Cavalier Corner

Bossi agreed with Bennett's point of view on Huff, a player that many still are curious to see live because he rarely played on the AAU or sum- mer event circuit. "Huff is a guy that I have only had the chance to evaluate via game film, but his potential jumps off the screen," Bossi said. "While quite skinny and lacking in strength, he is a fluid athlete who can run the floor and moves well laterally. His jump shooting is impres- sive, and he can put the ball on the floor well, particularly when catching while already on the move. "In addition to adding strength," Bossi noted, "he'll need to adjust to playing against good competition, but there's a good chance he could be one of the bigger class of 2016 recruiting steals." Finally, UVA rounded out its 2016 class last fall when the Cavaliers were able to se- cure a commitment from four- star wing DeAndre Hunter, a Philadelphia native who chose Virginia while on his official visit along with Jerome, Guy and Huff — despite offers from Connecticut, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, North Carolina State, Notre Dame and Villanova, among others. "He's got great size at that perimeter wing po- sition, and he's another pretty complete offen- sive player," Bennett said of the 6-7, 195-pound Hunter. "He's also just a humble guy that wants a chance to play at a very high level. I love his game and his attitude." "In Hunter, the Cavs have landed a tough- minded and productive combo forward," Bossi said of the No. 66 overall player in the Rivals rankings. "He is most effective catching the ball in the high post or operating from the foul line ex- tended. He loves to shoot mid-range jumpers and has a strong competitive spirit about him. He's more of a spacial rebounder rather than one who will go and chase down a bunch of loose balls out of his area, but he is more than adequate on the glass. "The biggest question will be whether or not he can settle in as a slightly under- sized mismatch four type or if he can play on the wing full time." The class, especially when considered alongside Nich- ols and Diakite, is one of the best Virginia has ever signed. Three of the four are ranked in the top 70 nationally, and the fourth likely would have been if he had been evaluated more. It's a class Bennett can't wait to work with when the group arrives on Grounds this summer. "I think you truly don't know until you get them and you're with them a while and you go through some adversity," he said. "You want to see how they handle adversity and how they handle success. That's why it'll be good to go on a foreign tour with them next summer and build that foundation with them. "I like what they're about. They have to con- tinue on with what we've tried to build, and they seem to have the right attitude. They care about school as much as basketball, and that's some- thing we always try to identify in our guys. We just want to keep working and keep finding guys that fit what we do and fit our formula." ◆ Rivals.com rates New Rochelle (N.Y.) Iona Prep point guard Ty Jerome as the No. 50 overall prospect in the class of 2016. PHOTO BY BRAD FRANKLIN

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