CBB Review’s Ethan Carbone goes in-depth on the top 30 college basketball recruiting classes. Next up are the Virginia Cavaliers.
The Virginia Cavaliers bring in the 13th-ranked recruiting class according to 247Sports Composite rankings. This includes power forward Isaac Traudt (60th), combo guard Isaac McKneely (61st), small forward Leon Bond (63rd), and small forward Ryan Dunn (126th).
What does each player bring?
Isaac Traudt: 6-10 power forward
Committed. pic.twitter.com/QXkPOSYVBR
— Isaac Traudt (@ittraudt) August 28, 2021
Traudt comes in at 6-10 and weighing 215 pounds and yet at this size he manages to run up and down the court with ease. He will lock down on defense allowing it will go noticed in the stat sheet. A precise pick-and-roll defender who won’t allow anyone past him. The ability to run the same play on offense fading to the three-point line to hit open shots.
Traudt plays face-up offense and will drive to the basket without needing to move his defender. His offensive skillset allows for him to be double-teamed which leads to easy buckets for the other shooters when he kicks it back out.
As usual Virginia freshman, he will play a few minutes however by the time he’s a senior he will be a staple for Virginia basketball.
Isaac McKneely: 6-4 combo guard
Committed. pic.twitter.com/VygFvuPVKN
— Isaac McKneely (@IsaacMcKneely) January 30, 2021
Virginia adds an ultra-athletic guard giving Tony Bennett a player who he can turn into a national sensation within a few years. McKneely drives and cuts to the basket for monster dunks as well as being able to get the ball to face up and shoot it or even shoot it off the dribble. A true offensive weapon.
While on defense he will hold his own. The true strength of McKneely is that he will pluck rebounds and take them the length of the court catching the opposing team slipping.
While he may get a few minutes as a freshman McKneely has what it takes to be the face of Virginia basketball over the next four years.
Leon Bond: 6-5 small forward
Great day to be a Cavalier⚔️🔸🔹#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/ilSXkrEeIC
— Leon Bond III (@leonbx35) July 30, 2021
The Wisconsin wing comes in as your ideal smaller wing who will be a little pest on offense getting the ball before making a quick first step to lose his defender and going in for an athletic finish. Although Bond tends to love the paint, he cannot call it home. His home is wherever he is taking mid-range shots.
While Bennett and his staff will have some kinks to work out, Bond is in a good position as an incoming freshman.
As a freshman, he will play a few minutes however, once he is a senior he may be one of the more intriguing prospects in the ACC.
Ryan Dunn: 6-6 small forward
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Ryan Dunn’22 @Almighty_ry3 of @NYJayhawks & @PerkBasketball has committed to the University of Virginia 👀 #Hoos
— 𝒜𝓃𝒹𝓇ℯ𝓌 𝒮𝓁𝒶𝓉ℯ𝓇 (@Andrew__Slater) September 18, 2021
👩🎨 @ElRealAMJ @_proinsight pic.twitter.com/Ya60mKP4Kp
Dunn comes into Virginia looking to make a name for himself as one of the best three-point shooters. A pure skill player that has worked to perfect his craft and continues to put in work. Dunn has the ability to force opposing players into making mistakes on the offensive end leading to turnovers.
As a freshman, he may not play much but he will develop into a precise reliable shooter for the Virginia Cavaliers.