By Whitey Reid

Published: May 9, 2008

Some basketball recruiting gurus aren’t completely sold on Virginia’s incoming class.
Bob Gibbons, one of the more respected evaluators of talent, isn’t one of them.
“I think they really strengthened themselves in getting two tall big guys up front in [John] Brandenburg and [Assane] Sene,” said Gibbons, who will be in town today through Sunday for the annual Southern Invitational, “and [Sylven] Landesberg, of course, was Mr. Basketball in New York State and a McDonald’s All-American.”
Landesberg, the 6-foot-6 combo guard from Holy Cross High in Queens, N.Y., is the first Virginia-bound player to be named a McDonald’s All-American since Majestic Mapp earned the honor in 1999.
Last season, as a junior, Landesberg led the New York Catholic League - arguably one of the most competitive high school leagues in the country - in scoring, averaging 27 points per game.
Virginia’s coaching staff did a great job in beating out a number of suitors, including St. John’s, Landesberg’s hometown school.
“They haven’t had that consistent perimeter scorer since J.R. Reynolds left, and I think Landesberg can help fill that void and make a major contribution as a freshman,” Gibbons said. “I would be shocked if he
doesn’t step right in and start next year.”
The additions of Brandenburg and Sene were an absolute must. Virginia hasn’t had enough big bodies the last couple of years, and nobody knows for sure if Tunji Soroye will be back for a fifth year after taking a medical redshirt.
“[Brandenburg] gives them an inside scorer,” Gibbons said, “and Sene can block shots and rebound and be a defensive specialist for them.”
Gibbons said Virginia fans should be excited about the future.
“Very much so,” he said. “I think this trio will really help strengthen the team. Of course they’ll miss [Sean] Singletary and his leadership and all, but he had a great four-year run and it’s time to pass the torch and move forward.”
To that end, the Virginia staff will have its eye on several players who will be participating in this weekend’s tournament, one of the largest AAU events of the year.
UVa will be focusing on a number of younger players from the Boo Williams
15-and-under squad, including eighth-grade phenom Justin Anderson (a 6-foot-5 swingman from Fredericksburg),
6-foot-9 freshman James McAdoo from Norfolk and 6-foot-5 sophomore Travis McKie from Richmond.
The staff is also looking at 6-foot-8 Melvin Tabb, a junior out of Raleigh, N.C., and New York product Sherrod Wright, a 6-foot-4 guard.
Forwards Tristan Spurlock and Deshawn Painter, two of the Cavs’ top targets for the class of 2009, will not be on hand.
Dunks
Sources say Virginia assistant coach Bill Courtney is a legitimate candidate to replace longtime Bucknell coach Pat Flannery, who announced his retirement last month.
Courtney, who just completed his second season at UVa, was a former standout player for the Bison and is a member of the school’s hall of fame. Bucknell athletic director John Hardt could not be reached for comment.