Cavalier Corner

April 2017

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APRIL 2017 ◆ 25 "I originally accepted an offer to play for a team in Germany, which did not end up working out, so I went back to America to evaluate new options that were on the table," Gill relayed. "I had options from Italy, Spain, Israel, Greece and Turkey, as well as a couple offers from the D-league. "Turkey is the most competitive league, so I knew that was the place I wanted to be." Other former Cavaliers who played in Charlottesville before Bennett arrived have found success on and off the court. Roger Mason, who played several years in the NBA, is the new commissioner of a 3-on-3 league, the BIG3. He grew up in Silver Spring, Md., and played at Good Counsel of the Washington Catholic Ath- letic Conference before heading to Virginia. "I remember fondly the games that we had out there and the competition in the D.C. area in three-on-three basketball," Ma- son told The Washington Post. "It's the first form of basketball that I ever played." Adam Hall finished his Virginia career in 2002 and has played around the world since then, including several seasons in Bel- gium. The league in Belgium allows several Americans per team. Anderson, in his second NBA season, was traded from Dallas to Philadelphia in Febru- ary. Through March 27, he had played in 66 games between his stints with the Mavs and 76ers, and averaged 6.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in 14.8 minutes per contest. His head coach with the Mavs was Rick Carlisle, a former Virginia and NBA star. Anderson said he and Carlisle talked about their shared history in Charlottesville. When the Mavericks were in Denver earlier this season Terry Holland, who coached Carlisle at Virginia, stopped by to say hello. And Anderson said Carlisle was genu- inely interested to hear from Anderson about when Virginia nearly upset host and No. 1 ranked Villanova in early February. Anderson, who averaged 12.2 points per game for Virginia in 2014-15, said the reach of Bennett goes way back. "Just being recruited by coach Bennett and his staff [was a learning experience]," he said. Anderson said the NBA travel has not been a problem. "My challenge has never been the travel. The camaraderie on the plane is awesome," he said. He said a bigger challenge is playing on back-to-back nights in the NBA. "You have to flush the last game and switch over to the next one," he said. "You are not seeing your family but maybe two or three times a year." But being able to play against former Vir- ginia teammates and have dinner with them before NBA games is a plus. "It is the best feeling ever," Anderson said. ◆ FROM C-VILLE TO THE PROS Here is a look at several former University of Virginia basketball players who finished their careers in Charlottesville and where they are now: As of March 28 Name (Years at UVA) Pos. Pro Year Current Pro Team (League) Justin Anderson (2012-15) SF 2nd Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Traded from Dallas to Philadelphia in February, and was averaging 6.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in 14.8 minutes per game in 66 contests (two starts) this season. Darion Atkins (2011-15) PF 2nd Hapoel Holon (Israel) Averaging 14.5 points and 9.3 points for Hapoel, which was tied for first in Israel-Winner League with a 17-7 mark. Malcolm Brogdon SG 1st Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) Putting together a solid rookie campaign with 10.2 points, 4.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per contest while playing in 71 of the Bucks' 73 games (24 starts). Elton Brown (2001-05) C 11th SLUC Nancy Basket (France) Averaging 6.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in eight contests in his 16th professional stop over 11 years. Jason Cain (2003-07) PF/C 10th Marín Peixegalego (Spain) Posting 11.0 points and 4.9 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game while playing in 27 of 29 contests for 7-22 Marín in Spain's LEB Oro league this season. Anthony Gill (2012-16) PF 1st Yeşilgiresun Belediye (Turkey) Averaging 14.1 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds through 23 games in his rookie season in the Turkish Basketball Super League. Adam Hall (1998-2002) SG 15th Royal IV Brussels (Belgium) Putting up 9.8 points and 4.1 rebounds over 18 games in Belgium's Top Division 1 league. Joe Harris (2010-14) SG 3rd Brooklyn Nets (NBA) Averaging a career-high 8.2 and 2.8 rebounds in 21.9 minutes over 52 games played (11 starts) for the 16-57 Nets this season. Sylven Landesberg (2008-10) SG 7th Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) Posting 12.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in 18 games played for Maccabi T-A, which is tied for the top spot in the Israel-Winner League with Hapoel at 17-7. Jerome Meyinsse (2006-10) PF 7th San Lorenzo de Almagro (Argentina) Averaging 17.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 25.1 minutes per contest for the top team in the South Division (28-13) of the Argentina's LigaA. Akil Mitchell (2010-14) PF 3rd Long Island Nets (D-League) After one-year stints in France and New Zealand, notching 8.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 28.6 minutes in four games in the D-League. Mike Scott (2007-11) PF 6th Free Agent (NBA) Has not played since mid-February after being traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Phoenix Suns, who subsequently released him. He has averaged 7.1 points and 3.0 rebounds in 281 career NBA games. Devin Smith (2002-05) SF 12th Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) Averaging 13.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in six games played as teammates with Landesberg in Maccabi T-A. Mike Tobey (2012-16) C 1st Valencia Basket (Spain) Had yet to play for Valencia, the top team at 18-6 in Spain's Liga Endesa, since signing. Played in two games for the Charlotte Hornets in February after inking a 10-day contract, and averaged 1.0 point and 1.5 re- bounds. Also played in 25 games for the NBA D-League's Greensboro Swarm, and averaged 12.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 26.7 minutes per contest. Sammy Zeglinski (2007-12) PG 5th Niagara River Lions (Canada) Averaging 11.3 points, 6.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 31.7 minutes per game over 31 contests with Niagara of the National Basketball League of Canada. Source: www.eurobasket.com and Virginia athletic office In his first pro season overseas, forward Anthony Gill was averaging 14.1 points and a team-best 7.1 rebounds through 23 games with Yeşilgiresun Belediye in the Turkish Basketball Super League. PHOTO COURTESY YEŞILGIRESUN BELEDIYE

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