Recruiting Week In Review

Before getting to the Stars of the Gridiron, there was some bad news for one of Virginia’s class of 2016 commits. Wide receiver prospect Neru NShaka is out for the season with a torn ACL. Despite the standout athlete’s absence, Hallandale (FL) defeated Dillard, 40-14, last week to improve to 2-0.

STARS OF THE GRIDIRON

Joseph Reed was outstanding in Charlotte Court House (VA) Randolph-Henry’s 46-38 win over Colonial Beach last week. The 6’3″, 200-pound senior, who is playing quarterback this season but is being recruited by UVa to play wide receiver, rushed 27 times for 268 yards and six touchdowns for the Statesmen (1-1).

Bryce Hall had three receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown as Harrisburg (PA) Bishop McDevitt defeated Steel-High, 40-7, in its season opener. Hall is a proven playmaker at wide receiver on the high school level; however, the Virginia coaches are leaning toward playing him in the defensive backfield, possibly at corner.

How the rest of UVa’s class of 2016 fared last week…

WON: CB/WR Darrius Bratton, Roanoke (VA) William Fleming (1-1); WR Hasise Dubois, Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic (1-0); ATH Nick Grant, Spotsylvania (VA) Courtland (1-1); ATH Aidan Howard, Monroeville (PA) Gateway (1-0); OL Ben Knutson, Mishawaka (IN) Penn (3-0); S Jordan Mack, Norcross (GA) Wesleyan (3-0); DB Chris Moore, Ashburn (VA) Broad Run (2-0); OL Stephen Spanellis, Baltimore (MD) Gilman (1-1); OLB/DE Matt Terrell, Lynchburg (VA) Liberty Christian Academy (2-0)

LOST: QB Sonny Abramson, Sparta (N.J.) Pope John XXIII (0-1); WR Cole Blackman, Glen Allen (VA) (0-1); CB/WR Deedrick Daniels Jr., Tampa (FL) Chamberlain (0-2); OL Dillon Reinkensmeyer, Highlands Ranch (CO) Valor Christian (1-1); LB Robert Snyder, Suwanee (GA) Collins Hill (0-3); TE Andrew Trainer, Alexandria (VA) St. Stephens & St. Agnes (0-1)

DID NOT PLAY: TE Christian Baumgardner, Ocean City (N.J.) (0-0); RB Tre Harbison, Shelby (N.C.) Crest (2-0); DE Stephen Moye, Lilburn (GA) Parkview (2-0); LB Landan Word, Arlington (VA) Bishop O’Connell (0-1)

TWEETS & LINKS

– In case you missed it, UVa men’s basketball extended a class of 2018 scholarship offer last week.

– Corey Evans of HoopSeen.com caught up with class of 2017 point guard Matt Coleman, who is beginning his first year at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. Coleman, one of Virginia’s top targets in the class of 2017, attended Maury High School (Norfolk, VA) his freshman and sophomore years.

– UVa men’s basketball recruit Kyle Guy tweeted a video of one of his workouts. Check it out by clicking here.

Guy, already an avid supporter of all UVa athletics, tweeted support for the UVa football team against UCLA.

THIS WEEK IN RECRUITING

Last week, it became official. Mamadi Diakite is a member of the University of Virginia men’s basketball team.

The 6’10” forward, rated a 5-star recruit by 247Sports.com, successfully reclassified from the class of 2016 to the class of 2015. Cavalier fans won’t get to see Diakite in action this year, as VirginiaSports.com indicated in its press release that he will red-shirt, but he’ll have a year to learn Tony Bennett’s system and, perhaps more importantly, develop under strength and conditioning coach Mike Curtis.

Diakite’s official enrollment does not impact Virginia recruiting in the class of 2016. The Hoos have one scholarship spot available at this point with two primary targets: Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA) small forward Braxton Blackwell and Friends’ Central (Wynnewood, PA) small forward DeAndre Hunter.

EDGE subscribers can read my latest update (posted this past Saturday) on Hunter, who is scheduled to take an official visit on Grounds this Friday through Sunday. This week I hope to get the latest on Blackwell’s plans, as he is expected to take official visits this fall as well.

Virginia class of 2016 commits Kyle Guy, Jay Huff and Ty Jerome are expected on Grounds for their official visits this weekend as well. We’ll catch up with all three following their visits.

Football recruiting-wise, I expect a solid recruiting turnout for the Notre Dame game in Scott Stadium on Saturday. We’ll have a list of confirmed visitors for you this weekend.