Scouting UA v. Virginia

[Zalman B]

4. Virginia vs. 13. Albany | Columbus, Ohio

 

Virginia Cavaliers

Record: 20-10 (11-5 ACC)

Coach: Dave Leitao 115-94 (35-25 at Virginia)

How they got here: At-large

Last Appearance: 2001 (lost 86-85 to Gonzaga in first round)

Probable Starters:

G J.R. Reynolds, 17.8 ppg

G Sean Singletary, 18.9 ppg

G/F Mamadi Diane, 9.9 ppg

F Jason Cain, 6.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg

C Tunji Soroye, 1.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg

 

Guard strength: J.R. Reynolds and Sean Singletary give Virginia arguably the best backcourt tandem east of UCLA. Singletary was the best point guard in the ACC this year and continually delivered clutch plays - such as his off-balance shot with one second left in a win over Duke. Reynolds averaged 20 points per game in ACC competition. They also defend well enough to help Virginia rank second in the ACC in field goal percentage defense.

In the paint: Reynolds and Singletary need to play well because the Cavaliers don't get much production from their frontcourt. Although Jason Cain and Tunji Soroye don't score much at all, their infrequent baskets have come in critical situations.

Senior leaders:: Reynolds has enjoyed a breakthrough season in his senior year and was one of the hottest players in the nation during Virginia's midseason surge, though he tailed off late in the regular season. Cain is the Cavaliers' best frontcourt player.

Injury report: The Cavaliers have no injuries of note.

X-factor: Virginia's ability to come from behind could make the Cavaliers a tough out in the tournament event if they fall behind. The Cavaliers trailed Clemson by 16 points with 8:47 remaining before rallying for a win. Virginia also erased a 13-point deficit in a victory over Duke, came from 19 points back to beat Arizona and scored the final 13 points of a 75-69 win over Georgia Tech.

 

Albany Great Danes

Record: 23-9 (13-3 America East)

Coach: Will Brown, 99-101 (all at Albany)

How they got here: Won America East Tournament

Last Appearance: 2006 (lost 72-59 to Connecticut in first round)

Probable Starters:

G Jamar Wilson, 18.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg

G Jason Siggers, 13.9 ppg

F Brent Wilson, 10.9 ppg

F Brian Lillis, 7.1 ppg

F Jimmie Covington, 2.0 ppg

 

Guard strength: Few players are more valuable to their team than athletic combo guard Jamar Wilson, who leads the Great Danes in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.

In the paint: The Great Danes do a solid job rebounding as a team, but interior post defense is a glaring weakness.

Senior leaders:: Wilson, a four-year starter, is joined in the backcourt by Jason Siggers - the team's only other senior.

Injury report: No significant injuries to report.

X-factor: The Great Danes shouldn't have any trouble feeling like they belong. They held a double-digit lead over top-seeded Connecticut in the second half last season.

 

From here.

[Zalman B]

And here is a scouting report from before the Virgina @ Duke game (1/28) with a brief blurb on their contributers.

 

ALL EYES ON...

Sean Singletary-Singletary is the engine that makes the Cavaliers go. Easily one of the best players in the ACC and many observers choice as the league's top point guard, Singletary can do a little of everything to help his team. In his last seven games, he has averaged better than 21 points a game. His assist-to-turnover ratio isn't as good as it could be, but he makes up for it with his scoring. Virginia's best chance for an upset is to put the game in Singletary's hands and let him try to break down Duke's defense off the dribble. If he can penetrate the lane, he is capable of taking a game over. Singletary could very well be on the floor for 40 minutes against Duke. He's averaging 37 minutes a game in ACC play.

 

CAVALIER SCOUTING

J.R. Reynolds-The junior guard from Oak Hill Academy teams with Singletary to form a very formidable backcourt. He was given freshman All-ACC honors two years ago had an up and down sophomore campaign. Now in his third year, he's a big reason why Virginia has been able to exceed several expectations. He has good shooting range and is capable of big nights, such as his 32 point performance in the conference tournament last year against Miami. If Singletary can get in the lane, Reynolds will be waiting for kickout opportunities.

