Virginia Recruit Indicted

A grand jury indicted Virginia basketball recruit Melvin Whitaker Jr. on a charge of slashing the face of a Cavaliers football player during a pickup basketball game.

Whitaker, 19, of Raleigh, N.C., is a 6-foot-10 center. He will join the Virginia team this fall.

Witnesses testified that Whitaker argued with Maurice Anderson, a redshirt freshman defensive tackle last season, during the basketball game March 5 at a university recreation center.

After walking outside, Whitaker appeared to want to shake hands with Anderson in the lobby of the gym, witnesses said. But when Anderson extended his hand, Whitaker slashed him across the left cheek. Anderson required 75 stitches to close the gash.