Virginia Basketball Recruiting Strategy Session: Coronavirus Concerns Create Holding Pattern

Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett and staff have been unable to watch and evaluate prospects this spring and summer.

The NCAA extended the Recruiting Dead Period through July 31, resulting in the cancellation of both Division 1 basketball July Evaluation Periods – an AAU weekend on July 9-12 and NCAA College Basketball Academy July 21-26. All seven scheduled Division 1 basketball evaluation opportunities this spring and summer (three AAU weekends, the NBPA Top 100 Camp, two high school events, and the Academy) have been wiped away due to coronavirus concerns.

“The committee is committed to reviewing the dead period again in late June or early July,” Pennsylvania Athletics Director and Division 1 Council Coordination Committee Chair M. Grace Calhoun said in a briefing on NCAA.org.

The statement adds that the “committee will regularly evaluate the dead period, continuing to be guided by medical experts.”

Virginia basketball Associate Head Coach Jason Williford has discussed the challenges the coronavirus cancellations have had on recruiting, noting evaluation of rising high school juniors in particular.

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