I have given myself the impossible task of selecting three of the many influential players to play under coach Tony Bennett at UVA (2009-Present). In this article, you will see ONLY three athletes. There will be no honorable mentions, and no participation trophies will be given out. The goal is to create a list that nobody disagrees with and everyone can rally behind. As I said, an impossible task is at hand.
Before we rank, we must define. How am I defining "influential?"
1. Skill Level/Accolades (How they performed and what they left with)
2. Were they a "Five Pillar" player? (Humility, Passion, Unity, Servanthood, and Thankfulness)
3. Tenure (Years spent wearing a UVA uniform)
#3- Kyle Guy (2016-2019)
This list would be a swing and a miss if someone from the 2019 National Championship team weren't included.
Stats:
106 Games
78 Starts
43% FG
42.5% 3PT
81% FT
12.5 PPG
Accolades:
NCAA Champion (2019)
NCAA Final Four MVP (2019)
2x Third-Team All-American (2018, 2019)
2x First-Team-All-ACC (2018, 2019)
ACC Tournament MVP (2018)
55th Pick 2019 NBA Draft
I could name four or five players on the 2019 team that played a major role in winning that Championship, but Kyle Guy was the face of that team. A sharpshooter, a crafty finisher, and just an absolute nightmare for opponents.
Favorite Moment:
This four-point play to seal the game in Chapel Hill against #8 UNC is second to
none. I would quote my reaction in this article, but I am trying to cuss less. Chills.
#2- Malcolm Brogdon (2011-2016)
Perhaps my favorite Virginia athlete of all time. He was a four-year player under Tony Bennett and started every game from 2013-2016. Malcolm Brogdon is 1 of 2 players I see when I close my eyes and think of UVA basketball. He is interchangeable on the #1 and #2 line for me.
Stats:
136 Games
109 Starts
43% FG
37% 3PT
88% FT%
13.3 PPG
Accolades:
ACC Player of the Year (2016)
NABC Defensive Player of the Year (2016)
3x First-Team All-ACC (2014-2016)
2x ACC Defensive Player of the Year (2015. 2016)
2016 Naismith Award Finalist
First-Team All-American (2016)
Second-team All-American (2015)
36th Pick 2016 NBA Draft
It is hard to describe the impact Malcolm Brogdon had and still has on UVA basketball. He was a walking bucket-getter but found the most joy putting his defensive clamps on the opposing team's best player. The effort he gave on the court every time he touched it is something coaches nationwide should strive for when recruiting future players.
Favorite Moment: Uncle Malcolm with a tenth of a second remaining! UVA was in an 8-minute field goal drought, but Brogdon turned cold-blooded in their final possession. Onions!
#1- Joe Harris (2010-2014)
If Joe Harris isn't on your list, go back and start over. UVA basketball as a whole would look completely different if Joe hadn't moved across the country to spend his college years with Tony Bennett in Charlottesville. I am so glad we don't live in that world.
Stats:
135 Games
128 Starts
45% FG
41% 3PT
72% FT
12.6 PPG
Accolades:
First-team All-ACC (2013)
Second-Team All-ACC (2014)
ACC Tournament MVP (2014)
ACC All-Tournament First Team (2014)
33rd Pick 2014 NBA Draft
Favorite Moment: In 2014, Joe led Virginia to their first ACC tournament title since 1976 with this clutch three against Duke. I'll remember this moment for the rest of my life. A true "Where were you" moment as this shot (6:30-6:41 in the video) changed the direction of UVA basketball for the better.
Kyle Guy, Malcolm Brogdon, and Joe Harris played a combined 377 games, had 4,830 combined points, and 12 NCAA tournament wins. These are my three and I'm sticking to it. UVA fans have been spoiled with so many influential players since Tony Bennett arrived in Charlottesville. Still, I think these three have had the biggest impact on the program in terms of being great on the court, time spent wearing orange and blue, and living out Coach Bennett's Five Pillars on and off the court.
I would love to hear how much everyone disagrees with me on this. Go Hoos!
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