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Welcome to the first edition of SabreMail. What is SabreMail, you ask? Well, it's a combination of things. Primarily, it's designed to efficiently keep you up to date on the Hoos. If you just don't have the time to visit TheSabre.com a dozen times per day, then SabreMail is just what you need.

SabreMail has two purposes: 1) You'll get a weekly email from us which will include the latest University of Virginia football and basketball news, recruiting news, and hot issues on the message boards, as well as recent updates we have made to TheSabre.com. 2) SabreMail will bring you important breaking news - for example, a recruiting commitment or the receipt of a large multimillion dollar gift for the new basketball arena.

SabreMail also gives us the opportunity to inform you of new merchandise in TheSabreShop.com as well as special sales and close-outs.

If you think you'd enjoy this feature, then you don't have to do a thing. SabreMail will be delivered to your email address every week. Just remember to update us on any email address changes you have in the future. If you aren't interested in this feature, please scroll to the bottom and click the REMOVE link. But before you do, please scan over this SabreMail and make your decision then.

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Thanks and enjoy!

Mike Ingalls
GM and Editor
TheSabre.com

[email protected]


   Recruiting News


Derrick Byars
UVa Basketball receives another commitment

The University of Virginia basketball program received a commitment from 6-7 forward Derrick Byars Tuesday night. Byars is a Top-40 national recruit according to ESPN.com and hails from Ridgeway H.S. in Memphis, TN, where he averaged 19.8 points, 7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game during his junior year. For those who attended the Richmond-Virginia football game last Saturday, Byars was the young man walking around the sidelines by Coach Gillen and staff just before the game began.

Byars had originally scheduled visits to other colleges to take place after his trip to Charlottesville. After his commitment to Virginia, Byars called Vanderbilt and Tennessee, both of whom had offered scholarships, and canceled visits scheduled for later this month.

With Virginia forwards Adam Hall and Chris Williams graduating next spring, the UVa coaching staff desperately wanted to fill the position with another player of similar stature. Byars is an adequate fit for this role. He's an athletic swing man who can take it to the rim or shoot the three.

Byars participated in the Adidas ABCD Camps in Teaneck, NJ this past summer. He averaged 12 points and 5 rebounds per game, finishing with a 27-point, 12-rebound performance in the final playoff game. Look for a special feature on Byars in upcoming issues of the Sabre Newsletter.

Parham narrows his choices to two


Kai Parham
TheSabre.com recently caught up with Kai Parham, the 6-4, 240-pound blue chip linebacker from Princess Anne HS in Virginia Beach. Parham let us know that he has discussed the possibility of committing to the same program as another top linebacker, Ahmad Brooks.

As most of you know, both linebackers recently made an unofficial visit to UVa to discuss the Cavaliers' 3-4 defensive system and how they would possibly fit into it.

"I'm really excited about it," Parham said. "Coach Al Groh and Al Golden spoke to us about how we could play together in that system."

Parham stated that he wants to wait and see how the Cavaliers perform on the field this year before making his decision. He then added that his timetable may change if Brooks commits early.

Recently, Parham narrowed his top choices to Florida and Virginia. Many insiders believe he is strongly leaning to Virginia. Kai told TheSabre.com that UVa doesn't need to become a BCS team to get his commitment; they just need to show improvement and desire. Kai is rated as one of the Top-10 linebacker recruits nationally by most recruiting services, including Prep Star, SuperPrep, Tom Lemmings and Max Emfinger. He is arguably the best overall football recruit in the state of Virginia.

The August edition of the Sabre Newsletter has an in-depth interview with Kai Parham. If you're not a Sabre Newsletter subscriber, scroll down this page for more info on how you can sign up.

Find out more about Kai Parham by checking out his recruiting card at TheSabre.com.

Bringing you up to date

With the addition of Derrick Byars, Virginia Basketball has the commitment it needed to fill its only available scholarship opening for the 2002 recruiting class. Gillen and company will now focus their attention primarily on the 2003 class, which includes blue chippers J.R. Reynolds, a 6-3 guard from Roanoke Catholic H.S. in Roanoke and Omari Israel, a 6-7 power forward from Good Counsel H.S. in Rockville, MD. In July, Isreal told TheSabre.com, "I really want to go to Virginia." Israel plays for the same high school that graduated current UVa guard Roger Mason. Rumor has it that Reynolds is close to committing to the Cavaliers as well. The addition of Byars to the squad clearly improves the already strong competitive position of the men's basketball team, and it will certainly aid in attracting top recruits such as Reynolds. Stay tuned for more updates.

On to football recruiting. The Cavaliers started off the recruiting season strongly, gaining seven commitments before the end of July. For detailed information on these recruits, as well as archived updates and top in-state and out of state recruiting lists, please check out Football Recruiting.

   News, Rumors and Fan Discussion

This week...

Virginia narrowly escaped Richmond in its first home game of 2001. Spinner and Schaub are getting on track, but the offensive line still needs work. To find out more on post game news and stats regarding the Richmond game, check out Game News.

Virginia Basketball shooting guard Roger Mason, Jr. finished his participation in USA Basketball Word Games competition. He helped the USA team to a 7-1 record and a win over Germany to secure the Bronze Medal. Mason averaged 13 points and five rebounds, and started all eight games. USA's only loss came to China, 83-82. To find out more on this and other Hoos news, check out the Sabre Newslink.

"Majestic Mapp is still recovering from surgery on his right knee that was performed in August of 2000," Coach Pete Gillen said. "He had an arthroscopic operation to remove scar tissue in April of 2001 and had another arthroscopic procedure in August of 2001. At this time, we're hoping he'll be ready for practice on October 13."

While we all hope Mapp will make it back in time to lead the Hoos as floor general, the prognosis right now seems cloudy at best.

   What's New at TheSabre.com

The following areas of TheSabre.com have been updated...

2001-2002 Virginia Basketball Schedule. In addition to the ACC schedule, the Hoos will take on Michigan State, Georgetown and Auburn in non-conference action. With the Cavaliers adding perhaps one of its best recruiting classes ever, and with most of the team returning from last year, this season should be exciting.

The Virginia Football Roster. We've got new photos and bios of all of the players, including the true freshmen scholarship players. Are you ever sitting at home watching your Cavaliers on T.V. and are wondering who's wearing what number? For you convenience, we've added a downloadable printable version of the roster.

Our football recruiting section has been overhauled and now includes regular updates, interviews and videos of recruits, as well as the top players on UVa's wish list.

   Sale! Sale! Sale!


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   Sabre Newsletter - Only $24.95!

Are you ready to take it to the next level? Take what, you ask? Knowledge, excitement, entertainment; The Sabre Newsletter is the step up that you need. Feature articles, interviews with current players and recruits, editorials, commentary, and quick hitters. SN is the best way to feed your craving for exclusive writing on Hoos' sports.

SN is a monthly e-publication produced by TheSabre.com. We have assembled a great collection of profession writers to give you the finest coverage of the Hoos that you can get. The cost for a one-year subscription is only $24.95.

For more information, check out the November '99 Issue and see what you're missing!

 
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