mike Ingalls, in August 1996, to launch VirginiaFootball.com/renamed TheSabre.com. Within two weeks, I gave birth to the WahooWahoo.com, sold to Rivals in ‘02, now Cavs Corner.
When a site’s message board grows, it is going to become difficult to manage. It is an inevitable part of the process. The Sabre has created a premium board (Edge) that is more detailed in discussion and proprietary dialogue can take place. The Sabre wants heavy foot traffic on the public boards to attract good advertisers.
For those who were not around in the ‘90s, when there was a massive information wilderness, The Sabre served a valuable purpose, as did smaller sites like mine. My site was a part-time hobby. The Sabre was a full time business for Ingalls, and similar today for Kris/Chris, although both have other endeavors.
Today, boutique team sites, like Locker Room, serve an important role. The challenge faced by all UVA sites is that we’re simply not a large sports fan base compared to most other flagship public institutions.
8 Likes
I’m sure growing numbers make it difficult, and I don’t have the subscribers to any board so I wouldn’t be able to say on any premium content, but I like the format of this board the most. I like (atleast in the threads I participate in) that it is essentially “moderated” by HGN or the Bronson Fan page or merch. I also like that when other people do add in its always in a fairly respectful way and no one really tries to just make their point the right answer even if there’s factual evidence what they’re saying isn’t right. I guess the problem with some other boards and forums isn’t formatting or moderators control it’s the responses you get from other posters. I like it here. 
7 Likes
Agree. As usual, Surf’s comments are right on. For those that were around for the Internet infancy (90s) you saw the Wild West … Mike and I observed put downs, throw downs, etc. that led to shutdowns. Like Mike, I was the originator of a Rivals site, experienced their first implosion and then their re-birth. For a number of years we produced the networks top high school site, and through the hard work of a lot of underpaid, but always appreciated, associates- we garnered more subs than a majority of the D-1 sites. The CEO of Rivals once told us at a publishers convention- “there are two things guys will pay for on the Internet - 1 is recruiting info, the second is porn. Not sure we’ve evolved much. 
But I certainly appreciate this site, as well as the Sabre and CavsCorner. It’s a tremendously difficult business - so hats off to those trying, and succeeding, in making a “go” of it.
11 Likes
Max Christie to Michigan State…K is gonna turn up the pressure on Keels I’d imagine
4 Likes
Nah I think their focus right now is Caleb Houstan and some french 6’9 shooting guard prospect.
Christie’s commitment does show that the “I want to take visits before committing” comments from recruits dont mean much LOL. Refer to HGN’s article about recruiting language and being trained to say the right things.
1 Like
I didn’t think we ever really had much of a shot with Christie and I’m guessing coaching staff knew as much as well. I’m from Chicago originally and it’s a real tough place to recruit that is largely dominated by the best national programs (see how Illinois and Depaul struggle to get local guys).
Our perception is definitely shifting nationwide, but honestly that is one area where UVa could still struggle to recruit imo. Funnily enough the only UVa player I’ve seen play there has been London when his Encino team was randomly the only out of state team at a holiday tournament.
2 Likes
Christie might be the first heavily recruited guy to commit that if it had happened 4 months ago would have been surprising. Maybe the start of a trend if September visits are ruled out. He was always kinda different though. Reminds me of Josiah James a couple years ago in how he went about things.
1 Like
I think they’ve been there for a while. Just tough to “pressure” with phone calls only. Same time, Duke’s never that worried about most recruits. There’s always another guy for them. It’s never too late to jump in and steal someone else’s prize.
3 Likes
Relevant tweet I saw this morning
4 Likes