Brian Flinn:
Future150 National Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
Charlottesville, VA (Future150) -- The Big Dance is finally here and while everyone would like to cut down the nets, there can only be one champion. That being said, there is always the chance that the next season could be better than the last. With that in mind, Future150 would like to introduce "The Next Step", a segment dedicated to breaking down each program's recruiting class as they bow out of the tournament; because theres' always next season.
The way things played out in the bracket, this was UVA's best shot yet to make it to the Final Four, but a suddenly hot Syracuse team had different plans. The Orange ended the game on a 25-4 run to knock Virginia out of the tournament.
This loss is nothing short of heartbreaking for UVA. This looked like their best shot at winning a title in the Tony Bennett era. To make things worse, Malcolm Brogdon, Anthony Gill, Mike Tobey and Evan Nolte all graduate at the end of this year.
As much is this loss is an absolute gut punch to UVA. Fans should be excited about arguably the best class to hit campus under Tony Bennett.
Two top fifty commits will come in in Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy. Jerome is a big point guard who can shoot it and is a very good passer. Guy comes in with a reputation as a shooter, but is in fact a complete scorer with size.
De'Andre Hunter is a talented wing prospect who is strong enough to guard the power forward position as well. While he was held back from a serious injury his junior year, it appears he is back better than ever. Power forward Jay Huff is a skilled big man at 6-foot-10 who can step out and shoot it from beyond the arc.
Those four will be counted on to play big roles moving forward. Replacing Anthony Gill and Malcolm Brogdon is going to be a very tall task. Getting transfer Austin Nichols eligible will be quite helpful in that regard.
Bennett has turned UVA into a perennial power, and there's no reason to belive that the Cavaliers will slide too far next season. With a big time transfer and a talented freshman class, the Cavs will be a force again.
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