Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/243994
Gill scored a season-high 19 points in the Cavaliers' biggest non-conference win of the season — a 76-73 triumph over SMU in the Corpus Christi Challenge Nov. 29 in Corpus Christi, Texas. In that game, Gill was 6 of 10 from the field and 7 of 9 from the free throw line, and he also pulled down seven rebounds. Through the early portion of the season, Gill's playing time fluctuated. He played a season-high 26 minutes against SMU, but then played just eight minutes in a December home win over Northern Iowa Dec. 21. "He's got a great attitude," Bennett said. "He's so bought in and wants to do well. He'll take whatever role you need him to and is such a competitor. He's had some real good moments and he's had some learning moments — with being rusty or getting up to speed on how we do some things. That's from being out a year. I think you see that with Malcolm [Brogdon], too, at times. "What he did against SMU when he kind of took that game over was impressive — and he's showed stretches of that. Me continuing to learn how he functions best and what areas we can put him in where he can have success [is important]." Gill's teammates rave about his toughness. "He brings a whole different element — a physical element that we really need," said Brogdon, a redshirt second-year guard. "He's really physical on the low block; he rebounds really well. He's just really the aggressive low-post scorer that we need. "I think he's helped us tremendously in every game this year." Gill's just happy to be back on the court. "It's been great, just to be out there again — having to sit out is tough," said Gill, referring to NCAA transfer rules that required him to watch from the sidelines in 2012-13. "I got a lot better, but it was tough sitting out. "I just give what I can. If that means scoring one night, then not scoring at all the next — I just want to help my team as much as I can." i14-17.Anthony Gill.indd 2 Gill, an anthropology major who hopes to go into the hotel hospitality industry after his playing days are over, was born in High Point, N.C., and moved to Charlotte when he was 12. Growing up, he played football and basketball, but after breaking each of his ankles on the gridiron in successive seasons — he was a quarterback and a wide receiver — Gill elected to focus on hoops. As a sophomore, he switched from a public school to Charlotte Christian High and met his future college teammate, Mitchell, who was one year ahead of him. "We were friends from the beginning," Gill said. Gill and Mitchell led Charlotte Christian to three straight state championship games, falling in the finals to Christ School each of those years. Unlike Mitchell, Gill was recruited heavily. The 6-8 forward committed to South Carolina very early in the process, excited to play for head coach Darrin Horn. As a first-year, Gill started 26 of 31 games and averaged 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds for a Gamecocks squad that finished just 10-21. "The biggest thing I learned at South Carolina was to just stay positive," Gill said. "We didn't win that often, so you had to find your own motivation every game and just play your hardest." When Horn was fired at the end of the season and South Carolina hired former Kansas State head coach Frank Martin, Gill decided he wanted a fresh start. "We had a losing season and it took a lot out of me as far as going into every game trying to win and trying your hardest and then ending up losing," Gill said. "I didn't feel like going through another transition where we would go through losing again because it took a lot out of me the first time. "I wanted to go to a program that I knew was up and coming and knew was going to win, a place where knew I could help the team win." 1/16/14 11:14 AM