Bringing back Kyle Guy already paying dividends

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Adding Kyle Guy to Virginia’s basketball staff was a smart move by Tony Bennett, a move that’s already paying benefits for the Cavaliers.

Guy, of course, was a key figure in UVA’s 2019 national championship and is the school’s all-time leader in 3-point field-goal shooting percentage (.425). He also was named the “Most Outstanding Player” of the ‘19 Final Four, scoring 24 points in the title game against Texas Tech … and who could ever forget Guy’s clutch six points in the final 7.4 seconds in the semifinal win over Auburn?

Over the summer, Guy decided to retire from pro basketball (he was playing in Europe) and return to school to earn his degree (he left UVA after his junior year), while accepting a position on Bennett’s staff as athlete development mentor/special assistant.

“One of his desires, when we had an opening on our staff, was, he and I kind of talked and I said, ‘You can make a ton of money … you can play.’ He said, ‘No, first, I want to get my degree,’” Bennett shared of their conversation. Guy told Bennett he felt like his gift — the best version of himself — was mentoring, and that’s exactly what he has brought to the Virginia table.

“He said he would love a chance to come back and try to help the program that helped him,” Bennett said. “We get him in practice (Guy practices with the players), just ask these guys. When he gets going in practice, you remember, wow, he’s so nice, he’s so pleasant, and then all of a sudden you can just see something switch.”

Isaac McKneely, the Cavaliers’ present 3-point threat, is delighted to have Guy onboard for a variety of reasons, including the mentoring relationship.

“It’s been super special having Kyle back,” McKneely said. “I always watched him playing when I was getting recruited and all that, watched highlights of the national championship run. It’s kind of surreal to have him back.”

McKneely noted that he and other guards will talk trash to Guy in practice “to get him going,” and that’s when they see the competitor in Guy come out strong.

“It has been really good for me and Taine’s (Murray) development just getting to go against him in practice and the individual workouts outside of practice,” McNeely said. “It’s been really good. I’m thankful to have him back.”

McKneely said that practicing against the veteran is only part of it, that Guy is also someone cool to hang out with and to talk to, a good resource, which is all part of Guy’s mentoring role.

Bennett envisioned this kind of fit when he invited Guy to be part of the program again.

“He helps us competition-wise, but he is doing a ton of stuff with skill development,” Bennett said. “Even for Taine and Isaac and the other guys, just for a guy who has been in that space who understands it, who has dealt with the ups and downs of college athletics, I think it’s terrific.”

Bennett has added former UVA players to his staff in recent years, including Isaiah Wilkins and Chase Coleman prior to Guy’s return.

“[The players] can relate with these younger [coaches] better than an old guy like me,” laughed the 55-year-old Bennett. “So it all works.”