Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR THE CAVALIERS Just moments after Virginia's loss to Michigan State in the third round of the NCAA Tournament, head coach Tony Ben‑ nett told his players not to hang their heads because they have a lot to look forward to. He wasn't pulling their chain. Next season, with the exception of Darion Atkins, Virginia returns every scholarship player from a team that went 30‑4 and won its second straight ACC regular‑season champion‑ ship. "We have a lot of good players coming back," said UVa redshirt third‑year Malcolm Brogdon, "and we have guys on the bench who are going to play huge roles for us next year." Brogdon, a first‑team All‑ACC selection and second‑team All‑American this past season, is the linchpin. The Georgia native will be looking to build on a junior season in which he became the unquestioned leader and averaged a team‑leading 14.0 points per game. Backcourt mate London Perrantes, who received All‑ACC honorable mention status, will also be back. Perrantes had a three‑to‑one assist to turnover ratio as a second‑year. In addition, Virginia returns big men Anthony Gill and Mike Tobey. Gill was a third‑team All‑ACC selection in 2014‑15 and was also named by the coaches to the all‑defensive team. Tobey, meanwhile, was the ACC Sixth Man of the Year. The big question mark is whether Justin Anderson returns for his fourth‑year season. Anderson, who came into his own before suffering a broken pinky and having to undergo an appendectomy, is considered a late first to early second round NBA Draft choice. At season's end, Anderson was noncommittal about what he planned to do. The deadline to declare for the draft is April 26. In addition to a strong returning core of players, Virginia will welcome Jack Salt, Darius Thompson and Jarred Reuter into the mix. Salt, a 6‑11 center from New Zealand who redshirted as a first‑year, is expected to bring a physicality that was sometimes missing last season. Thompson is a 6‑4 guard who sat out last season, per NCAA rules, after transferring from Tennessee. As a freshman, Thompson played on the Volunteers squad that made the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The 6‑8 Reuter, who will be a freshman, is a power forward who starred at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. "Jarred is tough, physical and plays with a lot of intensity," said Bennett, shortly after Reuter signed last November. "He is a gifted passer who plays with great feel for an inside player. Jarred will also value the degree he will earn from the University of Virginia." — Whitelaw Reid Third-year center Mike Tobey was named the ACC's Sixth Man of the Year after post- ing career highs of 6.9 points and 5.1 re- bounds per game. PHOTO BY MATT RILEY/COURTESY UVA