Examining Virginia men’s basketball’s 2018/2019 season scholarship projections, it’s apparent there is a need for immediate playable depth on the perimeter.
Point Guards: Ty Jerome (Jr), Kihei Clark (Fr)
Wings: Kyle Guy (Jr), De’Andre Hunter (R-Soph), Marco Anthony (Soph), Kody Stattmann (Fr)
Posts: Jack Salt (R-Sr), Mamadi Diakite (R-Jr), Jay Huff (R-Soph), Francesco Badocchi (R-Fr)
Aside from projected starters Jerome, Guy and Hunter, there isn’t much in the way of proven depth in the backcourt. Although Marco Anthony had a notable 10-point performance in a home win versus Louisville, he only played 13 games in total during his true freshman campaign. Kihei Clark and Kody Stattmann will be true freshmen with the latter is coming off of leg surgery and seemingly a good candidate to redshirt.
There is a need for Virginia to add perimeter depth to next season’s squad. Until today, though, Virginia had not been connected with any grad-transfers. That changed with a tweet from ESPN’s Jeff Borzello.
South Dakota's Matt Mooney has had Arizona State, Oregon, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Missouri, Northwestern, Memphis, TCU, Creighton, Nebraska, Indiana, Virginia and Arizona reach out to him as a potential grad transfer.
18.7 PPG this past season.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 6, 2018
Mooney is a 6’3”, 210-pound guard out of South Dakota, where he has averaged roughly 30 minutes, 18 points and four rebounds per game each of the past two seasons. He averaged 18.7 points (44.5% FG, 35.2% 3PFG, 82.9% FT), 4.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2 steals and 2.4 turnovers per game this past season as a redshirt junior. Mooney, who began his career at Air Force before transferring to South Dakota, is evaluating his options as a graduate transfer.
I have been give my release from South Dakota. I am not for sure leaving USD, but I will be exploring my options as a grad transfer.
— Matt Mooney (@MoonSwag13) April 5, 2018
