NCAA Basketball: Top 25 impact freshmen classes for 2023-24 season

19. Virginia Cavaliers

It’s going to be a completely different look for the Cavaliers next season, with 5 of the team’s top 6 players gone from the roster. Guard Reece Beekman is the lone key returner, joined by a bunch of underclassmen with the chance at big minutes.

After losing Jayden Gardner, Kadin Shedrick, Ben Vander Plas, and Franciso Caffaro, Virginia brought in Merrimack transfer and NEC Co-Player of the Year, Jordan Minor to the frontcourt. Also in the mix are a pair of centers in Anthony Robinson and Blake Buchanan. Robinson is a 6’10 three-star prospect out of North Carolina and is the biggest body the team has on the roster.

Buchanan is the one to watch on paper, ranked in the top-75 overall. He’s a 6’10 big man from Idaho known for being a quality rim protector and can replace Shedrick in that department. His offensive game is underrated as well, as he can be an effective post-scorer inside. There’s a good chance that he can start next to Minor next season in the frontcourt.

Then there’s Elijah Gertrude, a top 50 overall prospect. The 6’4 shooting guard will have to compete with Isaac McKneely and St. Thomas transfer Andrew Rohde but he’s arguably the best pro prospect on the current roster before even playing a D-I game.