We continue our recruit and return series with the Virginia Cavaliers, whose season ended Sunday with a loss to Syracuse in the Elite Eight. A look at what the 2016-17 season could hold:
Possible 2016-17 starting five (statistics reflect regular season average)
G: London Perrantes (11.0 PPG, 4.4 APG)
G: Kyle Guy (incoming freshman)
G: Devon Hall (4.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG)
F: Isaiah Wilkins (4.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG)
F: Austin Nichols (Memphis transfer)
Who is lost: Tony Bennett built his program on recruiting and player development, and this group of seniors has achieved tremendous success thanks to that philosophy. Malcolm Brogdon (18.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG) came into the program as a promising player, and over time showed what hard work and player development can do. In his final two seasons he became a dominating force on both ends of the floor, scoring big and making timely shots as well as locking down opposing teams’ best offensive players. He will go down as one of the best ever at UVA. Anthony Gill (13.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG) has produced in the paint and at the rim for Virginia. When the Cavaliers needed someone to challenge opponents inside, Gill was a force. Mike Tobey (6.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG) and Evan Nolte (1.9 PPG) leave as two-more high level winners and contributors.
Who is added: Six new players will be coming to Charlottesville, including four members of a top 10 recruiting class, a reclassifying player who sat out the 2015-16 season, and an impact transfer. Guards Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome will collectively try to absorb the loss of Brogdon. From an offensive standpoint, they have the tools and skill to produce -- it's on the defensive end where they’ll struggle, as most freshmen do. Philadelphia native and wing DeAndre Hunter will be intriguing because he brings athletic ability and multiple skills to contribute in Bennett's system. Center Jay Huff has tremendous upside. He’s a thin young post who can really shoot it, and block shots with timing, length and bounce. Austin Nichols, a Memphis transfer who averaged 13 points and six boards as a Tiger in 2014-15, is a proven face-up and low-post threat who rebounds well. Power forward Mamadi Diakite, a 6-foot-9 former ESPN 100 player, reclassified from 2016 and 2015 and redshirted the 2015-16 season. He is a long, around-the-rim finisher and rim protector who will contribute.
What it means for next season: With Brogdon and Gill gone, Bennett will be looking at Perrantes as his leader on the court and in the locker room. He’ll have some work to do in integrating the new faces, but has plenty to work with. Expect him to take the returning players and the new blood and mold them into a team that again will be one of the better teams in the ACC by committee. It will take time, however, for everyone to understand the system, for roles to be established and for the new players to jell with the returnees, but who better than Tony Bennett to figure all that out.
Trending: Level. Since arriving at Virginia, Bennett has made this program relevant again and has also sustained high-level success in what is arguably the best conference in basketball. The positive trends will continue, both on the recruiting trail and on the scoreboard, as long as Bennett sticks around in Charlottesville. Look for the Cavs to contend in the ACC again in 2016-17.