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Virginia Center Francisco Caffaro Enters Transfer Portal

Caffaro played in 92 games over the last four seasons and was on the roster for UVA's national championship run in 2019

Matt Newton

Matt Riley/Virginia Athletics
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The first domino has fallen in the transfer portal for the Virginia men's basketball team. Redshirt senior center Francisco Caffaro entered the transfer portal as a graduate transfer on Thursday. 

"It has been an honor to play for Virginia these last 5 years and to share lifelong bonds with my teammates and coaches, my other family," Caffaro said in a social media post. "I am forever grateful for the UVA community and city of Charlottesville for taking me in and making me feel at home while being a long way from Argentina. I want to express my gratitude to Coach Bennett, and the rest of the coaching staff for taking a chance on me and allowing me to pursue my dreams."

A 7'1", 254-pound center from Santa Fe, Argentina, Caffaro has been in the Virginia basketball program for five years, redshirting his first season as the Cavaliers went on to win the 2019 National Championship. Since then, Caffaro has served primarily as UVA's backup center, playing in 92 games over the last four seasons, including 21 starts. Caffaro started 16 games last season and averaged a career-high 4.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. His playing time declined this season, as Caffaro appeared in 20 games and recorded 2.0 points and 1.8 rebounds per game in 8.2 minutes per contest. He got the start in each of Virginia's three games at the ACC Tournament following the injury to Ben Vander Plas. 

READ MORE: Virginia Basketball Expands List of Transfer Portal Targets

Caffaro indicated in press interviews late in the season that he was not planning on returning to Virginia next year, but it wasn't clear if that meant he was planning to turn pro, enter the transfer portal, or end his basketball career entirely. Now, it is confirmed that Caffaro will test the waters of the transfer portal to find a new home to play his final season of college basketball. 

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Matt Newton
MATT NEWTON

Matt launched Virginia Cavaliers On SI in August of 2021 and has since served as the site's publisher and managing editor, covering all 23 NCAA Division I sports teams at the University of Virginia. He is from Downingtown, Pennsylvania and graduated from UVA in May of 2021.

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