In his career as a pass-first point guard at Roanoke Catholic and Fork Union Military Academy, Phil Wall did not attract the attention of many Division I basketball coaches.

His new career has put Wall in touch with the likes of Bobby Knight, Roy Williams, Billy Donovan, Tubby Smith -- some of the biggest names in the profession.

All were eager to talk to Wall about his former Fork Union Military Academy coach, Fletcher Arritt, the subject of a documentary that Wall is producing that he is calling "The Passing Game."

"I just called the North Carolina basketball office and said, 'This is who I am; this is what I'm doing,' " Wall said. "I told the receptionist, 'I don't expect you to put me through to coach Williams, but could you deliver my message?' Fifteen minutes later, the phone rang and coach Williams asked me, 'What are you doing on Thursday?'

"I would be talking to coaches and assistants would poke their head in the door after 45 minutes because there was something pressing. But, the coaches would still be telling stories about Fork Union and coach Arritt."

Arritt attended Fork Union before playing for the University of Virginia and he is in his 40th season as Fork Union's postgraduate coach. An estimated 250 of his players have received full scholarships at the Division I level, including approximately 125 at the "high-major" level.

Wall went to Fork Union with hopes of earning a Division I scholarship but the competition helped convince him that he would have a better experience at a lower level. He went to Williams College, a Division III basketball power but, more importantly, one of the nation's most prestigious academic institutions.

Wall currently lives in Manhattan and serves as a substitute teacher and part-time coach when not working on his film project. He spent an entire season around the Fork Union team in 2007-2008 and estimates that he has travelled close to 50,000 miles and shot 300 hours of film.

"When I started, I was 23 years old and three months out of college," Wall said. "I don't think I was realistic about how difficult it would be."

Wall said he is in "a sprint" to complete the editing in time for spring film festivals and he also has embarked on a second round of fundraising. In the best-case scenario, his documentary would be aired by ESPN or one of its subsidiaries or, at least, "go into some sort of theatrical distribution," he said.

Working overseas

Wall, son of former Roanoke Catholic coach Dick Wall, is one of the best sources of information about his former Celtics' teammate, J.R. Reynolds. Wall said that Reynolds, a former Virginia standout, is playing for Cimberio Varese in the top Italian Pro League. Reynolds played well for Lyon last year in the French League but left for a better offer.

Sean Singletary, Reynolds' backcourt partner on the last Virginia team to make the NCAA Tournament, is playing for Caja Laboral in the top division of Spain's professional basketball association. Caja Laboral also is known as Saski Baskonia, a franchise that participated in the Euroleague final four in four consecutive seasons (2005- 2008).

Coaching carousel

New University of Richmond football coach Latrell Scott has settled on his former UVa coaching colleague, Bob Trott, as the Spiders' new defensive coordinator. Trott coached the Cavalier linebackers this past season. Richmond has not made an announcement on any of Scott's new assistants, although the selection of ex-UVa assistant Wayne Lineburg as offensive coordinator is seen as a formality.

'Hoos and Hokies

There were no Virginia or Virginia Tech alumni on the Pro Bowl football teams announced Tuesday, although Dallas Cowboys' tight end Jason Witten and New Orleans safety Darren Sharper had brothers who played at Tech and UVa, respectively. The last Pro Bowl held without Tech or UVa representation was in 2004.

The last Tech players selected for the Pro Bowl were Cincinnati place-kicker Shayne Graham, Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick and Falcons' defensive back DeAngelo Hall in 2006. Virginia had three last year: Tampa Bay cornerback Ronde Barber, New York Jets running back Thomas Jones and Pittsburgh linebacker James Farrior.

Touching base

Freshman Jamelle Hagins from William Fleming High School in Roanoke has started all 11 games in which he has played for the University of Delaware (4-8) and is averaging 5.7 points and 5.1 rebounds, with a team-high 12 blocks. ... Hagins' ex-Fleming teammate, Troy Daniels, has played a total of 11 minutes in four games for Virginia Commonwealth (8-2).