 

Adrian Joseph-The 6-foot-7 slashing forward has more than doubled his production of a year ago. As a physically more mature sophomore, he's averaging double figures and giving Virginia another versatile threat from either inside or outside, though he will hoist more than his fair share of perimeter jumpers. He has started five of six league games and has had some good moments. Virginia could use some more activity from him on the glass, where the Cavs have been getting outrebounded in league play.

Tunji Soroye-A long and slender sophomore, the 6-foot-11 Nigerian is basically a non factor on the offensive end of the floor. He's anything but absent on defense however, where he's blocked 37 shots to easily lead the team. Some of those blocks come because he has a tendency to leave his feet too often though, evidenced by his frequent foul trouble (fouled out of seven games). Duke fans may remember Soroye from last year's ACC Tournament, when he blocked five shots and yanked six rebounds in 21 minutes of action.

 

Jason Cain-Cain has bulked up a bit since last year, getting his 6-foot-10 frame up to more than 200 pounds. That has allowed him to be more effective on the boards, as he has upped his rebounding average to just below eight. He's seen increased minutes in conference play. He's not a good free throw shooter but he has been hitting nearly 55 percent from the field in league play.

 

The bench

 

Mamadi Diane has given Virginia a good boost as a freshman. The 6-foot-5 Diane comes from storied DeMatha High School and has made himself an immediate factor. He logs about 20-25 minutes per game and gives the Cavaliers an added versatile defender on the perimeter. His offensive game is still pretty raw. Laurynas Mikalauskas is the first Lithuanian to play at Virginia. He has emerged as a strong factor in the last two games, averaging 11 points and 6.5 rebounds in victories over North Carolina and Miami. He's a physical presence with rare beef for a European player at 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds. T.J. Bannister and Billy Campbell are both upper classmen guards who will likely see time on the perimeter, but neither is an offensive threat.

[Zalman B]

☼ School site.

 

☼ UVa Hoops Message Board.

 

☼ From CBS Sportsline

"Albany's 6-1 Jamar Wilson has more than 2,000 career points and is a potential triple-double (18.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.9 apg)."

 

"Virginia has the regional's best 1-2 scoring punch in guards Sean

Singletary and J.R. Reynolds, who combine to average 36.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg

and 8.5 apg. Guard is Virginia's strength. Virginia's weakness?

Everything else."

[sainttj]

-->

QUOTE(Zalman B @ Mar 12 2007, 02:50 AM) 22163[/snapback]

4. Virginia vs. 13. Albany | Columbus, Ohio

 

Virginia Cavaliers

Record: 20-10 (11-5 ACC)

Coach: Dave Leitao 115-94 (35-25 at Virginia)

How they got here: At-large

Last Appearance: 2001 (lost 86-85 to Gonzaga in first round)

Probable Starters:

G J.R. Reynolds, 17.8 ppg

G Sean Singletary, 18.9 ppg

G/F Mamadi Diane, 9.9 ppg

F Jason Cain, 6.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg

C Tunji Soroye, 1.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg

 

Guard strength: J.R. Reynolds and Sean Singletary give Virginia arguably the best backcourt tandem east of UCLA. Singletary was the best point guard in the ACC this year and continually delivered clutch plays - such as his off-balance shot with one second left in a win over Duke. Reynolds averaged 20 points per game in ACC competition. They also defend well enough to help Virginia rank second in the ACC in field goal percentage defense.

In the paint: Reynolds and Singletary need to play well because the Cavaliers don't get much production from their frontcourt. Although Jason Cain and Tunji Soroye don't score much at all, their infrequent baskets have come in critical situations.

