Men’s Basketball Open Recruiting Period Begins and UVA Is Off to the Races

Tony Bennett and company had a busy start to the open recruiting period. See all of the latest UVA men’s basketball recruiting news.

Photo courtesy of Jamie Rhodes/ USA TODAY Sports

The men’s basketball recruiting dead period ended this week and open recruiting began on Thursday and will continue through November 7th. College basketball coaching staffs are out in force this week visiting schools of uncommitted recruits in the classes of 2022 and 2023. Tony Bennett and his staff have already been quite active on the recruiting trail. Read on for the latest recruiting news as Tony Bennett looks to lock down the future of Virginia basketball.

On Thursday morning, Tony Bennett visited Ridge View High School in Columbia, South Carolina to see five-star forward Gregory Jackson.

Coach Bennett opened the recruiting period at Ridge View (SC) this morning. Checking out 2023 forward Gregory Jackson. https://t.co/YK2zR1Beab

— Hooz Got Next (@HoozGotNext) September 9, 2021

UVA offered Jackson in August, but he has offers from 13 schools, with South Carolina and North Carolina as the current favorites to land the No. 2 power forward in the country in the class of 2023.

Head Coaches Frank Martin + his full staff, Hubert Davis + 2 assistants, and Tony Bennett as well as assistants from Florida State and NC State have been by Columbia (S.C.) Ridge View High so far

All to see 2023 #Rivals150 No. 10 Gregory Jackson pic.twitter.com/Se7Wdjj1rD

— Jamie Shaw (@JamieShaw5) September 10, 2021

Tony Bennett also visited Oak Hill Academy in Virginia on Thursday to see five-star point guard Caleb Foster.

Other schools headed to Oak Hill today include Virginia, Wake Forest, South Carolina and Pittsburgh.

2023 Top25 prospect Caleb Foster a high priority target for the Hoos.

— Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) September 9, 2021

Virginia made the cut for Foster’s top eight schools which he announced on social media on August 18th.

Foster is the third-ranked point guard in the country and top-ranked overall player from the state of Virginia. Duke is currently the frontrunner to receive Foster’s commitment when he decides.

Ryan Dunn, a class of 2022 four-star small forward from New York, also released his top eight schools on August 18th, which included Virginia.

TOP 8!!! @TiptonEdits pic.twitter.com/qiPj3GbUlw

— Ryan Dunn (@Almighty_ry3) August 19, 2021

Dunn is making an official visit to UVA this weekend and posted on social media from John Paul Jones Arena on Friday morning.

2022 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ small forward Ryan Dunn is at JPJ this morning. UVa is in his top 6 pic.twitter.com/J91nPdVF5o

— Brandon Lloyd (@blloyd8298) September 10, 2021

Dunn could potentially become the fourth four-star recruit in the UVA class of 2022, joining Isaac McKneely, Leon Bond, and Isaac Traudt. Virginia is also in the running for Bobi Klintman and Julian Phillips in the class of 2022.

Reed Sheppard, a four-star guard in the class of 2023, has scheduled an official visit to Virginia on October 2nd.

Elite 5 ⭐️ North Laurel G Reed Sheppard tells KPR that Kentucky, Louisville and Virginia are coming to see him. He will take visits to

Virginia October 2nd
Ohio State October 9th@reed_sheppard was dominate all season long playing up 17U on the Adidas 3SSB with @MidwestBBClub

— Kentucky Prep Report (@KY_PrepReport) September 9, 2021

The London, Kentucky native made an unofficial visit to Charlottesville in June and the UVA coaching staff has been following him frequently this summer.