Virginia basketball about to become Crosby show

Debbie Ryan scoured the streets of Philadelphia to find a pair of point guards that currently rank 1-2 in ACC history in assists.

Blessed with savvy ball handling skills and ungodly passing ability, Dawn Staley and Sharnee Zoll dazzled in two separate decades for the Virginia women’s basketball coach.

Ryan has struck again. This time, however, she went further north.

China Crosby, who is from Manhattan, N.Y., and rated as the nation’s second-best point guard in the Class of 2009, verbally committed Saturday to Virginia during an official visit, her coach confirmed.

Overall, Crosby was ranked No. 14 in the nation by hoopgurlz.com and adds yet another piece to a dynamic recruiting class that ranks among Ryan’s best ever.

In all, Virginia has five commitments and one national service — allstargirlsreport.com — has the Cavaliers’ crop ranked No. 2 in the nation behind Baylor.

“Virginia is getting a pure New York City point guard,” said Jaywanna Bradley, Crosby’s coach for the past seven years. “They are getting a very passionate ballplayer who really loves to run up and down the floor and who loves to pass.

“They are getting someone who loves basketball.”

The 5-foot-6 Crosby had been considered a prized prospect by Virginia for over a year and chose the Cavaliers over Louisville.

Along the way she also was recruited by Staley, who left Temple for South Carolina earlier this year.

While Crosby’s videos display a Staley-like appeal, Bradley said comparing the two would be a rush to judgment — for now.

“I am not going to go that far, but I know that China is looking to do as well or better than Dawn,” she said. “I know that for sure.”

Bradley said Crosby was a student of the game, a natural plus when playing point guard for Ryan.

“China loves life, she loves ball and she loves to work hard,” Bradley said. “You can’t ask for anything else in a student-athlete.

“I know that she will give that same passionate fire to the University of Virginia.”

A solid student, Crosby was able to turn her attention to helping recruit during the final hours of her visit, as Virginia also hosted phenom Tierra Ruffin-Pratt.

Ruffin-Pratt, who is from T.C. Williams High in Alexandria, in the top-ranked player in Virginia and the nation’s No. 1 shooting guard.

Virginia also hosted four previous verbal commitments this weekend, which included power forward Erinn Thompson (No. 21 prospect), guard Lexie Gerson (No. 37), forward Simone Egwu (No. 71) and forward Telia McCall, an all-state performer from Georgia.