Former AAU Coach Talks Anthony Gill

Once freshman Anthony Gill was granted permission to seek a transfer from the University of South Carolina, Virginia head coach Tony Bennett immediately reached out. In fact, he was the first coach to touch base with 6’8″, 235-pound power forward. Bennett’s action shows just how much he wants Gill in the Virginia program, and the Charlotte (N.C.) native reciprocated that interest and made an official visit to UVa this past weekend.

By all accounts, Gill’s official to UVa went very well. He spent time with players (including former Charlotte Christian teammate Akil Mitchell ) and coaches and took in UVa’s lacrosse match-up against Duke, the football Spring Game, and a baseball game. Rick Lewis, a Gill family friend and Anthony’s former AAU coach, echoed those sentiments.

“I think the UVa visit went really, really well,” said Lewis, who spoke with Gill’s father this past Sunday night.

Whitey Reid of the Charlottesville Daily Progress caught up with Gill this morning (his full article is here). The promising power forward is set to take an official visit to Ohio State this weekend, but the big news in Reid’s report was that UNC head coach Roy Williams made contact last night. Right now, it’s unclear what will happen between Gill and the Tar Heels.

Lewis has his guess of where Gill may end up, and certainly Cavalier fans hope he is correct.

“I still feel he is UVA’s to lose… [Anthony] is pretty loyal and Coach Bennett reached out to him first,” Lewis said.

A star at Charlotte Christian School, Gill averaged 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game over the course of his junior and senior seasons. He headed to South Carolina rated a 4-star prospect by ESPN.com and Scout.com.

As a freshman this past season, Gill started 26 of 31 games, averaging 25.3 minutes per game. He averaged 7.6 points per game, making 45.3-percent of his field goals, 39-percent of his 3-point attempts (11-28) and 64.6-percent of his free throws (53-82). Gill also averaged 4.7 rebounds per game.

“He is sneaky athletic,” Lewis said, describing Gill’s game. Lewis coached Gill for three years on the AAU circuit. “He has fantastic hands. Very seldom does he fumble or drop a pass. He’s a two-handed rebounder. You see a lot of kids go up for rebounds with one hand, but he is a two-handed rebounder. Offensively, he can do a little jump-hook with his right or left hand. He has a good up-and-under move. He has good footwork in the post. The good thing about him is he can knock down a 15-foot jump-shot. Last year at South Carolina, he stepped out and knocked down a few 3s. He has the ability to be a face-up 4 and play in the low post.”

To Lewis, more impressive than Gill’s on-the-court abilities is his character.

“AG is probably one of the most enjoyable players I’ve had the opportunity to coach,” Lewis said. “He’s a great team player. More importantly, he is probably one of the nicest young men I’ve ever dealt with. He is high character. He’s very humble and appreciative. His character is off the charts. You won’t find many young men like him.”

More Transfer Notes

– Virginia is pursuing another South Carolina transfer, sophomore Damontre Harris. The news of Harris’ release just came out this week, and right now it’s unclear what schools the 6’9″, 226-pound center is most seriously considering.

Harris averaged 6.8 points (making 55-percent of his field goals and 80.4-percent of his free throws) and 5.5 rebounds per game this past season. He led the Gamecocks in blocks with 71, earning first-team all-SEC defensive team honors.

– Whitey Reid also confirms that Justin Miller was on Grounds for a visit this past weekend. The 6’1″ point guard prospect, a 2011 graduate of Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Missouri, is being pursued by Virginia as a walk-on.

According to this report, Miller attended UVa’s Elite Camp back in 2009. He went on to average 9.5 points per game as a junior in 2009/2010, but a serious foot injury and subsequent surgery kept him out for his entire senior season (check out more on his injury here).

We hope to have more on Miller very soon.

– UVa requested permission to speak with freshman Jarrod Uthoff, who is transferring out of Wisconsin after red-shirting this past season. But Virginia is now one of many schools the 6’8″ forward is not allowed to transfer to.