(NOTE: This was originally posted Dec. 5)

    CHARLOTTESVILLE—Periodically, I exchange e-mails with Michele Talamazzi, a sportswriter in Italy who covers Vanoli Soresina, the pro basketball team for which former U.Va. star J.R. Reynolds plays in that country.

    When I logged on this morning, waiting for me was a message from Michele.  He was kind enough to prode a link to J.R.‘s latest game-winner, which gave Vanoli a 103-101 victory and improved its record to 8-2.  Check it out:

    http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=-d0XK3JK15w

    In an e-mail to J.R., I asked him if he’d called “bank” on his shot.  “Ha ha,“ he replied.  “I called after it went in.“

    Reynolds, of course, is the 6-2 guard who teamed with Sean Singletary to give Virginia one of the nation’s best backcourts in 2005-06 and ‘06-07.  A former star at Roanoke Catholic and Oak Hill Academy, Reynolds was second-team all-ACC last season.

    Without Reynolds, Virginia is 6-1 heading into its game with Syracuse (5-2) tonight at John Paul Jones Arena.
  Snow is falling as I type this, so the weather could be an issue tonight.  But U.Va. is expecting an unofficial visit from Josh Hairston, a sophomore from Courtland High in Spotsylvania.  Hairston, a 6-7 forward, is perhaps the top prospect in the state’s Class of 2009, and U.Va. is among the schools from which he has scholarship offers.  He might choose his college before the end of this school year.

    In Courtland’s season-opener last night, Hairston scored a game-high 26 points in a 65-64 victory over Brooke Point.  He made one 3-pointer.

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