2006-07 Men’s Preview
CAVS LOOK TO BUILD UPON TURNAROUND YEAR

November 1, 2006

The Highland Cavaliers will look to build upon what could be called a turnaround season. The University of Virginia’s College at Wise improved by 12 wins and were the surprise team at the Appalachian Athletic Conference where they surged to a semifinal finish.

UVA-Wise reached the .500 level a year ago after having a true three win struggle the prior season. Even though the club finished 15-18, the Cavs broke even against NAIA competition with three defeats coming at the hands of NCAA Division I programs.

UVA-Wise completed the 2005-06 regular season tied for seventh (9-11) in the AAC. The team’s run in the league playoffs included a 69-63 win over Milligan before capturing the game of the tournament, a 91-87 double overtime, upset of Tennessee Wesleyan before bowing out to Union. Even with the last year’s outstanding finish, the Cavs are picked ninth in the preseason AAC Coaches poll.

“There will have to be fine tuning with the club and trying to get the most of the experience of how we finished last season, explains 11th-year head coach Lee Clark.

“I am confident we can continue to be successful at this level.”

The core of Cavs’ players return for Clark’s team aiming to continue the ascension up the AAC ranks. Jarred Soles, Zydrunas Rackauskas, Seth Gibson and Joey Blackwell gives UVA-Wise four of its top five scorers back from a year ago. The four bring 62% (40.9 ppg) of the scoring and 53% (18.8 rpg) of the rebounding back for the 2006-07 year.

“We have a lot of experience and confidence heading into the year since all of the players have been through the league twice for most of them,” explains Clark.

UVA-Wise will have to find one important aspect of every team, a “go-to” player. Parker Gemmell was the player who fit the role at the end of the year but last year’s leading scorer (16.2 ppg) graduated.

“We need to see if anyone steps up to create their own shot and score when needed especially on the perimeter,” adds Clark.

“Early in the season I will play a lot of kids and try to create good chemistry. We will have a lot of good competition in practice which will help us in the long run.”

The chemistry will start with the two wing players, Soles and Gibson, and the super sophomore inside-out Rackauskas. The two 6-3 juniors will be key in the squad’s scoring prowess.

Soles will be the team’s top returning scorer at 15.0 ppg. The co-captain will be the top outside scoring threat as he hit 67 three-pointers and over 36% of his long-range attempts. In his third year, Soles will need to reach his 2005-06 average and exceed it consistently this year.

Gibson, a very intelligent player, moved into a more prominent role a year ago. The forward plays bigger than he is, guarding much taller opponents most games, and will look to increase his 7.3-point average each night. He also will be counted upon inside where he had 3.8 rebounds per contest.

Rackauskas was arguably the most consistent Cavs’ player as a freshman. The 6-4 Lithuania native earned AAC Freshman of the Year while averaging nearly a double-double of 13.5 ppg and 9.5 rpg. He posted 14 double-doubles and will be a bigger force this year if he can finish ‘old fashion’ three-point plays with more regularity.

Blackwell and the squad’s lone senior Cassidy Vaughn will control the backcourt guard positions.

An intelligent, hard-nosed player and team captain, Blackwell, will give the point position a floor leader. He is the top assist leader, 72 helpers, on the team while chipping in 5.1 points per ballgame.

Vaughn uses his quickness to be a good defender. He is getting back into the ‘groove’ after missing the second semester a year ago. Vaughn had 13 points and 12 assists in 14 first semester games.

Junior Festus Amarteifio rounds out the backcourt returners. He is a good athlete who is capable of helping the team on the defensive end. Festus grabbed 23 rebounds to go with 13 points last year.

Two freshmen, Pance Kecev (pronounced - Pawn CHAY KAY chev) and Chris Stamper, will bring new talent into the guard ranks.

Kecev, a native of Macedonia, brings a lot of skills for a freshman to UVA-Wise. His ability to adapt to the collegiate game will determine his minutes. Kecev was part of last season’s Twin Springs’ Virginia State Final Four team.

Stamper, a good shooter, will try to gain some backcourt minutes after being a three-time all-region player at Wolfe County (KY).

Rackauskas will be the main inside force but will be joined by 6-8 junior Justin Sorensen and newcomers Brian Sexton and Travis Brannon.

Sorensen has progressed nicely in his first two seasons in Wise. The center made a team-best 58% of his field goal attempts while averaging 3.4 points and 3.8 boards. He will need to continue to step up his defense in the middle and rebounding for his junior season.

Sexton moves up in the collegiate ranks from NCAA Division III Emory & Henry College for his sophomore season. The 6-6 forward should improve the Cavs’ interior defense and boardwork. He averaged 2.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 13 minutes per game for the Wasps.

An intelligent, hard-working, fierce competitor, Brannon, will add another versatile swingman to the roster. Travis will adjust to playing both outside as well as inside where he finished his scholastic career as Patrick Henry High’s all-time leading scorer with 1,256 points.

The 2006-07 schedule for the upstart squad will be a daunting one once again. UVA-Wise will start the year with a tough three games in three day road swing. After opening at Alice Lloyd College, the Cavs will play NCAA Division I East Tennessee State in an exhibition affair before trekking up Virginia to play Division I Longwood University the following afternoon.

UVA-Wise added two games with southwest Virginia’s other college, Emory & Henry as well a pair with NAIA Division I Pikeville and a tournament at Lee University. These games will go with the 18-game AAC schedule which Montreat, the preseason favorite, defending league champ and winner of a first round NAIA championships contest.

“We will have a tremendous amount of games that will be decided in the last five minutes this year,” predicts Clark.

“Our ability as a team to play in and handle those tight situations will be crucial in deciding how this season will end up for us.”

Coach Clark’s experienced and talented group will need to continue its development as a whole to post the program’s first winning campaign in four years and become a threat for a spot in the upper ranks of the AAC.