Senior leaders:: Reynolds has enjoyed a breakthrough season in his senior year and was one of the hottest players in the nation during Virginia's midseason surge, though he tailed off late in the regular season. Cain is the Cavaliers' best frontcourt player.

Injury report: The Cavaliers have no injuries of note.

X-factor: Virginia's ability to come from behind could make the Cavaliers a tough out in the tournament event if they fall behind. The Cavaliers trailed Clemson by 16 points with 8:47 remaining before rallying for a win. Virginia also erased a 13-point deficit in a victory over Duke, came from 19 points back to beat Arizona and scored the final 13 points of a 75-69 win over Georgia Tech.

 

Albany Great Danes

Record: 23-9 (13-3 America East)

Coach: Will Brown, 99-101 (all at Albany)

How they got here: Won America East Tournament

Last Appearance: 2006 (lost 72-59 to Connecticut in first round)

Probable Starters:

G Jamar Wilson, 18.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg

G Jason Siggers, 13.9 ppg

F Brent Wilson, 10.9 ppg

F Brian Lillis, 7.1 ppg

F Jimmie Covington, 2.0 ppg

 

Guard strength: Few players are more valuable to their team than athletic combo guard Jamar Wilson, who leads the Great Danes in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.

In the paint: The Great Danes do a solid job rebounding as a team, but interior post defense is a glaring weakness.

Senior leaders:: Wilson, a four-year starter, is joined in the backcourt by Jason Siggers - the team's only other senior.

Injury report: No significant injuries to report.

X-factor: The Great Danes shouldn't have any trouble feeling like they belong. They held a double-digit lead over top-seeded Connecticut in the second half last season.

 

From here.

 

I have UA penciled in against Tenn. in the 2nd round. How Long Beach St. got a higher seed? Anyway, I never get a polite (or classy) response from you guys. I usually get pixxed on. So be it. I think I speak for some Siena people ( when I say that we're pulling for you on Fri..) I''m an '03 alum (UA) but I guess that doesn't count . Take a peek at the Siena Board - most of us wish UA all our best. I wanna see Sweet 16. We may not see Coach Brown again next year. Congrats to Dane fans, J. Wilson, Coach Brown, B. Lillis, Siggers etc.... Let's make a run!!!!

[Clickclack]

Your kidding right, take your congratulations and go back to your board. Recognize this?.....

 

"Happy for Albany but if they play the #1-4 seeds in the MAAC once each (right now), they win 1 outta 4. They wouldn't take us to 2OT at the end of the year. Things couldn't have gone better for them today. I'll be rooting for 'em. There's an excellent chance Brown is gone next year. I don't think his stock can get much higher than it is right now coming out of UA. There's no better time for him to leave."

- sainttj

 

I never used to piss on you but I will now. If you want a polite and classy response, stop talking out of both sides of your mouth. You are an 'aints fan, thats fine but stop pretending to be a closet UA fan. You dump on us on your board and then come here and want to "make a run" with us. NO....your run ended last week. Go home!

[Zalman B]

Top NBA Draft Prospects in the ACC (Part Two: #6-#10)

October 13, 2006

 

#7, 6-3, PG/SG, Senior, Virginia

"Most people will probably be surprised to find the less heralded member of Virginia’s terrific backcourt, J.R. Reynolds, over his counterpart Sean Singletary. But from evaluating a great deal of footage of the two operating together last year, what we learned made it impossible for us to do otherwise.

 

Reynolds is a perfect example of your prototypical combo guard that has grown in popularity amongst NBA scouts over the past few years. He’s an excellent athlete, blessed with a great first step, exceptional quickness and nice fluidity in the half-court, making him incredibly difficult to keep out of the paint in isolation situations. He attacks the basket with great tenacity, and will use his solid leaping ability and strength to hang in the air and finish creatively even in the toughest of situations, never shying away from contact.

