The University of Virginia men's basketball team yesterday added its first recruit for 2009-10, picking up a commitment from point guard Jontel Evans.

Evans, a rising senior at Bethel High in Hampton and a standout on Boo Williams' powerful 17-and-under AAU team, said last night that the trip he and his parents took to Charlottesville late last month sold him on U.Va. During their visit, the Evanses toured John Paul Jones Arena and met with Virginia coach Dave Leitao and other university officials.

"When we got in the car to come home, I told my mom and dad, 'I want to be a Cavalier,'" said Evans, who also had a scholarship offer from Marquette.

Evans, a powerfully built 5-11 180-pounder, made the all-Eastern Region second team at tailback in 2007. He'll hang up his cleats after this fall and concentrate on hoops in college.

"It's going to be tough," Evans said, "but sometimes you've got to give up things to do what you want to do."

In basketball last season, Evans helped the Bruins advance to the Group AAA championship game and was named second-team all-region. On a Bethel team with five double-figure scorers, Evans averaged about 12 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals, guarded opponents' top guards, and shot 53 percent from the floor and 74 percent from the line, Bethel coach Craig Brehon said.

Yesterday, Rivals.com singled out Evans, who created a buzz with his defensive prowess, as one of the surprises of the Nike Peach Jam, a tournament that the Boo Williams team won in North Augusta, S.C., this week.