Once Trevon Gross Jr. got accepted to the University of Virginia, he knew one thing he wanted to do. So he put the plan in action.
Gross immediately started to contact the Virginia basketball office, peppering Associate Athletics Director for Basketball Adminstration with emails and making contact with then Associate Head Coach Ritchie McKay. The mission? To get his foot in the door with the program. While he had chosen UVA based on the strong academics and the location close to his home in New Jersey, the high school basketball player also wanted to stay in touch with a sport he loved.
He couldn’t have imagined that it started him down a path to a scholarship on the nation’s No. 1 team.
“I got in as a student – my mom always made sure my grades were good in high school so that helped,” Gross said. “I knew Coach McKay and that helped get my foot in the door, but I was also sending emails to Ronnie like crazy. Once I got my foot in the door, the rest was history. I just made sure whatever role they asked me to do, I did it with the best of my ability.”
At first, Gross joined the Cavaliers as a manager. That first year required setting up drills, helping the coaches, rebounding and passing for players, and preparing equipment before and after practice. He spent the 2015-16 season doing those things with energy and dedication. The Hoos posted a 29-8 record that season and made a run to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight.
That spring following a session at the John Paul Jones Arena, Gross stayed afterward to go through his own basketball workout. He didn’t know his role with the Hoos was about to change.
During that workout, coach Tony Bennett walked up with some news. Gross played it cool with his reaction, but he was euphoric.
“I was flat-lined. I was in complete shock,” Gross said. “It was after a spring workout and I stayed after to work out myself. I remember Coach Bennett just walking up to me and he’s like ‘Trey we’re going to put you on the roster for next year’ and then he just kind of walked away. It was casual. I always laugh about it because I couldn’t even finish my workout after that. I was just so floored with excitement and happiness that he just dropped that big news on me. I called my mom and it was just a great time.”
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Moving from manager to roster member, Gross would be back to his playing roots that led to 55 wins his last two years at St. Benedict’s Prep in New Jersey. The green team at Virginia has gained some notoriety over Bennett’s tenure, thanks in part to the credit they’re given in helping the team prepare for opponents but also because some walk-ons in that spot have had some spotlight moments. Thomas Rogers capped off his Senior Night with a eruption-inducing 3-pointer against Syracuse. Caid Kirven matched that on his Senior Night against Louisville. Maleek Frazier scored his first career points when he made a runner at Wake Forest that made Bennett smile from ear to ear in the moment.
Gross didn’t have to wait long to get some playing time as it turned out. In just the second game of the 2016-17 season a year ago, he checked in for two minutes at the end of a 72-32 romp against St. Francis (Brooklyn). A week later in his third game, he got a 3-pointer to go down against Grambling State and finished with four rebounds, an assist, and a steal in 11 minutes.
Over the past two seasons, he’s actually appeared in 21 games thanks in large part of Virginia’s ongoing success. This season has been different, though. That’s because Gross’ role changed again this offseason. During a preseason practice, Bennett gathered the team around to tell them that the program was placing him on scholarship this season. Fans saw the team’s celebration following the moment that fellow walk-on turned scholarship player Justice Bartley learned after a game that he had received a scholarship. That day at practice carried a similar flavor, minus the splashing water.
“It’s definitely been a journey and I’m thankful for it,” said Gross, who will graduate in May before taking his final year at the Curry School. “I’m thankful for it because it made me the player I am today, it made me the man I am today, and I’m really thankful to Coach Bennett for giving me the opportunity to be part of this. I’m thankful for all these guys allowing me to be myself and play and contribute to this.”
Senior captain Devon Hall said watching the journey from manager to walk-on to scholarship player with Gross has been incredible.
“It’s been amazing,” Hall said. “He’s done a heck of a job being a servant. You guys know how it works in our program. He’s done a heck of a job and I’m proud of him. He’s getting better each year, he works on his game, and he works just as hard as anyone else.”
Last week, Gross celebrated the ACC Tournament Championship with his teammates in Brooklyn not far from his home in New Jersey. His mom and some family members were in attendance when he snipped his piece of the net. In the locker room after the game, he noted how everyone on the team is appreciative of the role each member plays in pursuit of those moments. He mentioned the unity of this team too.
Being a part of it all remains something that Gross cherishes, regardless of what role he has at any given moment.
“At the end of the day, I’m thankful of this role because it’s my role,” Gross said. “That’s what my role is and I’m the type of person that if it has my name on it, I’m going take pride in it and I’m going to put my best foot forward with it. I put my best foot forward so these guys can put their best foot forward out there on that court.”
