The WAR ROOM is back and this edition is full of basketball recruiting scoop! The second live period has arrived and college coaches will once again be on the road evaluating players at AAU events this weekend. But before we get into breaking down how things are stacking up for the Cavaliers, we’ll start with a look back at last weekend, the important offer that went out thereafter, and how the entire picture looks for UVa as we move deeper into summer.
As always, what’s said in the War Room, stays in the War Room. Let’s go!
Diving deeper in 2022
It was an interesting first live period for Tony Bennett and the Cavaliers, as they bird dogged their top target and extended an offer to another guy who has quickly cemented himself at No. 2 on that list. It was, after all, an offer that most expected would likely come but in going all in on three-star Leon Bond, the Wahoos are clearly looking to close.
The versatile 6-foot-5 forward from Wisconsin is a player that the staff has been high on for some time, sources say, but because the Badger State didn’t hold scholastic events last month, they still had not seen him live. And boy, did they get a chance to last weekend.
Word we’ve heard is that not only was UVa impressed enough with Bond to offer but the Hoos are now squarely in “find a way to get him” mode. The coaches loved what they had seen on film but simply wanted to see it for themselves. And after quietly taking that OV to Charlottesville in June, he really proved himself last weekend. Word is that Bond is seen as an especially versatile player, particularly on D. He can defend pretty much any spot, which is the most intriguing aspect of his game. His versatility lends itself to being a lock-down defender across multiple positions thanks to his length and athleticism. At a time when “positionless basketball” is all the rage, Bond fits right in.
The Hoos think he can be like a Braxton Key type, a guy who can answer multiple questions at once. He can rebound, he can bring a physicality to the floor, and he obviously can guard multiple spots across various possessions. He’s the kind of player who finds ways to help you win no matter what he does.
So with that offer out, the stage in 2022 seems pretty set. Along with four-star commit Isaac McKneely (who showed the full skillset and is a big reason why the Hoos are not nearly as needy at guard in this cycle), it looks like Virginia is going to go hard after four-star forward Isaac Traudt and Bond, who feels like he’s criminally underrated by the mothership at this point.
Look for the latter to get a similar treatment this weekend that Traudt got last, which is that he didn’t play a single game without some member of the staff watching him live. The Cavaliers want Traudt and they want him bad enough that they’re going to keep showing him. The same will likely be true for Bond. And as much as there’s always a chance other players get looks, 2022 right now is developing a pretty narrow focus.
Speaking of which, the other interesting part of last weekend as far as 2022 is concerned is that UVa seems really happy with the board because there aren’t many other names right now. One that we did hear was that of five-star forward Julian Phillips, a South Carolina product who is currently No. 21 overall in the class. The staff didn’t get to see him last month at the scholastic events but has been tracking him for a while. Bennett and Co. saw him in Birmingham and he’s a guy that we hear is really intriguing. If there’s another 2022 push to be made, he would seem to be a guy in line for it.
Lastly, there had been some rumblings that UVa might be interested in three-star big man Robert Jennings but word we heard this week is that it was unlikely that the Hoos would make a push.
Clearer picture in 2023?
The second live period officially gets underway later today and the staff will be at a number of events, especially in North Augusta for Peach Jam since many of the Nike kids haven’t had any events yet. That makes this is an even more crucial opportunity to see them live. And it seems like in addition to the 2022s listed above, there are several 2023s that are going to get a lot of looks.
We specifically mentioned several rising juniors last week in this space and among them it’s clear that four-star wing Justin Edwards, five-star guard Caleb Foster, four-star guard Reed Sheppard, and Ohio PG Gabe Cupps all continue to be squarely on the board. Edwards remains a guy they’ve already thrown an offer down for and Foster is a kid that Bennett will see once again this weekend. Cupps, meanwhile, really impressed according to sources and we wouldn’t be surprised if he’s someone who is in line for an offer in the not-too-distant future. All three are guys UVa is extremely interested in.
And then there’s the case of Sheppard, the Kentucky native who picked up an offer from the Wildcats last weekend. Given his connection to the program and the writing that has been on the wall for some time, this was not even remotely a surprise be that to the greater recruiting world or to UVa specifically, we hear. It’s a little outside the norm for UK to offer a “non-lottery” type player this early but Sheppard discarded any doubt pretty quickly. He’s the real deal.
That being said, in talking to various sources this week we got the sense that Virginia’s pursuit will remain undeterred until such time that Sheppard doesn’t want to be recruited any longer, i.e. that he cuts his list and leaves UVa off or he comes off the board completely. Now, we can’t say with any certainty just how hard the Hoos will continue to push and what the allocation of resources will look like but the answer to the question of if they will keep going after him despite the Kentucky offer was pretty unequivocal.
That is it for this week, and as always, what’s said here, stays here!
Our thanks to MyPerfectFranchise for their support of CavsCorner:
Are you a displaced corporate executive or wanting to put your career in your own hands? Or are you an experienced entrepreneur wanting to diversify? Well, @Andy MyPerfectFranchise.Net can help! Having owned multiple franchises and businesses in his career, he uses his expertise to helps others find their American Dream through a very thorough and FREE consultation process. Call Andy, put your life and career in your own hands. It’s 100% free, so what do you have to lose?!!
