With all the news that Tony Bennett is leaving Virginia Basketball, a chain reaction has the potential to occur. Assistant Ron Sanchez takes over but it's not 100% guaranteed that everyone will stick around. That's due to a fairly new rule: a coaching change triggers an automatic 30-day window for players to enter the transfer portal without restrictions.
However, with the season fewer than 20 days away, players would have to leave and sit out the first half of the year and be eligible for just the second semester. So, for seniors, that wouldn't make sense. Still, new opportunities and teams with needs may come calling for the others.
Here are three players who could be transfer portal candidates in the next 30 days.
Isaac McKneely
The returning leading scorer for Virginia is McKneely, who averaged 12.3 ppg as a sophomore. He's originally from Poca, West Virginia and is one of the best pure shooters in the country, making 45% from three-point range last season. He would've easily been one of the top transfers had he opted to enter the portal before and even now, would be a difference-maker if he entered the portal for the second-half of the year.
TJ Power
Power was the big-name transfer pickup for the Cavaliers this offseason, coming over from Duke. He's a former 5-star prospect, who averaged just a couple of points and rebounds in limited minutes as a freshman. He's still a big name who if he wanted to, could transfer and redshirt elsewhere, still having three years of eligibility left. If he doesn't plan on playing for Coach Sanchez long-term, it may be best to leave now.
Jacob Cofie
Among the players with multiple years left with potential is Cofie, a 6'9 forward prospect. He's a top-100 recruit and talented skilled frontcourt player who could find his way onto the rotation. At the same time, could he potential not want to play in front of Power and have limited minutes?
As a true freshmen, Cofie could redshirt and still have four years left to play, making him highly appealing to all teams, looking for future frontcourt help.