Francesco Badocchi hasn’t had the impact he hoped he would have as a second-year in the Virginia men’s basketball program. However, the 6’7”, 205-pound redshirt freshman forward was upbeat and excited about his future with the program when we spoke at UVA basketball’s media day ahead of the 2019 ACC Tournament.

Badocchi, who signed with Virginia in the spring of 2017 out of Bishop Miege (Mission Viejo, KS), redshirted as a true freshman in 2017-18. The move allowed him ample time to recover from summer of 2017 surgery on his right kneecap.

With Isaiah Wilkins, who Tony Bennett told Badocchi to watch closely throughout his redshirt year, moving on after 2017-18, there was a chance for the Italy native to earn a spot in Virginia’s rotation this season. Unfortunately, on November 1 Virginia announced Badocchi had taken a medical leave of absence. He would miss the first seven games of the season before returning to the bench.

Incoming transfer Braxton Key and redshirt sophomore Jay Huff solidified the post rotation for the Hoos, which also includes De’Andre Hunter at times, as well as Jack Salt and Mamadi Diakite. Badocchi hasn’t been able to work his way onto to the court in a consistent rotational role, instead having to settle for limited action late in games. He has played in a total of nine games this season, scoring four points, pulling down six rebounds, and securing one steal.

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