Call Andy at (404) 973-9901 today or email him: andy@myperfectfranchise.net
As always, what’s said in the War Room, stays in the War Room. Let’s go!
Diving deeper in 2022
It was an interesting first live period for Tony Bennett and the Cavaliers, as they bird dogged their top target and extended an offer to another guy who has quickly cemented himself at No. 2 on that list. It was, after all, an offer that most expected would likely come but in going all in on three-star Leon Bond, the Wahoos are clearly looking to close.
The versatile 6-foot-5 forward from Wisconsin is a player that the staff has been high on for some time, sources say, but because the Badger State didn’t hold scholastic events last month, they still had not seen him live. And boy, did they get a chance to last weekend.
Word we’ve heard is that not only was UVa impressed enough with Bond to offer but the Hoos are now squarely in “find a way to get him” mode. The coaches loved what they had seen on film but simply wanted to see it for themselves. And after quietly taking that OV to Charlottesville in June, he really proved himself last weekend. Word is that Bond is seen as an especially versatile player, particularly on D. He can defend pretty much any spot, which is the most intriguing aspect of his game. His versatility lends itself to being a lock-down defender across multiple positions thanks to his length and athleticism. At a time when “positionless basketball” is all the rage, Bond fits right in.
The Hoos think he can be like a Braxton Key type, a guy who can answer multiple questions at once. He can rebound, he can bring a physicality to the floor, and he obviously can guard multiple spots across various possessions. He’s the kind of player who finds ways to help you win no matter what he does.
So with that offer out, the stage in 2022 seems pretty set. Along with four-star commit Isaac McKneely (who showed the full skillset and is a big reason why the Hoos are not nearly as needy at guard in this cycle), it looks like Virginia is going to go hard after four-star forward Isaac Traudt and Bond, who feels like he’s criminally underrated by the mothership at this point.
Look for the latter to get a similar treatment this weekend that Traudt got last, which is that he didn’t play a single game without some member of the staff watching him live. The Cavaliers want Traudt and they want him bad enough that they’re going to keep showing him. The same will likely be true for Bond. And as much as there’s always a chance other players get looks, 2022 right now is developing a pretty narrow focus.
Speaking of which, the other interesting part of last weekend as far as 2022 is concerned is that UVa seems really happy with the board because there aren’t many other names right now. One that we did hear was that of five-star forward Julian Phillips, a South Carolina product who is currently No. 21 overall in the class. The staff didn’t get to see him last month at the scholastic events but has been tracking him for a while. Bennett and Co. saw him in Birmingham and he’s a guy that we hear is really intriguing. If there’s another 2022 push to be made, he would seem to be a guy in line for it.
Lastly, there had been some rumblings that UVa might be interested in three-star big man Robert Jennings but word we heard this week is that it was unlikely that the Hoos would make a push.
Clearer picture in 2023?
The second live period officially gets underway later today and the staff will be at a number of events, especially in North Augusta for Peach Jam since many of the Nike kids haven’t had any events yet. That makes this is an even more crucial opportunity to see them live. And it seems like in addition to the 2022s listed above, there are several 2023s that are going to get a lot of looks.
We specifically mentioned several rising juniors last week in this space and among them it’s clear that four-star wing Justin Edwards, five-star guard Caleb Foster, four-star guard Reed Sheppard, and Ohio PG Gabe Cupps all continue to be squarely on the board. Edwards remains a guy they’ve already thrown an offer down for and Foster is a kid that Bennett will see once again this weekend. Cupps, meanwhile, really impressed according to sources and we wouldn’t be surprised if he’s someone who is in line for an offer in the not-too-distant future. All three are guys UVa is extremely interested in.
And then there’s the case of Sheppard, the Kentucky native who picked up an offer from the Wildcats last weekend. Given his connection to the program and the writing that has been on the wall for some time, this was not even remotely a surprise be that to the greater recruiting world or to UVa specifically, we hear. It’s a little outside the norm for UK to offer a “non-lottery” type player this early but Sheppard discarded any doubt pretty quickly. He’s the real deal.
That being said, in talking to various sources this week we got the sense that Virginia’s pursuit will remain undeterred until such time that Sheppard doesn’t want to be recruited any longer, i.e. that he cuts his list and leaves UVa off or he comes off the board completely. Now, we can’t say with any certainty just how hard the Hoos will continue to push and what the allocation of resources will look like but the answer to the question of if they will keep going after him despite the Kentucky offer was pretty unequivocal.
That is it for this week, and as always, what’s said here, stays here!
Our thanks to MyPerfectFranchise for their support of CavsCorner:
Are you a displaced corporate executive or wanting to put your career in your own hands? Or are you an experienced entrepreneur wanting to diversify? Well, @Andy MyPerfectFranchise.Net can help! Having owned multiple franchises and businesses in his career, he uses his expertise to helps others find their American Dream through a very thorough and FREE consultation process. Call Andy, put your life and career in your own hands. It’s 100% free, so what do you have to lose?!!
Call Andy at (404) 973-9901 today or email him: andy@myperfectfranchise.net
