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TOP TRANSFERS AT UVA Over the years, the Virginia men's basketball program hasn't relied on transfers a whole lot. Still, there have been several who have made a big impact. Headlining the list is Rick Carlisle (1982-84). The current head coach of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks played his first two years at Maine before transferring to Virginia. Carlisle co-captained the Cavaliers to the Final Four in 1984 and averaged 12.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game during his college career. "I have so many fond memories of playing at Virginia," Carlisle recently told The Daily Progress. "My first year of eligibility was my first opportunity to play in a league like the ACC and to play with a guy like Ralph Sampson. That was a phenomenal experience. "We had a disappointing ending to that year, losing in the final eight, but then the next year we had a team that was opportunistic and resourceful that got to the NCAA Tournament, got on a roll at the right time and advanced to the Final Four. Rick Carlisle came to the Cavaliers after two seaThat was probably the biggest highlight for me." Carlisle went on to get drafted by the Boston Celtics and was a member of their sons at Maine, boasted career averages of 12.5 1986 NBA championship team. points and 3.3 rebounds Another top transfer for Virginia was Andrew Kennedy (1985-87), who came to per game, and was a Charlottesville from Jamaica via Amarillo Junior College. In 1987, Kennedy led the team captain on the UVa Cavaliers in scoring (16.5 points per game) and rebounds (7.5 boards per contest). squad that advanced to He wound up being a second-round selection of the Philadelphia 76ers and en- the Final Four in 1984. PHOTO COURTESY UVA joyed a long overseas career. Former Rutgers guard Todd Billet (2002-04) was known for his three-point shooting. In 2002-03, Billet ranked first in the ACC in three-point field goal percentage (41.8 percent) and in three-pointers made (94). Devin Smith (2002-05) arrived at Virginia from Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. The 6-5, 242-pound forward was a team captain and averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds over three seasons. Keith Friel (1999-2001) was a transfer from Notre Dame with a knack for making big shots. He provided instant offense off the Virginia bench with his long-range shooting during his two years in the program. As a fourth-year during the 2000-01 season, he averaged 8.4 points a game, made a team-high 62 three-point field goals and was one of the team's tri-captains. Until Anthony Gill came to UVa from South Carolina, UVa's most recent transfers were Ryan Pettinella (Penn) and Calvin Baker (William & Mary), who were both brought in by former head coach Dave Leitao. Pettinella (2006-08), a 6-10 bruiser, was on the UVa team that won a co-share of the ACC regular-season title in 2006-07 and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Baker (2007-10), a 5-11 walk-on guard — who eventually earned a scholarship — hit a pair of game-winning shots his third-year season in 2009. Other notable transfers from over the years have included Tom Calloway (1984-87), Brent Dabbs (1988-89), Curtis Williams (1988-89), Stephane Dondon (1999-2001) and Tommy Hicks (1977-79). As the story goes, Hicks' most notable contribution came when he helped lure Sampson to Virginia by painting "Ralph's House" on the top of University Hall's roof. — Whitelaw Reid i14-17.Anthony Gill.indd 6 1/16/14 11:14 AM