Intel Report 4/05/23: Time For Visits

The late recruiting cycle is about to heat up in a big way. UVA will host their first visitor beginning on Thursday. That’s just the start of a full month of almost non-stop recruiting activity.

We’ll recap where things stand, get into Virginia’s strategy, and then dig into some of the key recruitments in this edition of the Locker Room Access Intel Report.

Roster Recap

Virginia lost three players to the transfer portal. Freshman forward Isaac Traudt has already committed to Creighton. Junior center Kadin Shedrick is being wooed by the likes of Indiana and Kansas. Senior Francisco Caffaro, who wasn’t expected to return, also put his name in the portal.

On Friday, senior guard Armaan Franklin declared for the NBA Draft. He won’t be returning.

That leaves junior point guard Reece Beekman as the lone question mark. He’s entered the NBA Draft, but is in the testing lane. That gives him until the May 31st withdrawal deadline to decide whether to return to UVA. Right now, the odds seem to be slightly on the side of him staying in the draft. But there’s a long way to go. It’ll mostly come down to the feedback he receives from NBA teams.

As things stand, UVA has seven scholarship players firmly projected for next season. With Reece as a possible eighth.

Strategy Session

Tony Bennett and his staff need to add at least three players for next season just to ensure minimal depth. They would probably like to get to four, but necessity comes before luxury. Their most urgent need is in the frontcourt, where incoming freshman Blake Buchanan is the only real big man on the roster. Two up front and one guard is the baseline plan, and then we’ll see from there.

They want a shooter at the guard spot. And as a hedge for Beekman potentially leaving, they’ve shifted the search toward combo guards. Most of the recent players they’ve been connected to fit that mold. Good shooters who can play some point guard if needed. But not necessarily a true point guard because they want to keep an opening for a 2024 recruit in that role.

Up front, it’s almost a total rebuild. They want one experienced player to slide into the starting lineup. The second would ideally be a young player capable of contributing immediately. In a perfect scenario, they’d have skillsets that complement each other. Above all though, the main goal is quality. Taking three isn’t out of the question either. In fact, I think they would like to do that.

The coaching staff views this as an opportunity. Not just to patch next season’s roster, but to add players that will make a long term impact. I cannot emphasize that enough because it is the overriding theme we’re seeing. Young players are being prioritized.

The Crazy Season

March might be mad, but April is the craziest month on the college basketball calendar. We’ll ease into transfer recruiting with the first visitor arriving on Thursday. By next weekend, it’ll be full throttle with no let up. And in the middle of all that, there are two AAU live periods when the focus shifts back to the high school kids. There’s constant recruiting activity this month, on multiple fronts.

*Red marks the dead periods (3/30-4/05) (4/10-13). No recruiting activity

*Green marks the windows in which visits are likely (4/06-09) (4/14-20) (4/24-27) (5/05-17)

*Purple marks the AAU live weekends (4/21-23) (4/28-30)

*Yellow marks the last days in which coaches can visit recruits at their homes/schools (5/01-04)

There should be a lot of visitors over the next few weeks. That will include some 2024 recruits mixed in. We’ll get a short breather for the dead period next week. And then from the 14th on, it’s non-stop activity.

Bennett has never been one to mess around a lot with transfer recruits. By mid-April, we should start expecting a commitment on the board. And if he has his way, it’ll be all over or at worst only finishing touches needed by the first week of May. After those AAU weekends, he wants to turn his full attention to the 2024 class.

First Visitor

Merrimack grad transfer PF/C Jordan Minor will be UVA’s first visitor, set to arrive on Thursday evening. It’ll be the first of four planned official visits for Minor. He’ll head to Florida Gulf Coast this weekend, then hit Iowa next weekend, followed by Seton Hall on the 17th.

Bennett called and offered him a scholarship last week as soon as the outgoing transfers were announced. He’s the guy they’re taking their first swing at for that wide open frontcourt spot in the starting lineup next season. Minor averaged 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks on his way to being named Northeast Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

Minor fits into the athletic big man category. He’s a high-energy player, brings some rim protection, and finishes well around the rim. And he’s been productive in his handful of games against high-major competition. However, he mostly only played center and would be undersized in the ACC at 6-8. Also, Merrimack uses a zone defense almost all the time. He’d have a big adjustment.

