Not too many people would have wanted to be in Jim Hobgood’s shoes on a December afternoon in Puerto Rico nearly two years ago.

CBS Outdoor and Virginia Sports Properties, the multi-media rights partner of the University of Virginia athletics department, announced Wednesday that former UVa point guard Cory Alexander will serve as analyst with play-by-play announcer Dave Koehn on Virginia broadcasts during the 2008-09 men’s basketball season.

Virginia’s radio crew for men’s basketball this season will have a completely new look. Courtney Alexander, who played basketball at UVa and in the NBA, has been hired to replace long-time announcer Jim Hobgood. 

Having the nation’s second-best recruiting class, as ranked by one national service, has that type of impact on a coach.

China Crosby, who is from Manhattan, N.Y., and rated as the nation’s second-best point guard in the Class of 2009, verbally committed Saturday to Virginia during an official visit, her coach confirmed.

While she can’t hear everything that her teammates can, Britny Edwards, a rookie on the Virginia women’s basketball team, is of the opinion that she is not different.

Virginia basketball coach Dave Leitao announced Wednesday that Tim Mein has been named assistant director of operations/video coordinator for the UVa men’s basketball program.

Contests with 15 postseason participants, including the defending champions of the NCAA Tournament and the WNIT, highlight a 30-game schedule that opens at John Paul Jones Arena on Nov. 14 with High Point.

“When I found out [12] days ago, it was a really sad situation,” Mikalauskas said. “I felt terrible, but at the same time I’m excited to become a professional now.”

On Wednesday, former Virginia forward Lars Mikalauskas told The Daily Progress that he has given up hope of returning to the program.

UVa’s most notable non-conference games are back-to-back road affairs. The Cavaliers play at Syracuse the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 28), then travel to take on Minnesota in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge four days later (Dec. 2).

Less than three months into his NBA career, former University of Virginia standout Sean Singletary is with his third team.

On Thursday, big man Lars Mikalauskas made his first public comments since Monday’s announcement that he had been booted from the Virginia basketball team. As Mikalauskas talked during a brief interview, one thing was obvious — he was still in shock.

“I was extremely sorry to hear about the situation with Lars,” said Ryan Pettinella, speaking by phone from Italy. “He was a good friend and a great teammate.”

On Tuesday, a day after UVa coach Dave Leitao announced that Mikalauskas would no longer be a member of the program, sources told The Daily Progress that “The Pride of Lithuania” planned to return to the states early next week and go through an appeals process with the university. The exact nature of his appeal is not known. 

On Monday evening, UVa coach Dave Leitao officially issued Lars Mikalauskas his walking papers. 

The Virginia men’s basketball team has an absolute steal in Tristan Spurlock, who committed to the program late Wednesday night. 

On Wednesday, sources told The Daily Progress that Virginia center Tunji Soroye has informed several people close to him that he is strongly considering transferring to another school.

Will Harris’ days at Virginia could be over.

According to a release from the University of Tennessee, the Lady Vols and coach Pat Summit will host Virginia on Nov. 17 in Thompson-Boling Arena at 7 p.m.

Mamadi Diane says his injury is improving every day and he expects to be ready well before the official opening of the season in October.

UVa will play three exhibition games within a two-day span, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, Aug. 30. The Cavaliers will take on St. Lawrence University in the morning and then play Concordia University in the afternoon. The games will take place at Concordia, which is located about 20 minutes north of Montreal.

The 6-foot-9 Pettinella, who started 20 games for Virginia this past season, is hoping to sign with a European club, preferably one in Italy.

When the first letter arrived in the mail, Ariana Moorer was floored with excitement.

While McDonald’s All-American Sylven Landesburg may have been DaveLeitao’s most notable recruit, John Brandenburg could wind up being his most vital.

Former Virginia star Sean Singletary agreed to terms with the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

Sammy Zeglinski’s, medical redshirt was officially granted.

Assane Sene, the oldest of six children, grew up playing soccer in Senegal. Since nobody in his family is particularly tall, he figured that would be his sport.

“That sticks with me because it’s not something that you see every day on television or read about in the newspapers,” Virginia coach Dave Leitao said. 

Sean Singletary, who was hoping to be a first-rounder, was the seventh point guard drafted behind Derrick Rose (Chicago), Russell Westbrook (Seattle), Jerryd Bayless (Indiana), George Hill (San Antonio), Mario Chalmers (Miami) and Kyle Weaver (Charlotte).