Virginia lands Irvine’s Tillis; Kyle Guy to Nevada

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia began filling out its new frontcourt on Friday night when former UC Irvine stretch forward Devin Tillis announced his commitment to the Cavaliers.

The 6-foot-7 Los Angeles native has improved his numbers in each of his four years of college basketball, and comes to UVA with one year of eligibility remaining.

Tillis’ numbers jumped from his junior to senior year with the Anteaters, from 9.7 points to 13.7 points per game and from 6.1 rebounds to 7.8 boards per outing. Plus, this past season with Irvine, he shot 53.3 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from the 3-point arc, while posting seven 20-plus-point games and seven double-doubles.

One thing is for sure, Ryan Odom and his staff are gaining commitments from players who can shoot the ball, including from the 3-point arc.

As a sophomore, Tillis averaged 7.3 points per game and 6.2 rebounds at Irvine, good enough to lead his team in rebounding (206), the seventh-best in the Big West.

Tillis joins Silas Barksdale in the UVA frontcourt.

In other UVA recruiting news:

• Virginia hosted Kansas freshman guard Rakease Passmore on Friday.
• Florida State’s 6-11 forward/center Malique Ewin, said he is down to five schools: Virginia, Auburn, Kansas, Arkansas and Mississippi State.
• Former UVA forward Elijah Saunders was scheduled to visit Maryland this weekend, but Saunders also noted that he was seriously considering a return to Virginia.
• It didn’t take former UVA star Kyle Guy long to find a new job. The University of Nevada announced Friday night that it had hired Guy as an assistant coach. Guy posted earlier this week that he was leaving his job at Virginia as athlete development mentor/special assistant after one year on the job. “I’m beyond excited for a fresh start working with another Hall of Fame coach,” Guy said. “I appreciate Coach Alford and the staff for this incredible opportunity. I can’t wait to contribute and help take this program to new heights.” The Wolfpack is coached by Steve Alford, in his sixth season at Nevada, and is 11th among all active Division I coaches in career wins (683), including a stint at UCLA. Alford led Indiana to the 1987 NCAA championship as a player for Bob Knight and, like Guy, is a former Indiana Mr. Basketball. Both Guy and Isaiah Wilkins were offered to remain on with Ryan Odom’s new Virginia program in similar roles that they held last season, but both declined. Odom confirmed that point on Friday.