Quick to the trigger, the timeliness of an early offer paid off for Virginia coach Al Groh.

Just as the Virginia men’s basketball team is picking up steam on the court, it also seems to be doing so off of it.

With Morgan Moses — the nation’s fifth-rated offensive tackle — on board, Virginia jumped to No. 34 in the national recruiting rankings.

On National Signing Day, several of those recruits officially became Wahoos, and Groh couldn’t help but smile about the possibilities.

Tristan Spurlock, a small forward from Montrose Christian, is set to become a Cavalier.

For Laroy Reynolds, the fact that the phone rang with an ACC coach on the line was special enough.

Virginia adds Maury wideout/safety Laroy Reynolds

On Friday, the Hampton native gave his verbal commitment to play for UVa beginning in 2009. The 5-foot-11 Bethel High star, who is heading into his senior year, picked Virginia over a host of schools, including Marquette, N.C. State and Virginia Tech.

The Daily Progress has learned that Jontel Evans, a 5-foot-10 point guard out of Hampton, has given his verbal commitment to play for UVa in 2009.

Wallace, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound offensive lineman, made that a reality last week when he committed to Virginia coach Al Groh following one of the program’s numerous summer camps. He becomes the 18th player to verbally commit for the Class of 2009.

With numerous eye-popping offers coming almost daily, Justin Renfrow elected to follow in the footsteps of Sean Singletary.

With numerous eye-popping offers coming almost daily, Justin Renfrow elected to follow in the foot-steps of Sean Singletary.

Rising high school senior Mfon Udofia, one of Virginia’s top guard targets for the class of 2009, looked like an Energizer Bunny — one who had just downed about 10 cups of coffee.

Rising high school senior Ryan Kelly, who has been in Charlottesville all week for the NBA Top 100 Camp, is one of Virginia’s main targets for the Class of 2009.

Sean Cascarano was set to verbally commit to Virginia on Saturday, but needed the approval of a person with a vested interest.

Kevin Royal summoned Virginia coach Al Groh over for a chat. Paul Freedman did the same. Tyree Watkins also followed suit.

Connor McCartin, an inside linebacker from Fauquier High School, altered his summer plans this weekend after accepting a scholarship offer from Virginia coach Al Groh.

Virginia’s recruiting struggles in the football talent-rich 757 area code have been well-documented in recent years, but perhaps the trend is changing.

Jim Dombrowski, Virginia’s newest addition to the college football Hall of Fame, may have a new favorite Cavalier.

Virginia picked up its seventh football commitment for the class of 2009 on Friday when Tucker Windle of Charlotte (N.C.) Catholic chose the Cavaliers, according to sources.

On Thursday, Wesley Witherspoon and Paul McCoy - two players UVa was recruiting heavily for its incoming class - elected to sign elsewhere.

It took all of four days for Luke Bowanko to determine his own fate. After being offered a scholarship on Monday, the offensive tackle from Centreville High in Clifton jumped at the chance to play football at Virginia.

The Virginia football program gained its fifth in-state football commitment for the class of 2009 on Saturday when safety Corey Lillard gave his commitment to coach Al Groh at UVa’s spring game on Saturday.

Sherando quarterback Ross Metheny (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) pledged to become a Cavalier Sunday after a week of visits to other schools on his final list.