Score one for the University of Virginia in the transfer department. 6’8″, 235-pound power forward Anthony Gill, a freshman who decided to transfer from the University of South Carolina after the firing of Darrin Horn, will take his talents to Charlottesville. Gill’s former AAU coach, Rick Lewis, first reported the info via Twitter after speaking with Gill’s father.
“Per Anthony Gill’s father, AG will attend UVA. The Wahoos have a future ALL ACC player,” Lewis wrote early this afternoon.
The former Charlotte Christian (Charlotte, N.C.) standout took an official visit to UVa the weekend of April 21, taking in part of the Spring Game, a baseball game and a lacross game. He followed up with an official visit to Ohio State this past weekend.
“There is just good chemistry between him and the Virginia coaches,” Lewis replied when asked what separated the Cavaliers from the Buckeyes.
Lewis, who now operates the Phenom Hoop Report, didn’t back down from his statement that Virginia has landed a “future ALL ACC player.”
“I really feel like AG is going to be an all-ACC player by the end of his career,” he said. “I coached AG for three years. He’s a special young man.”
Rated a 4-star recruit by ESPN.com and Scout.com coming out of high school, Gill turned in a solid freshman campaign for the Gamecocks. He started 26 games, averaging 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per contest.
“He is sneaky athletic,” Lewis said, describing Gill’s game. “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.”
Gill will have to sit out the 2012/2013 season due to transfer rules. He’ll be eligible in 2013/2014 and will have three years of eligibility remaining. When he becomes eligible, Gill will join a frontcourt rotation that is projected to include Darion Atkins , Akil Mitchell , Evan Nolte and Mike Tobey .
Damontre Harris
Lewis commented on the prospect of another South Carolina transfer, sophomore center Damontre Harris, perhaps joining the Cavaliers as well.
“I think that’s up to Virginia to decide,” Lewis said. “I do know there was some talk about AG and Damontre playing together.”
Harris’ former high school coach, Heath Vandevender, said last Friday that Virginia’s Tony Bennett had contacted him with regards to the 6’9″, 226-pound center. UVa, though, was not one of the two certain visit destinations Coach Vandevender mentioned.
“He is definitely going to visit Kansas and Florida,” Vandevender said last Friday. “He does not have dates set yet. That’s all I know at this point.”
