Recruiting Rundown 4/26
Despite all the restrictions due to COVID-19, the recruiting process is still moving along. Zoom meetings have taken the place of in-home visits. Coaches are doing more video study to make up for lost live evaluation periods. New scholarship offers are flying around, as normal for this time of year. The lesson learned so far is that the NCAA can change schedules, but college coaches still expect to operate by the same old calendar.
Established Class of 2021 Targets
Steward (VA) center Efton Reid had a talk with Tony Bennett, along with the other programs listed above. He also picked up a new offer from Kansas, and renewed interest from Kentucky. In a video interview done earlier this week, he had a long list of schools he'd like to visit before making a decision. UVA is well positioned, but this could go on a while. He's the only true big man holding a Virginia offer.
Top guard target Trevor Keels from Paul VI (VA) did the Zoom thing as well. He's perhaps further along in the process than Efton seems, but would still like to take more visits assuming that's allowed later this summer. At the moment, the NCAA's ban on in-person recruiting is set to be lifted on June 1st.
Rolling Meadows (IL) guard Max Christie didn't participate a lot in his recruitment until the last few months things have warmed up. He took his only official visit so far to Michigan State in March. Coach Bennett did a video chat with him recently. In a Rivals interview, the 5-star guard had good things to say about the UVA boss, while seeming unsatisfied with the way perceived favorite Duke has recruited him.
New Offers
Judging by Virginia's actions so far, and other programs for that matter, you'd never know the live evaluation periods were canceled. As usual for April, they've made a couple new scholarship offers to players they're already very familiar with
Germantown Academy (PA) guard Jordan Longino was extended a UVA offer on April 15th. He's visited in the past. Assistants have been to his high school. Coach Bennett saw him play several times last summer. He's always mentioned Virginia's involvement. Villanova is believed to be the favorite. He hasn't done any official visits yet. UVA is hoping to get him in this summer or Fall, again assuming it's allowed.
Indiana's Gatorade Player of the Year, Trey Kaufman, picked up his Wahoo offer this week. Coach Bennett has visited him multiple times as recently as January. Louisville and Indiana are the major players for the 6'8 versatile forward.
The 2020 Class is still really good
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