The WAR ROOM is back and this edition is full of basketball recruiting scoop! With the arrival of July, coaches can finally be back on the road during grassroots events and the first of the month’s three live periods is officially underway. We’ll give you some info on UVa’s targets, how things are stacking up in 2022 and beyond, and what the tea leaves are saying about the big picture.
As always, what’s said in the War Room, stays in the War Room. Let’s go!
Setting the table for 2022
If you’ve followed these features over the years, you know that before we get into the live periods/NBPA Top 100 Camp (which is, sadly, in Orlando this year) breakdowns I like to try and set the table a bit and outline things.
Now, if you look at Virginia’s roster as projected in the 2022-2023 season (when players from the 2022 recruiting class would be joining the program), it’s an “older” group as one source put it this week. The Hoos are projected to lose Kihei Clark, Kody Stattmann, and Jayden Gardner after this season but the following year they would conceivably return everyone else. As one source pointed out in the past few days, it might be the right time to “let some guys grow.”
This is a good spot to remember that the transfer portal has become a thing that schools must deal with both in terms of recruiting from it and in looking at how not to put more guys into it. And suffice to say, at a program where transfers out have been on the radar before, the opportunity to not overstock the roster is one the Hoos might be wise to take.
Now that all being said and if you operate from the standpoint of the program not looking to fill every spot available at all times always, it’s clear that Tony Bennett and Co. are very serious about at least one recruit in addition to current commit Isaac McKneely, who through his HS season and thus far this spring/summer has really shown himself to be the real deal.
From a skillset standpoint and in terms of how things fit together, it’s likely that if the Cavaliers decide to go with a bigger group in 2022 it will likely be driven as much by how this season plays out as it will the actual space available.
All of this is a long-winded way of outlining that there’s a real chance that Virginia signs just two or three guys in 2022 and keeps things moving. With McKneely already in—and with the transfer portal being as prevalent as it is—it might be a while before a crystal clear “blueprint” for 2022 presents itself.
One thing that we’ve heard consistently for a while has been UVa’s desire to become more athletic across the board. Fit will continue to be the determining factor that it’s always been but look for athleticism to be a focal point as well. In fact, there are players in this current cycle who don’t have offers where that’s likely every bit the reason as fit would be.
First real live period is underway
Now, having with that laid out, it was clear in talking to sources this week that there’s obviously some catching up being done over the course of this four-day live period. The three main events are in Atlanta, with the Hoop Seen and NY2LA partnering up for the Best of the South, On The Radar Hoops’ Elite 32, and Under Armour’s Session I event at Lake Point garnering most of the attention. These won’t be the only venues where Virginia’s coaches evaluate talent, as there are a couple of others we’ll mention (like a two-day event in Spookynook this weekend) but for most of this live period, everything is happening in and around the ATL.
There’s no bigger target on UVa’s board than four-star forward Isaac Traudt, and we fully expect the Cavaliers to continue to make that very apparent to the Nebraska native given how much they have been (and will be) in Cartersville watching the UA games. In talking to sources this week, it is very clear that not only does Bennett want Traudt above all others in this class but there’s a sizable gap between him and pretty much any other player in 2022. In fact, we got the sense that the board is very much reliant on how things shake out this month as the live evaluations truly will shape the wish list beyond Traudt, who we hear Bennett has all but taken over the recruitment of at this point.
In talking to non-Virginia sources on Traudt, the sense we get is that the Cavaliers are either the sole team to beat or at the very top with a small group of one or two others. The expectation right now is that a decision isn’t too far off as his plan remains to commit following the live periods. It might not be August but it won’t go on too long into fall.
Certainly there are guys in this class that UVa likes and has offered, like four-star guard Austin Nunez. We hear the coaches watched him during the scholastic event last month in Duncanville and are really interested to see him in Birmingham, where he will be playing with Southern Assault on the adidas circuit. There is some ambiguity in terms of how much the Hoos have invested in that one, at least right now.
There are a lot of guys, in both the 2022 and 2023 classes I heard, that didn’t play in the scholastic events who UVa is going to be tracking closely this month. The need for firmer evals will dominate a lot of what UVa does, despite the fact that the staff won’t be straying too far from its method of casting a relatively narrow net and focusing on fit.
Beyond Nunez, another guy we can tell you that the Cavaliers are very interested in is Leon Bond, who is at the Hoop Seen event and playing very, very well. The Wisconsin native seems to be on the verge of blowing up, and if nothing else proving that he’s a bit underrated by the mothership at this point. If there is a player in 2022 who could be “next” in terms of an offer, Bond would seem like he’s that guy and we wouldn’t be surprised at all if he’s vaulted up “next” in the hierarchy behind Traudt.
While the board continues to take shape as evals get more plentiful over these next few days—do not be surprised if guys that UVa hasn’t really been on end up becoming key targets, as that could absolutely be one of those functions of not having been out at AAU events since 2019—there’s no doubt that the Cavaliers already have some key 2023s that they like and will be tracking.
It feels like the group of four-star wing Justin Edwards, who has offer from the Hoos, as well as five-star Oak Hill guard Caleb Foster, four-star guard Reed Sheppard, Kentucky guard Colin Porter, and guard Gabe Cupps are the important evals right now. As much as Atlanta will be key, seeing three of those guys in Birmingham will be too. Edwards, meanwhile, will be in PA playing with Team Final and we expect eyes to be on him as well. And with the emergence nationally of Sheppard, a player that most on the outside have connected to Virginia a great deal since his unofficial visit, it’s a great time to see what others in the class look like. Kentucky has certainly turned up the interest on the home-state product and word is that is expected to continue to be the case.
