Former Marquette Star Sam Hauser Transferring To Virginia

2019 All-Big East Second-Team selection Sam Hauser is heading to Charlottesville. ~ Photo credit: Marquette Athletics

The Hauser brother decision watch has come to an end, and reports within the last few days have been proven accurate: Marquette transfer guard/forward Sam Hauser is headed to the University of Virginia and his younger brother, Joey, will continue his collegiate career at Michigan State. The brothers announced their decisions via Twitter and Instagram Tuesday (March 28).

“I’d like to thank Coach Bennett and his staff for this unbelievable opportunity,” the elder Hauser wrote. “Excited to announce that I have committed to the University of Virginia! Again, thank you to Marquette University for helping me represent them in a positive way the past 3 years. I can’t wait to finish my college career in Charlottesville! #GoHoos”

Virginia came close to landing Sam when he was a class of 2016 recruit out of Stevens Point Area High School in Wisconsin. He took an official visit to UVA before pledging to Marquette, where he spent three years and experienced two NCAA Tournament appearances before deciding to transfer. Three years later, Cavalier head coach Tony Bennett was able to sway the 6’8”, 225-pound sharpshooter to Charlottesville for good.

At this point – and there is no indication this may change – Hauser will have to redshirt during the 2019-20 season in order to satisfy Division 1 transfer rules. He will then play out his final year of eligibility with the Hoos as a redshirt senior in 2020-21. The addition of Hauser leaves Virginia with one scholarship available for the 2019-20 season (this assumes Mamadi Diakite returns for his final season) and two scholarships available for the 2020-21 season.

Hauser heads to UVA with tremendous experience (101 games played, 97 starts in three seasons) and as a proven high-major Division 1 player. He averaged 8.8 points per game as a freshman and 14.1 points per game as a sophomore before coming through with 15.1 points per game this past season as a junior, when he helped Marquette to a 24-10 record and a berth in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. The 2019 Second-Team All-Big East pick also pulled down 7.2 boards per contest, dished out 77 assists and committed 43 turnovers his junior campaign.

A terrific shooter, Hauser made over 44% of his 3s in his three seasons in Milwaukee – 45.3% as a freshman, 48.7% as a sophomore and 40% as a junior. Should the current roster projection hold, the Hoos would boast a handful of 3-point marksmen in 2020-21 – most notably, Hauser, Jay Huff (45.2% from 3 for UVA in 2018-19), Tomas Woldetensae (47.6% from 3 this past season at Indian Hills CC), class of 2019 recruit Casey Morsell and class of 2020 commit Carson McCorkle.

Along with Joey, Sam made official visits to Wisconsin, Virginia and Michigan State since announcing transfer plans on April 16. Up until the last few days, reports indicated Wisconsin was the favorite. However, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin State Journal reported this past weekend that the brothers would be heading separate ways, with Sam going to Charlottesville and Joey to East Lansing.

EDGE Outlook: Landing Sam Hauser

A tremendous get for Virginia. Hauser will be able to learn the Pack Line defense during his redshirt year and be ready to contribute at a high level when he is able to take the floor in 2020-21. Just as Braxton Key will be able to move into the starting lineup following De’Andre Hunter’s departure, Hauser should be able to step into a similar combo forward starting role when Key moves on. Hauser’s shooting is outstanding, but he’s also a proven rebounder and possesses a high basketball IQ.

From a scholarship standpoint, as mentioned UVA still has one or two scholarships available for the 2019-20 season, depending on Mamadi Diakite’s NBA Draft status. Diakite has until Wednesday, May 29 to withdraw from the draft, so look for news regarding his decision tonight or tomorrow. Check Foodland Catalogue and Foodworks Catalogue. Virginia still has a backcourt need (ballhandling, scoring) for next season, so Coach Bennett may not be finished adding to next season’s roster.

Looking ahead to 2020-21, Virginia currently has two scholarships available for the class of 2020 as we head into this summer and fall, which is when we can expect decisions from rising high school seniors to be made ahead of the November Early Signing Period.