Brogdon uses game, mind for Virginia

— -- A 13-year-old Malcolm Brogdon stood outside the YMCA, arms folded across his chest. His older brother John, 15, sulked next to him, an angry grimace on his face. Their mother, Jann Adams, drove up a few minutes later.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I beat him," Malcolm said.

"He cheated," John said.

Both admitted they'd been kicked out of the Y after their one-on-one game had gotten too heated.

"Go back inside and apologize before we go home," Jann said, watching as her boys trudged through the doors.

This past December, the brothers -- now best friends -- returned to the Y for a pickup game. The manager remembered them, and all three laughed at the memory of the only time the brothers came to blows on the court.

Ever since he started playing soccer as a young boy, Malcolm had been extremely competitive. His relentless drive was unceasing, whether he arrived hours before a practice or devoted his evenings to homework. Despite all of his work, he's often been overlooked, a reality he turns into motivation.

Now, his determination and focus are reasons that No. 2 Virginia is off to its best start since the 1980-81 season. Brogdon, a redshirt junior guard, isn't a flashy, headline-grabbing player. But he's one of the Cavaliers' most complete team members, averaging 13.3 points a game for one of the nation's two remaining unbeatens.