All told, being able to be out and evaluate live is as important as anything to UVa’s recruiting efforts. Certainly, being there to see (and be seen) by Traudt is critical as well but this weekend—and likely the next two live periods as well—will be much more about taking in data than making too many decisions off it.
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!
Setting the table for 2022
If you’ve followed these features over the years, you know that before we get into the live periods/NBPA Top 100 Camp (which is, sadly, in Orlando this year) breakdowns I like to try and set the table a bit and outline things.
Now, if you look at Virginia’s roster as projected in the 2022-2023 season (when players from the 2022 recruiting class would be joining the program), it’s an “older” group as one source put it this week. The Hoos are projected to lose Kihei Clark, Kody Stattmann, and Jayden Gardner after this season but the following year they would conceivably return everyone else. As one source pointed out in the past few days, it might be the right time to “let some guys grow.”
This is a good spot to remember that the transfer portal has become a thing that schools must deal with both in terms of recruiting from it and in looking at how not to put more guys into it. And suffice to say, at a program where transfers out have been on the radar before, the opportunity to not overstock the roster is one the Hoos might be wise to take.
Now that all being said and if you operate from the standpoint of the program not looking to fill every spot available at all times always, it’s clear that Tony Bennett and Co. are very serious about at least one recruit in addition to current commit Isaac McKneely, who through his HS season and thus far this spring/summer has really shown himself to be the real deal.
From a skillset standpoint and in terms of how things fit together, it’s likely that if the Cavaliers decide to go with a bigger group in 2022 it will likely be driven as much by how this season plays out as it will the actual space available.
All of this is a long-winded way of outlining that there’s a real chance that Virginia signs just two or three guys in 2022 and keeps things moving. With McKneely already in—and with the transfer portal being as prevalent as it is—it might be a while before a crystal clear “blueprint” for 2022 presents itself.
One thing that we’ve heard consistently for a while has been UVa’s desire to become more athletic across the board. Fit will continue to be the determining factor that it’s always been but look for athleticism to be a focal point as well. In fact, there are players in this current cycle who don’t have offers where that’s likely every bit the reason as fit would be.
First real live period is underway
Now, having with that laid out, it was clear in talking to sources this week that there’s obviously some catching up being done over the course of this four-day live period. The three main events are in Atlanta, with the Hoop Seen and NY2LA partnering up for the Best of the South, On The Radar Hoops’ Elite 32, and Under Armour’s Session I event at Lake Point garnering most of the attention. These won’t be the only venues where Virginia’s coaches evaluate talent, as there are a couple of others we’ll mention (like a two-day event in Spookynook this weekend) but for most of this live period, everything is happening in and around the ATL.
There’s no bigger target on UVa’s board than four-star forward Isaac Traudt, and we fully expect the Cavaliers to continue to make that very apparent to the Nebraska native given how much they have been (and will be) in Cartersville watching the UA games. In talking to sources this week, it is very clear that not only does Bennett want Traudt above all others in this class but there’s a sizable gap between him and pretty much any other player in 2022. In fact, we got the sense that the board is very much reliant on how things shake out this month as the live evaluations truly will shape the wish list beyond Traudt, who we hear Bennett has all but taken over the recruitment of at this point.
In talking to non-Virginia sources on Traudt, the sense we get is that the Cavaliers are either the sole team to beat or at the very top with a small group of one or two others. The expectation right now is that a decision isn’t too far off as his plan remains to commit following the live periods. It might not be August but it won’t go on too long into fall.
Certainly there are guys in this class that UVa likes and has offered, like four-star guard Austin Nunez. We hear the coaches watched him during the scholastic event last month in Duncanville and are really interested to see him in Birmingham, where he will be playing with Southern Assault on the adidas circuit. There is some ambiguity in terms of how much the Hoos have invested in that one, at least right now.
There are a lot of guys, in both the 2022 and 2023 classes I heard, that didn’t play in the scholastic events who UVa is going to be tracking closely this month. The need for firmer evals will dominate a lot of what UVa does, despite the fact that the staff won’t be straying too far from its method of casting a relatively narrow net and focusing on fit.
Beyond Nunez, another guy we can tell you that the Cavaliers are very interested in is Leon Bond, who is at the Hoop Seen event and playing very, very well. The Wisconsin native seems to be on the verge of blowing up, and if nothing else proving that he’s a bit underrated by the mothership at this point. If there is a player in 2022 who could be “next” in terms of an offer, Bond would seem like he’s that guy and we wouldn’t be surprised at all if he’s vaulted up “next” in the hierarchy behind Traudt.
While the board continues to take shape as evals get more plentiful over these next few days—do not be surprised if guys that UVa hasn’t really been on end up becoming key targets, as that could absolutely be one of those functions of not having been out at AAU events since 2019—there’s no doubt that the Cavaliers already have some key 2023s that they like and will be tracking.
It feels like the group of four-star wing Justin Edwards, who has offer from the Hoos, as well as five-star Oak Hill guard Caleb Foster, four-star guard Reed Sheppard, Kentucky guard Colin Porter, and guard Gabe Cupps are the important evals right now. As much as Atlanta will be key, seeing three of those guys in Birmingham will be too. Edwards, meanwhile, will be in PA playing with Team Final and we expect eyes to be on him as well. And with the emergence nationally of Sheppard, a player that most on the outside have connected to Virginia a great deal since his unofficial visit, it’s a great time to see what others in the class look like. Kentucky has certainly turned up the interest on the home-state product and word is that is expected to continue to be the case.
All told, being able to be out and evaluate live is as important as anything to UVa’s recruiting efforts. Certainly, being there to see (and be seen) by Traudt is critical as well but this weekend—and likely the next two live periods as well—will be much more about taking in data than making too many decisions off it.
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
