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BY BRAD FRANKLIN L ast year, coaches at Virginia knew going into the 2015 recruiting cycle they'd have only one scholarship to work with. So despite winning the ACC regular-season and tournament titles and earning an NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed prior to making the Sweet 16 this past spring, the Cavaliers couldn't do but so much with their newfound name recognition. But that didn't slow them down. After securing a commitment from three-star Ri- vals150 power forward Jarred Reuter, head coach Tony Bennett and his staff went shopping in the class of 2016 and locked up a pair of nationally ranked combo guards in three-star Ty Jerome and four-star Kyle Guy. "It's definitely one of the more impressive string of 'early' gets that I've seen," said Mike Pegram, who covers basketball recruiting in Indiana for Ri- vals.com. "Coach Bennett and his staff have done a great job with these guys." It all began in August with Reuter, a 6-8, 245-pound power forward from Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy. Following an outstanding of- ficial visit, Rivals.com's No. 140 overall player in the nation had found the right fit and picked the Cavaliers over offers from Iowa, Pitt, Providence, Rutgers and South Carolina, among others. "Reuter is one of those guys who I frankly dis- counted a bit at first," said Eric Bossi, national basketball recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. "I always loved how hard he played and how tough he was, but he looked like one of those kids who had perhaps matured early and had limited upside. "As Reuter has gotten older," Bossi added, "he has steadily added to his game. His strengths are always going to be his physical interior play, toughness and motor, but he is not devoid of skill. He has improved some touch, is developing a few post moves, and it is pretty evident that he has been working hard on his overall game." Pegram said the growth in Reuter's game from when he saw him the first time and when he saw him two years later was evident. "He's just got huge shoulders and he's one strong dude," Pegram said. "He can pop some, too. He's got a quick little shot and he knows where he is on the floor. He has great awareness of how to score around the basket, and what stands out right away is his thickness. He's as thick as they come for a basketball player without being too big. He's uva recruiting MEN'S BASKETBALL HITS FAST FORWARD Virginia commit Jarred Reuter — a 6-8, 245-pound power forward from Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy — is rated as the No. 140 overall player in the class of 2015 by Rivals.com. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM