2023 Recruiting Update and Spring Watch List (VIP)
We’re just over a month away now from the reemergence of recruiting into the forefront. On April 8th, the weekend after the Final Four, coaches will be on the road for the first of two spring evaluation periods. The class of 2023 takes center stage.
It’s been an unusual recruiting cycle early on for Virginia. The players they chose to focus on have already made their decisions for the most part. We’re still waiting for one of those to go public, of course. It left us with very little activity to talk about. Assistant coaches have ventured out some. Tony Bennett, as far as I know, hasn’t since September.
Without anyone else they’re ready to fully recruit, everything has been geared toward preparing for this upcoming opportunity to evaluate. Keeping in contact with players that caught their eye last summer, and collecting names of new ones to see this time around.
We’re going to get into the names to watch this spring. But first, where things are with the two remaining targets.
For Real This Time
“Looking forward to making my college commitment soon”, London Johnson said in the video below he posted on Tuesday. The Norcross (GA) point guard has Virginia in his final six along with Clemson, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Southern Cal.
As has been the case for months, I fully expect him to announce for the Wahoos (knock on wood). It’s been a poorly kept secret that he made his pledge in the fall. There’s no sign of that changing. Some time over the next month, and I doubt it’ll take that long, we should hear him say it. The question is which year he’ll enroll. It sounds like he’s leaning toward staying in the 2023 class for now, but that could be revisited later this summer. .
Johnson and his Norcross team play in the state tournament semifinals on Friday. If they advance, they’ll play again next weekend for the title.
The only other player Virginia had been actively recruiting for 2023, Ridge View (SC) forward Gregory Jackson, has been a lost cause for a while. He’s essentially down to Duke, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Forwards
The only definite spot they’re looking to fill is one in the frontcourt, where they’ve been targeting Jackson. Ideally they’re looking for an athlete up front to pair with Isaac Traudt in future lineups. Taking two isn’t out of the question either.
*All rankings are from the 247Sports composite
Furthest Along
Dylan James 6’8 PF Winter Haven (FL) Unranked
Not a dominant player, but he does valuable things. He’s a rim protector who also stretches the floor offensively as a three-point threat. Coach Williford has had his eye on him since July, and went down to see him in September. Bennett hasn’t seen him yet. Could be hard to get out of the sunshine state. Florida and Miami are deeply involved.
Alassane Amadou 6’9 PF Springside Chestnut Hill (PA) Ranked 68th
An elite athlete with a developing offensive skillset. Bennett has seen quite a bit of him already last July. Coach Vandross has been keeping tabs. He’s very much in play and figures to be a popular attraction for coaches in April.
Xavier Booker 6’11 C Cathedral (IN) Ranked 97th
Bennett paid him a visit in September. Ultra talented big man who isn’t nearly as productive as you’d like. He’s drawn the dreaded soft label. Most of the Big Ten have offered, but I don’t think they’re beating down his door yet. Everybody is waiting to see signs of him turning the corner this spring.
Kaleb Glenn 6’7 PF Male (KY) Ranked 54th
He’s officially committed to Louisville. Of course, they’re in the middle of a coaching change so there’s a good chance that won’t hold. Bennett stopped by to see him in September. I expect if he comes open, they’ll take a swing. As a hometown guy, it’ll still be hard to get him away from Louisville.
Other Holdovers
Michael Nwoko 6’10 C Burlington (NC) Ranked 133rd
Blue collar big man plays with a great motor. Assistants tracked him last summer, and visited him in the fall. Modest offer list so far highlighted by Wake and Providence.
Akil Watson 6’8 PF Roselle (NJ) Ranked 39th
Coach Vandross saw quite a bit of him last summer and has continued to keep tabs. Already a very popular recruit with a long list of suitors. UConn and Illinois are in deep, with UNC sniffing around.
Papa Kante 6’10 C South Kent (CT) Ranked 93rd
Long active big man already has an impressive offer list. Kansas and Michigan included. He doesn’t seem to be that far along with any of them though, and UVA is very aware of him.
New Names
Sam Walters 6’8 PF Villages (FL) Ranked 106th
Highly skilled multi-positional player has had a huge high school season. He’s a nice athlete at his size too, very agile. Florida and LSU are among the early contenders.
JP Estrella 6’10 C South Portland (ME) Unranked
He’s been one of the hottest recruits in the country, racking up offers since the fall. Big kid who protects the rim and has a nice stroke from deep. He’s very thin, could be a redshirt candidate, but his ceiling is high.
Sultan Adewale 6’8 PF Neumann Goretti (PA) Unranked
British import has turned heads in Philly this winter. Great athlete that plays hard, a work in progress offensively. Rutgers, Memphis, GA Tech among his offers so far.
Milan Momcilovic 6’8 PF Pewaukee (WI) Unranked
They seemed to stumble onto him last summer while watching others and have stayed in touch. Coach Getter stopped by over exam break while in the neighborhood for Leon Bond. More of a skilled stretch-four type, great shooter.
Guards
Another guard is part of the 2023 plan, but maybe not written in stone. It could depend on who they lose and/or add as transfers this spring. They had been recruiting Reed Sheppard, now a Kentucky commit, in this spot. No one else has been offered.
Furthest Along
Parker Friedrichsen 6’3 SG Bixby (OK) Ranked 104th
Coach Getter has made two trips to Oklahoma for him. Bennett hasn’t yet seen him play. He’s a thin guy that will need to improve his body, but he can really score. Recruitment could be tough to crack if they dive in. He’s already taken a lot of visits. Both Oklahoma schools, Creighton, Nebraska, and Iowa are all seriously involved.
Other Holdovers
Isaiah West 6’3 SG Goodpasture (TN) Ranked 57th
He recently included UVA in his top 10. They’ve been involved with him, and the window certainly isn’t closed. But I think he probably has a good idea of where he’s going already, with Vanderbilt the likely choice.
Braelon Green 6’3 SG Dream City (AZ) Ranked 42nd
Coach Vandross was out to see him in the fall. He mentioned hearing a lot from UVA in a recent interview. It would be a longshot. Michigan State is seen as the heavy favorite. Kansas is in the picture too.
Silas DeMary 6’4 SG Liberty Heights (NC) Unranked
Hard nosed combo guard with good size. UVA has been in touch for a while, an assistant was by in the fall. He's a definite spring blowup candidate.
New Names
Finley Bizjack 6’3 SG Byron Nelson (TX) Ranked 137th
Coach Getter dropped by to check him out over the winter. Crafty combo guard has early offers from Stanford and TCU. He’ll get a look.
Freddie Dilione 6’5 SG Word of God (NC) Unranked
UVA showed some interest in him as a 2022 recruit. He’s since reclassified and really blossomed this season, now one of the hottest recruits out there.
RJ Jones 6’3 SG John Paul II (TX) Ranked 78th
High level shot maker who can play on or off the ball. UVA has been in contact with him for a while. It’s always hard to get popular recruits out of Texas. Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and USC among those involved.
There should be some good news soon, and an exciting spring of recruiting ahead. We'll keep you in the loop each step of the way on Locker Room Access.