UVa notes

The blue-chip prospect who’s scheduled to arrive at UVa today for an unofficial visit is bringing some baggage.
That Renardo Sidney is a supremely gifted basketball player is unquestioned. The 6-10, 250-pound senior from Los Angeles’ Fairfax High is ranked No. 5 by Scout.com and No. 10 by Rivals.com in the Class of 2009. His potential is such that many expect to see him in the NBA come the 2010-11 season.
“When Renardo Sidney is in shape and focused on his game, he may not have a rival in this class,” said Dave Telep, the lead recruiting analyst for Scout.com. “The sky is truly the limit for him, and it’s completely up to him.”
For all his talent, the well-traveled Sidney, who’s at his third high school, has been cited as an example of the excesses of what shoe companies call “grass-roots basketball,” the circuit that includes AAU events.
Critics have called him lazy and questioned his attitude. Plug his name into a Google search, and you’ll find several articles about Sidney and his controversial career.
The New York Times recently ran a long piece focusing on Sidney. It included this quote from Reebok’s Christopher Rivers in response to the criticism of Sidney:
“Fantastic basketball player,” Rivers said. “Good kid, never been arrested, not on drugs, never kicked out of school, not failing classes. He’s a normal kid. Probably comes home late and spends too much time on his computer. But because he’s 6-foot-10 and he’s special and has the ability to make a lot of money if he continues his craft, and he’s treated like there’s something wrong with him? What’s wrong with him?”
Sidney and his parents are scheduled to spend today, Sunday and Monday in Charlottesville. Virginia opens the season Sunday against Virginia Military Institute at John Paul Jones Arena.
The NCAA’s early-signing period began Wednesday. UVa hopes to get a letter of intent from Sidney before he heads home.
Tri-captains named
The Cavaliers’ tri-captains for 2008-09 are the team’s seniors — swingman Mamadi Diane and center Tunji Soroye — and junior guard Calvin Baker.
Laurynas Mikalauskas would have been a senior this season, but coach Dave Leitao dismissed him from the team in August.
Mikalauskas was a favorite of UVa fans, but Leitao isn’t worried that the 6-8 Lithuanian’s absence will hurt the atmosphere at home games.
“Again, as I’ve said when we talk about leadership, if somebody’s pumping their fist, that doesn’t mean that provides the kind of leadership that teams need,” Leitao said. “I think if we make an important 3-pointer and another team calls a timeout, the crowd’s not going to be less enthusiastic because there’s a fist up or not. I think our play will always dictate how energized our fans will be.”
‘Bullet’ Bill honored
A reception honoring former UVa football star “Bullet” Bill Dudley will be held Thursday night at the Reynolds Building, 6641 W. Broad St.
Proceeds will benefit the non-profit Bill Dudley Scholarship Foundation. The foundation annually awards a $4,000 scholarship to a high school football player from the Richmond area. The 2007 winner was Deep Run High’s Drew Daniels.
This year’s recipient will be announced at the Dudley Award banquet Dec. 11 in Richmond. The Dudley Award is presented each to the top player from the state schools that compete in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision or Football Championship Subdivision.
Dudley, who lives in Lynchburg, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966.