Nov. 11, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE -
The jersey of former Virginia men's basketball standout Curtis Staples will be retired during halftime ceremonies at Sunday's (Nov. 12) Virginia-Arizona basketball game.
Staples, a guard from Roanoke, Va., finished his Virginia career in 1998 as the NCAA's career leader in three-point field goals made with 413. His mark held until Duke's J.J. Redick established a new NCAA record for three-point field goals made (457) last season. Staples currently ranks third on the NCAA's career three-point field goals made list.
Jersey retirement is a new level of recognition at Virginia to honor players who have significantly impacted the program and Staples is the first player to be honored in this way. Individuals recognized in this way will have their jerseys retired, but their number will remain active.
Six Virginia players have had their uniform numbers retired and those numbers will not be worn again. Those numbers honor the most decorated players in the program's history, including Jeff Lamp (3), Barry Parkhill (40), Ralph Sampson (50), Bryant Stith (20), Wally Walker (41) and Buzzy Wilkinson (14).
In addition to being Virginia's career leader in three-point field goals made, Staples holds UVa records for three-point field goals made in a season (130) and in a game (9). He also holds Virginia records for most three-point field goals made by a senior (130), junior (98), sophomore (82) and freshman (103). He led the Atlantic Coast Conference in three-point field goals made per game during each of his four seasons at Virginia.
Staples ranks ninth on Virginia's career scoring list with 1,757 points. He lettered four times for the Cavaliers and was a team captain as a senior during the 1997-98 season. Staples averaged a career-high 18.1 points a game during the 1997-98 season and earned third-team All-ACC honors.
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