Even as the UVA men’s basketball team is gearing up for its season opener November 22 against the University of Vermont, the Cavaliers have been busy shoring up recruits for the 2008-2009 season. And with verbal commitments from three high school players, the 2008 recruiting class is shaping up to be one of the best—if not the best—group of players that Coach Dave Leitao has brought to the University.
On October 23, the Cavs snagged 7′ center Assane Sene, a native of Senegal with the potential to become a dominant inside force in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), arguably the best basketball conference in the nation. Sene joins two four-star recruits who have made verbal commitments to UVA: 6’11" John Brandenburg of St. Louis and 6’6" Sylven Landesberg from Queens, New York.
 Men’s basketball Head Coach Dave Leitao might have landed his best recruiting class ever for 2008. |
Because the three haven’t officially signed letters of intent to play at UVA (the early signing period begins November 14), the Cavs’ coaching staff is unable to comment on the recruits. But Chris Horne, a recruiting analyst for the TheSabre.com, says, "I think this is his highest-rated class that he’s brought in," says Horne. It helps, he says, that the Cavs surprised many people by winning the ACC conference title last year. "Winning speaks volumes. What they did in the ACC really gives them more credibility to be able to go to recruits."
Brandenburg, who verbally committed on October 14, chose UVA over Stanford University. Horne says he’s a solid low-post defender and rebounder, two things that the Cavs need. Both Brandenbrug and Sene can expect to see a lot of playing time the minute they step on campus. Both current Cav centers, Tunji Soroye and Ryan Pettinella, are seniors.
The real find, though, might be Landesberg, who’s a senior at Holy Cross High. Horne says that he’s a combo guard who can handle the ball and see the floor as well as score. The recruiting website Rivals.com ranked Landesberg the nation’s 55th best player of his high school class.
UVA was dealt a recruiting blow on November 1, though. Elliot Williams, considered by many to be one of the top high school guards in the nation, verbally committed to Duke University last Thursday.
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