Iowa and Seton Hall are in the same boat as UVA, both in need of a starting center. And Florida Gulf Coast has a special connection. Minor’s high school coach is now an assistant at FGCU. I expect this to come down to Virginia and Seton Hall, with a decision shortly after the visits are completed.

Jennings Visit Set

Texas Tech transfer power forward Robert Jennings scheduled his official visit to UVA for next weekend, April 14th. He’s down to a final five of Virginia, Maryland, St. Louis, Utah, or staying at Texas Tech. After playing limited minutes as a freshman for the Red Raiders, he still has three years of eligibility. The trip to Charlottesville is the only visit he’s set so far.

Similar story here, Bennett called and offered him a scholarship last week. The UVA staff were very high on Jennings out of high school. Assistant coach Kyle Getter has a great relationship with him. He’s another athletic high-motor player, very physical.. There’s some developing skill in his package as well. He’s capable of contributing right away, with the potential to be a key piece long term.

UVA is willing to take him regardless of numbers. Where it could get complicated is if Minor commits. In which case, they would continue to search for a skilled big man. And I don’t know if that would be agreeable to Jennings. Otherwise, they’re in great shape with him.

At this point, it’s just a matter of whether he’ll commit to Virginia or let things play out first. The Hooss are the heavy favorite.

Other Notable Big Men

Marshall transfer Micah Handlogten would be a take for UVA. They’re hoping to get him to Charlottesville for a visit at some point. The Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year will visit Florida this weekend. NC State is the team to watch though. His sister goes there, and he was coached in high school by Wolfpack legend Rodney Monroe. .

UVA is among the many schools trying to land Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson. I was told they do have their foot in the door, and he’s listening. The odds of him actually ending up in a Wahoo uniform are pretty slim though.

They’re on the list for Southern Illinois grad transfer Marcus Domask. He’s from Wisconsin, so naturally there’s bound to be connections. Early word is Iowa State looks like the favorite.

Nevada grad transfer Will Baker is a familiar name. He hit the portal on Monday. The skilled big man started his career at Texas. UVA recruited him out of high school.

And it was reported on Tuesday that North Carolina freshman transfer Will Shaver is planning to visit. No date is set yet.

There’s also a veteran high-major center who UVA would be in a favorable position for if he chooses to transfer. He might still opt for the portal, but it seemed a lot more likely a week ago than it does today.

Blue Cain

Virginia is in full pursuit of 2023 guard Blue Cain. He recently decommitted from Georgia Tech following their coaching change. The UVA staff jumped on him quickly. Bennett made the trip to Florida to watch his IMG Academy squad practice, and then offered a scholarship.

We don’t have the dates for Blue’s visits yet. Reportedly, he’s scheduled three to Georgia, Florida, and UVA in that order. I expect the first two to be this week, and then UVA to get their turn next weekend or early the following week. There’s no guarantee he won’t add more visits though. Auburn, Kansas, and Nebraska are all in pursuit as well.

I expect this to come down to Georgia and UVA. Georgia Head Coach Mike White recruited Blue while at Florida, so they have that prior relationship. And they’re very thin at guard, he would start from day one. But UVA has plenty of available playing time to offer as well.

Bennett really wants him. From what I’ve heard, his name has been spoken often by the staff lately. They’re excited about the chance to bring him on board. Blue and UVA signee Blake Buchanan became friends during Top 100 Camp as well. That could be helpful.

Andrew Rohde

UVA is also after St. Thomas transfer guard Andrew Rohde. The freshman was a first-team Summit League selection, averaging 17 points and 3.6 assists. He’s from Milwaukee. They’ve recruited players from his high school in the past, and he played for Reece Beekman’s old AAU club.

Bennett has done a Zoom meeting with him, and he does have a scholarship offer. I don’t know much more than that. He’s one of those transfers that so far has chosen not to talk about his recruitment. Minnesota and Creighton are two after him. I would assume hometown Marqueete, where his high school teammate plays.

Rohde and Cain are the two guards UVA is focused on for now, likely for one spot. Both fit the description of combo guards who shoot it well. And of course, both valuable young players.

Buckle Up

Things are going to get rolling on Thursday. Jordan Minor will be in town. And he probably won’t be the only one. I expect there to be a surprise visitor or two this weekend. So buckle up. The next few weeks will be an interesting ride. Stay tuned, and thanks for subscribing to Locker Room Access