March 7, 2010
12:48 p.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE — His scoring average for the season is a modest 6.3 points, but UVa center Jerome Meyinsse has become a low-post force as the end of his college career nears.

The 6-9 senior from Baton Rouge, La., made 22 of 30 shots from the floor and averaged 15.8 points in the Cavaliers’ final four regular-season games.

You think he might be able to help the ‘Hoos in 2010-11?

“We’ll miss him, no doubt,” Virginia coach Tony Bennett said Saturday afternoon at John Paul Jones Arena.

Redshirting in college basketball is rare, but Meyinsse would have been a perfect candidate. He hadn’t played a lot of organized hoops before enrolling at UVa, and he didn’t turn 18 until December of his first year.

Meyinsse ended up playing a total of 100 minutes — spread over 15 games — as a freshman.

Dave Leitao was the Cavaliers’ coach when Meyinsse arrived, and they discussed the possibility of Meyinsse’s redshirting in 2006-07.

“It was definitely talked about, but we decided not to, and it is what it is,” Meyinsse said scoring 17 points in UVa’s loss to Maryland at JPJ.

“One more year would have been great, but my career has come to an end. I have [at least] one more game left, and I’ll try to extend the season as long as I can.”

In the ACC tournament, No. 9 seed UVa faces No. 8 seed Boston College in the first round. They’ll meet Thursday at noon in Greensboro, N.C.

Jeff White

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