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Virginia Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Cavaliers

By Jerran Anderson

CHARLOTTESVILLE , VA - NOVEMBER 11: The Virginia Cavaliers logo on the floor before a college basketball game against the George Washington Colonials at the John Paul Jones Arena on November 11, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
CHARLOTTESVILLE , VA - NOVEMBER 11: The Virginia Cavaliers logo on the floor before a college basketball game against the George Washington Colonials at the John Paul Jones Arena on November 11, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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Virginia Basketball Kihei Clark Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
Virginia Basketball Kihei Clark Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports /

Projected starting lineup

Point Guard – Kihei Clark, Senior

Kihei Clark could see another season of big minutes in the UVA basketball lineup in 2021-22 without much experience or depth in the backcourt. Clark played in 34.0 mpg in the Covid-19 plagued season, finishing 13th overall among other ACC basketball players.

He produced 9.5 ppg, 4.5 apg, and 2.0 rpg in 25 appearances (23 starts) in 2020-21. He’s not a bad 3-point shooter after shooting 32.3 percent from behind the arc this past season.

Clark will need to boost his scoring output a bit without many other returning scorers on the floor. He’s the team’s top returning scorer from a season ago, so leading by example could be a good idea for him with the ball in his hands as the primary ballhandler.

Guard – Reece Beekman, Soph.

Reece Beekman is another returner from last season set to play a big role in the rotation. He averaged 4.7 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.8 rpg, and 1.2 spg across 25 contests (20 starts) in 2020-21. He’s a 6-foot-3 guard with the potential to attack the rim and make plays for others.

Beekman is a player in the backcourt that should take some pressure off Clark in the backcourt. He has breakout potential in the rotation with room to grow in the rotation as a playmaker and defender. If he can show he can knock down shots from the perimeter and be an offensive option while maintaining his defensive prowess, the Cavaliers could see some success.

Wing/Guard – Armaan Franklin, Junior

Armaan Franklin joins the Cavaliers roster after spending the last two seasons with the Indiana Hoosiers. While a member of their squad, he averaged 6.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, and 1.6 apg across 54 appearances (29 starts).

Franklin saw the biggest leap in his production this past season, putting up 11.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.1 apg and 1.2 spg while shooting 42.4 percent from behind the arc. UVA basketball has just three players in their rotation that shot the ball from 3-point land, look for Franklin to fill the void in that regard.

Power Forward – Jayden Gardner, Senior

Jayden Gardner is another addition out of the transfer portal from the East Carolina Pirates that should make an instant impact in the frontcourt. He built quite the name for himself in the American Athletic Conference as an All-Freshmen performer in 2018-19 and two-time All-AAC selection from 2019-21.

Gardner put up 18.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, and 1.4 apg across 81 appearances (79 starts) from 2018-21 while shooting 50.1 percent from the field. He’s a paint presence that should boost the offensive profile a ton for the Cavaliers in 2021-22. Look for him to be another player that plays heavy minutes in the lineup.

Center – Kadin Shedrick, Soph.

Kadin Shedrick is a big man with limited experience so far in his UVA basketball career, but with a redshirt year under his belt and experience already in the paint, he poses the potential to get the start this year at the 5-spot.

Shedrick is a 6-foot-11, 215-pound prospect that made 11 appearances in 2020-21, averaging 2.5 ppg and 2.2 rpg. Given his size and length, he poses the potential to play a big role as a rim protector in Tony Bennett’s defensive system.

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