Panther Creek (Cary, N.C.) star Justin McKoy has committed to head coach Tony Bennett and the University of Virginia men’s basketball program. The 6’8”, 225-pound combo forward made the announcement on Twitter on Monday (April 15), fresh off an official visit he made to UVA this past weekend.
“First and foremost I would like to give all praise to my lord and savior Jesus Christ, without him I’d be nothing,” McKoy wrote in the tweet embedded below. “I honestly don’t know where to start. The journey, God’s plan, was long and has had its ups and downs. I would love to thank my coaches Britt Milner, Mike Proctor, Wingate Smith, Darryl Robinson, Miguel Johnson, and Shawan Robinson for elevating and forming my game into what it is today. I would like to thank Keyford Langley, Joseph Adams, and Deangelo Spruill for putting me on platforms to showcase my skills in AAU. I would like to thank my family for their loyalty and support as well as the Horne family, Felice family, Proctor family, and the Smedley family for their love and support throughout my life! With all that being said I chose a school that not only will improve me as a player but as a man of God as well … I’m proud to announce that I will be committing to the University of Virginia!!!”
Thank you God! #5Pillars #Wahoowa pic.twitter.com/MxOLIVa1Z5
— Justin McKoy (@justintmckoy) April 15, 2019
McKoy, a senior, originally signed with Penn State last fall. Citing concerns with being too far away from his family, he asked for and was granted a release from the letter of intent late last month. According to this reportthis reportthis report from the Raleigh News & Observer, McKoy received a phone call from NC State coach Kevin Keatts 20 minutes after announcing he was back on the recruiting market. Keatts offered a scholarship. Virginia head coach Tony Bennett was reportedly the next call. Bennett didn’t offer at the time, but he did so while McKoy was on Grounds this past weekend.
Virginia beat out NC State and North Carolina – the Tar Heels offered a scholarship last week – for McKoy, who averaged 24.6 points per game his senior season while helping Panther Creek to a 24-6 record. He averaged 10 rebounds per game as well this past season. McKoy was pretty good his junior season, too, averaging 21 points and nine boards per contest.
McKoy can make his verbal commitment official beginning April 17, which is the start of Division 1 men’s basketball’s Regular Signing Period. Virginia already had two recruits in the class of 2019 – consensus 4-star guard Casey Morsell of St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) and consensus 4-star forward/center Kadin Shedrick of Holly Springs (N.C.). Morsell and Shedrick signed with the Hoos during the Early Signing Period last November.
God’s Plan