Virginia Basketball Loses Another As Sophomore Forward Justin McKoy Transfers

Since the end of the 2020-21 season, the University of Virginia basketball program has seen two perimeter players transfer – sophomore guard Casey Morsell and freshman wing Jabri Abdur-Rahim. On Tuesday, the Hoos were dealt a blow to frontcourt depth when sophomore forward Justin McKoy announced he was leaving the program.

The 6’8”, 215-pound McKoy played 14 games as a true freshman, averaging 7.4 minutes, 1.0 points, and 1.1 rebounds per game. After starting UVA’s first four games of 2020-21, the sophomore from Cary, North Carolina, came off the bench. He saw double-digit minutes of playing time twice in the next 11 games but emerged as a key reserve in the Cavaliers’ final three regular season games as well as the ACC Tournament victory over Syracuse. In those four contests, McKoy averaged 17 minutes, 4.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. This included an 8-point effort in UVA’s home regular season finale win over Miami.

McKoy, who was not allowed to play in UVA’s NCAA Tournament game against Ohio because of a positive COVID-19 test, played in 19 games in total his sophomore season. He averaged 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game and was third on the team with 17 offensive boards. With redshirt sophomore center Francisco Caffaro and redshirt freshman center Kadin Shedrick the only other projected frontcourt scholarship players in 2021-22, a larger role seemed in store for McKoy in his junior campaign even if UVA added more recruits and/or transfers this offseason.

Justin McKoy sparked Virginia basketball in a win over Miami. ~ Photo courtesy Matt Riley/Virginia Athletics Media Relations

A standout out of Panther Creek High School, McKoy originally signed with Penn State before being released from his letter of intent in the spring of 2019. He received offers from Virginia and North Carolina, among others, before committing to and signing with the Hoos.

Virginia basketball is now down to eight projected scholarship players in the 2021-22 season, meaning the Hoos have five scholarships available.

Point Guards: Kihei Clark (Sr), Reece Beekman (Soph)

Wings: Trey Murphy III (Sr), Kody Stattmann (Jr), Carson McCorkle (Soph), Taine Murray (Fr)

Posts: Francisco Caffaro (R-Jr), Kadin Shedrick (R-Soph)

3 Responses You are logged in as Test

    1. Key question is: in trying to win every close game, how do you give good bench warmers enough playing time to keep them motivated?

  1. No one knew Dre, Ty, and Guy would all leave at the same time. Thus, more scholarships could be offered. Although Caffaro was a project, he was a big kid. Stattman had a strong upside, and his illness was an anomaly. Morsell looked good coming out of HS. IMO Stefano and McCoy are prototype role players–why they rated 4 or 3 stars is hard to understand. HS injuries to Rahim and McCorkle were unfortunate, but Beekman was a good find. Murphy was the best “recruit” and, given all the good players who are in the transfer portal, that may be the way to go.

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