Top prospect commits to Virginia
Derrick Byars, a 6-foot-7 small forward from Memphis, Tenn., verbally committed to Virginia on Tuesday night.
Byars averaged 19.8 points, 7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game in his junior year at Ridgeway High School. He is rated the 32nd-best prospect in the country overall, according to ESPN.com.
By choosing Virginia over Clemson, Vanderbilt and Tennessee, Byars practically completed the Cavaliers' recruiting for next year before the early signing period in November.
According to Byars, the warm reception he received in Charlottesville as well as Virginia's fast-paced style convinced him to commit. He also claimed Virginia's last available scholarship. He already has qualified academically.
Virginia fans cheered for Byars when coach Pete Gillen escorted him around the David A. Harrison III field at Scott Stadium prior to Saturday's football game.
Academic accolades
Virginia swimmers Jamie Grimes and Amy Baly earned the spring 2001 Academic All-American honors for their classroom work in the spring semester. Junior swimmer Brian Best was an honorable mention Academic All-American.
The Virginia women's swimming and diving team garnered an "excellent" rating after completing the spring term with an average cumulative GPA of 3.14. The men earned a "commendable" rating with a 2.96 averagecumulative GPA in the spring.