Football

The scholarship offer he received recently from Ohio State helped push defensive end Jake Snyder to Virginia.

Snyder, a 6-4, 240-pound junior from Deep Run High in western Henrico County, had long liked U.Va., where his brother Matt is a walk-on wide receiver. When the Buckeyes' offer didn't sway him, Jake recalled, he asked himself, "What am I waiting for? If that's not changing my mind, I don't know what would."

And so Snyder committed Tuesday to U.Va., becoming the 11th member of its 2009 recruiting class. Other schools that offered him scholarships were Virginia Tech, Penn State, Colorado, Richmond, Boston College, Purdue and Louisville.

His parents attended James Madison University, but the family has had season tickets for U.Va. football for years, so Snyder knew his way around Scott Stadium even before his brother joined Al Groh's program in 2007.

Snyder, an excellent student, said he and his brother, who had a 42-yard reception in Virginia's spring game, are "very close. He's been a great role model for me, and he's really happy for me."

Another Deep Run graduate on the U.Va. roster is defensive end Sean Gottschalk, who'll be a redshirt sophomore this season. Matt Snyder will be a redshirt sophomore.

Eighteen players signed with U.Va. in February, and they'll start summer school there soon. Asked Tuesday if any of the incoming recruits had yet to qualify academically, Groh said they're "all solid."

Baseball

The major-league draft is today and tomorrow, and U.Va. could lose as many as four players who have eligibility remaining: pitcher Jacob Thompson, second baseman David Adams, first baseman Jeremy Farrell and shortstop Greg Miclat. All were juniors this season.

Virginia coach Brian O'Connor also could lose some of his incoming recruits. Candidates to be drafted include pitchers Scott Silverstein and Danny Hultzen, outfielder Peter Hissey and first baseman/pitcher Tyler Massey.

The Cavaliers (39-23) ended their fifth season under O'Connor with a loss to Cal State-Fullerton in the NCAA tournament Sunday. Freshman outfielder John Barr was named to the all-tournament team at the Fullerton, Calif., regional. He went 5 for 12 with two doubles in Virginia's three games.

One of Barr's classmates, outfielder Dan Grovatt, yesterday was named to Louisville Slugger's Freshman All-America team. In 58 games, Grovatt hit .324 with three home runs and 46 RBI. He also had 22 doubles, a U.Va. freshman record.

Basketball

U.Va.'s Dave Leitao is one of six current and former basketball coaches in Iraq as part of "Operation Hoop Talk: Talking with the Troops," a program sponsored by the United Service Organizations.

In the Persian Gulf region, Leitao and the other coaches will host clinics, tour military posts and meet with military personnel.

In August 2006, Leitao participated in a similar program, "Operation Hardwood III," which took him and other coaches to Japan.

During his current trip, diary entries from Leitao will be posted periodically on www.virginiasports.com.

Directors' Cup

U.Va., which placed 13th in the Directors' Cup race in 2006-07, could be headed for another top-15 finish.

In the latest standings, Virginia is 19th, with 670 points. Notre Dame is 15th, with 730½ points.

The Directors' Cup competition reflects schools' performances in NCAA championships. U.Va.'s highest finish, eighth, came in 1998-99. The Cavaliers placed 13th in 1997-98, 1999-2000, 2004-05 and 2006-07.

The final standings for 2007-08 will be released June 26. -- Jeff White