Buzzy Wilkinson is Virginia's 2007 ACC Tournament Legend

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Feb. 7, 2007

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Former Virginia standout guard Buzzy Wilkinson is the Cavaliers’ 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Legend. The tournament is scheduled for March 8-11 in Tampa, Fla.

One of the most prolific scorers in Virginia history, Wilkinson lettered for the Cavaliers from 1953-55 and earned All-America honors in 1955. Among his many outstanding on-the-court accomplishments, the 1955 team captain became one of the first three collegians to average 30 points or better per game over the course of a season. He finished with a career scoring average of 28.6 points a game, still a UVa and ACC record. Wilkinson also holds the conference and school records for season scoring average (32.1 ppg.) in 1954-55.

Wilkinson’s Virginia career scoring record of 2,233 points stood for nearly 26 years before it was broken in 1981 by Jeff Lamp. He still holds the season scoring record with 898 points, as well as season records for most free throws made (282) and most field goals made (308) in 1954-55.

During his career with the Cavaliers, Wilkinson scored 40 or more points 10 times and twice averaged more than 30 points a game for a season. In the history of the ACC there have only been four times when a player has averaged 30 or more points per game, and Wilkinson did it twice. In addition to averaging 32.1 points a game for the 1954-55 season, he averaged 30.1 points a game in 1953-54.

Wilkinson’s number 14 is one of six numbers retired by the Virginia men’s basketball program.

The 2007 ACC Tournament’s other legends include Bimbo Coles (Virginia Tech), Don Curnutt (Miami), James Forrest (Georgia Tech), Tom Gugliotta (NC State), Murray Jarman (Clemson), Billy Jones (Maryland), Tommy Kearns (North Carolina), Christian Laettner (Duke), Jay Murphy (Boston College), Rodney Rogers (Wake Forest) and Bob Sura (Florida State).

The ACC Legends will be honored at the annual ACC Basketball Legends Brunch scheduled for March 10 at the conference tournament. The brunch is hosted by television personalities Tim Brant and Mike Hogewood in the Grand Ballroom of the Tampa Marriott Waterside and Marina Hotel beginning at 10 a.m. Tickets, priced at $35 each or a table of 10 for $350, can be obtained by calling the Tampa Bay Sports Commission at 813/218-3814.