An economics major from New Jersey, a junior-college superstar from Kansas and a body-boarding big man from California: Virginia's Todd Billet, Devin Smith and
Nick Vander Laan are about as geographically different as players come.
For one reason or another, all roads have led to Charlottesville, Va. for the three transfers. With the loss of former guard Roger Mason Jr. to the NBA last season, the trio has filled in by committee. Billet, Smith and Vander Laan have averaged 24.7 minutes and 10 points a piece per game. More important than numbers, however, is the continuity with which the three have played.
Billet's road to Virginia began at Rutgers, a half-hour drive from his Middletown, N.J. home. In two seasons with the Scarlet Knights, Billet started every game at point guard, averaging 16.6 ppg during his sophomore season. Playing for his brother Geoff, then an assistant coach at Rutgers, Billet was in a comfort zone with the Scarlet Knights until the end of his sophomore season.
Rutgers fired coach Kevin Bannon and did not retain Geoff. Billet initially pointed to Rutgers' focus on rebuilding, rather than its coaching situation, as his reason for leaving. In a Dec. 21 interview with The Virginian-Pilot, Billet explained his decision.
"There were a lot of outside sources that were going on that I had no control over." Billet said. "So it was just a mixture of a bunch of things."
After sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, Billet has started 23 games this season, averaging 13.8 ppg. Last season - his first away from competitive basketball in 14 years - was his most difficult.
"It definitely was a unique experience - difficult, but unique," Billet said. "We seem to take more appreciation of being able to play again. (Playing) was something we took for granted."
That Virginia landed Smith-a forward-is a testament to Cavaliers' coach Pete Gillen's recruiting ability. Smith snuck away from Kansas coach Roy Williams and the Jayhawks in favor of Virginia.
He averaged 19.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game at Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kan. The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference named him Most Valuable Player and Freshman of the Year in 2001-02.
"It was a big decision I had to make," Smith said. "I like having my family at the games. The players here fit me more than anywhere else."
In 25 appearances, Smith averaged 11 ppg and four rebounds per game in an environment completely different than in Kansas.
"It was a big transition coming from junior college to an ACC school," Smith said. "In junior college, you could have an easy night some nights, but in Division I, you have to leave everything out there every night."
Vander Laan's journey to Virginia is just the latest stop in the center's career. Born in Long Beach, Calif., Vander Laan played at four prep schools in two states before finally settling in at California-Berkeley.
Like Billet, a coaching change after Vander Laan's freshman year began the transfer process. He stayed on for another year at California then transferred to Virginia. Again, it was Gillen and his assistants' persistent recruiting that brought Vander Laan to Virginia.
"They were the first school to call," Vander Laan said. "I was familiar with coaches because they were the guys that recruited me while they were at Providence."
Since joining the team a season ago, Vander Laan has averaged 5.3 ppg and 4.5 rpg in his first full season at Virginia.
"All three of us came into this program wanting to win, and it shows in the game by the way we play," Vander Laan said. "We have a huge hunger and desire to win games."
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Joe Arnold
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Ohio guard Thomas Stephens moves down the court past Western Michigan guard Robby Collum. Stephens scored 17 points and made the tip-in that forced the game into overtime. The Bobcats beat the Broncos in double-overtime 79-72.