 

Reynolds is more than just a slashing threat, though, as he has the talent and scoring instincts to put the ball in the net from almost anywhere on the floor. Possessing terrific ball-handling skills, he has no problem creating shots for himself from the perimeter. If the lane is a bit too crowded, he is very fond of pulling up off the dribble for a mid-range jumper, whether it’s from just inside the paint, from the baseline, or anywhere around the 3-point arc, even going glass at times. At times he’ll show a very pretty one-handed floater that he uses effectively to compliment the shiftiness of his movements and the way he gets defenders off balance.

 

As a shooter, Reynolds can be deadly when given an opportunity to really heat up. Playing mostly off the ball for Virginia, he is terrific at coming off screens and firing away with little to no hesitation with his feet set or off a short set-up dribble. Reynolds has deep range on his jumper and a very quick, pretty stroke. With that said, he has a tendency to abuse it far too often, as him and his counterpart Sean Singletary are often expected to shoulder their team’s entire scoring load. Reynolds can hit tough shots with a hand in his face, but he’s extremely streaky. He shows concerning shot-selection at times and is not the best decision maker you’ll find, overpenetrating in the paint, running into brick walls and turning the ball over far too often.

 

Playing next to arguably the top point guard in the conference, he’ll have to prove to scouts and GMs over the next 8 months that he has an NBA position every opportunity that he has. As mentioned, his ball-handling is very solid, and his court vision not bad at all. He does not seem to be a selfish player, as it’s not rare to see him put his teammates in a position to score.

 

Defensively is another story altogether, although he does have fairly quick hands and feet. He has a tendency to give up on plays at times and conserve his energy more for the offensive end. Combo guards in the NBA are expected to be able to guard both 1’s and 2’s in the league, which means this is yet another area he’ll be tested at repeatedly both over his college career as well as private individual workouts or camps

 

Watching him play and to a lesser extent looking at his near identical numbers, its hard not to be reminded at times of the player Randy Foye was going into his senior year, although he’s not quite as explosive. Reynolds has his work cut out for himself to make the NCAA tournament, but if his team gets hot, it wouldn’t be a shock to see his stock take off as well, possibly into the first round. Most people don’t even know his name at this point, but we’ve got a hunch that he’s a name to keep an eye on."

 

#8, 5-11, PG, Junior, Virginia

"Widely considered the top returning point guard in the ACC, as well as one of the top lead guards in the entire country, there is plenty to like about Sean Singletary.

 

We’re talking about an extremely instinctive basketball player, a guy that was definitely born to play the game. Starting with his physical attributes; he’s an outstanding athlete, particularly in the open floor, where he is nearly impossible to stay in front of. He’s lightning quick and changes directions in the blink of an eye, possessing superb body control to maneuver his way around the paint with pretty spin-moves and nifty floaters. His crossover is deadly, as is his footwork, and he loves to use this combination to explode into the paint coming from the left or right, create contact, hang in the air and either draw the foul and/or finish with the utmost creativity. The thing that might be the most distinctive about his style of play is the fact that he’s constantly looking to attack defenses and make things happen.

 

On the other end of the ball, Singletary is quite solid, taking pride in staying in front of his man and displaying pesky hands in the passing lanes and extremely quick feet on man to man. His size will be an issue at the next level, but at the ACC level, it doesn’t seem to bother him that much.

From the perimeter, Singletary is very solid pulling up off the dribble for mid-range jumpers. He gets his shot off in the toughest of situations, elevating high off the floor, and has the touch and instincts to just throw the ball in the bottom of the net at end-of-shot-clock situations. Once he is pulled farther away from the basket, though, his consistency wavers, as he has average shooting mechanics; including a deliberate release and a tendency to flail his body around and kill any chance of having a consistent release point. As an outside shooter, he has plenty of room to continue to improve, although he will knock down shots at a nice clip when he starts heating up.

 

As a point guard, Singletary’s decision making is often lacking and he is definitely too turnover prone for his position. Virginia’s offense forces him to go one on one almost every other possession, and we often see Singletary over-dribbling, running into brick walls, and taking tough, contested off-balance shots. It’s not that he lacks playmaking skills, he actually has excellent court vision and is superb at creating shots for others, but he just doesn’t always seem to use it, particularly in tough, grind it out half-court sets.

