Soroye’s return to UVa still up in the air

Virginia big man Tunji Soroye wants to return for a fifth year, and the UVa coaching staff would like to have him back.
However, a “Tunji Time” redux is still up in the air according to Virginia coach Dave Leitao.
On Tuesday, Leitao told The Daily Progress that an official decision on Soroye’s status isn’t imminent.
“I have no idea [when it will happen]. It’s not anything that I have any control over. Before anything happens, we have to get the paperwork,” said Leitao, reiterating a statement he has made since the season ended. “Everything’s that going to happen is based on the paperwork. We have to get that organized.”
Sources have told The Daily Progress that Soroye has been working out with teammates and attending team meetings.
The 6-foot-11 Nigerian, barring anything unusual, is expected to be granted a medical redshirt after playing in only two games last season.
The bigger question is how Soroye is going to pay for his tuition, since Virginia does not have any available scholarships.
Soroye could give next year’s team a huge boost on the defensive end. UVa was last in the ACC in shotblocking this past season.
“Pride of Lithuania” recovering
Virginia big man Lars Mikalauskas is doing well after his recent shoulder operation. Last week, Mikalauskas was able to remove the “Ultra Slinger” device that he had been required to wear following the surgery to his left shoulder.
The Lithuanian has begun some light range-of-motion exercises and is on target to return to full activities by October.
“He’s just rehabbing,” Leitao said. “It’s a long process.”
The normal recovery time for the surgery can be up to six months. Mikalauskas underwent the same procedure that Sean Singletary did following his freshman season.
Bad apple?
Leitao said he wasn’t allowed to talk about the program’s interest in former Connecticut guard Doug Wiggins.
However, sources say that the Virginia coaching staff is currently doing its homework on Wiggins. They want to learn what kind of person he is before they even think about bringing him aboard.
The 6-foot Wiggins was suspended for two games by Huskies coach Jim Calhoun this year after he was caught with alcohol on campus. He has also reportedly failed two drug tests.
If Virginia added Wiggins, a current member of the team would have to leave since the program is at the 13-scholarship limit. Wiggins will have to sit out this season per NCAA transfer rules and won’t be
eligible until the 2009-10 season.
Wiggins averaged 6.8 points and 17.7 minutes as a freshman, when he started two games. As a reserve in 2007-08, he averaged 6.7 points and 2.5 assists in about 19 minutes per game.
Wiggins was considered the best player in the state of Connecticut coming out of East Hartford High School in 2005-06.
Hoop happenings
The Southern Invitational, one of the biggest AAU basketball tournaments in the country, comes to town this weekend.
Play begins on Friday and runs through Sunday. Games will be played at John Paul Jones Arena, University Hall and UVa’s Aquatics and Fitness Center.
Tickets can be purchased at the door.