 

Part of this has to do with the quality of his teammates, but part of it might have to do with how banged up he’s been over the past two years. He had plenty of nagging little injuries last season and this summer went in to have hip surgery. For someone who is already on the small side at a skinny 5-11 at best, that’s a bit of a concern.

 

If Singletary can help his team make the NCAA tournament (an absolute must), he should be in an interesting predicament next May. Early on this draft has the making of yet another weak class of point guards, so it’s not out of the question that he works himself solidly into the first round or possibly the top-20. His potential is a bit limited by his lack of size, though."

[Zalman B]

From NBAdraft.net - Sean Singletary

 

"NBA Comparison: Tyus Edney

Strengths: Gutsy floor general with a solid offensive package and cat quickness … A prolific scorer with the ability to shoot from the perimeter as well as get by his man into the lane … When he gets hot, he can go on big scoring outbursts … Very aggressive attacking the basket and gets to the line a great deal, where he’s an excellent free throw shooter (84.5%) … Has good command of the point guard position with solid ball handling and passing ability … A strong leader with a willingness to take over scoring in crunch time … A quality defender on the college level with his quick hands and feet and high level of intensity (1.9 steals per game) … Has a good in between game and knows how to pull up from 8-10 feet for jump shots or tear drops … A solid three point shooter … Tough player who played through pain in his sophomore season ...

 

Weaknesses: Singletary’s biggest drawback is his lack of size. At under 6 feet, there’s some question how effective he can be against NBA level PGs. He’s listed at 6’ but is likely closer to 5’11 ... He needs to become more consistent with his decision making. Must cut down on razzle dazzle turnovers and improve upon his (1.16) A/TO ratio (quality of teammates brings his numbers down some)… Lack of size could hurt him some defensively … Finished the season in a shooting slump 18-58 (31%) in Virginia’s final 4 games. ... His aggresiveness and toughness going inside can be a detriment as he frequently gets knocked to the floor. He underwent hip surgury in the off-season ...

 

Notes: Figures to be the top point guard in the ACC this year as well as one of the top point guards in the nation …

Aran Smith - 10/2/2006"

 

JR Reynolds

 

"Strengths: Is an explosive scorer who can put up big numbers … Has a good strong, NBA ready body … Athletically Reynolds has great quickness and surprisingly solid leaping ability … Does a good job of playing the passing lanes for quick steals … Unselfish player who is a decent passer … Has NBA three-point range on his jumpshot … Uses his body strength on his drives to finish after contact … Excellent finisher in the open court … Moves without the ball very well … Possesses a great first step to gain separation from most defenders … Ball handling ability is good enough for him to play the point guard position … For his size Reynolds is a solid rebounder … Possesses a very good work ethic and has improved in some aspect of his game every year … Shows a good pull-up jumpshot off the dribble from mid-range to 18 feet out …

 

Weaknesses: Defensively Reynolds tends to gamble for steals leaving his assignment open … Can play his man over-aggressively leading him to foul trouble … Doesn’t always seem to completely focus or provide intense effort on the defensive end … Streaky shooter who can go through periods of inconsistency … Possesses some point guard skills but lacks a few of the basic qualities you look for … Despite being a solid passer his court vision is still not of the highest caliber … Lacks the ability to effectively to control the tempo of a game … Although Reynolds is well acknowledged by many as a combo guard he has a shooting guards game in a point guard’s body … Shot selection is questionable as he can become too enamored with shooting from behind the arc … Can play a little out of control especially when he attempts to go for the spectacular play … Court awareness is questionable and Reynolds’s decision making remains a work in progress … Should concentrate on refining his ball protection skills as he has a tendency to be careless with the ball …

Matthew Maurer - 1/12/2007"