BREAKING: UVA big men Shedrick, Traudt, enter transfer portal

Posted on Monday, Mar. 27, 2023, 3:32 pm

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By Jerry Ratcliffe

Photo by Jon Golden

Virginia’s basketball program received a double blow today with two of its remaining frontcourt players entering the transfer portal.

First came an announcement from 6-10 redshirted freshman Isaac Traudt that he was homesick and hitting the portal in hopes of finding a new basketball home closer to Grand Island, Neb., where he grew up.

Less than a couple hours later, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello said sources told him that UVA center Kadin Shedrick had entered his name in the portal as well. That leaves the Cavaliers with only one returning frontcourt player in 6-foot-8 rising sophomore Ryan Dunn. Virginia also has incoming freshman, 6-10 Blake Buchanan of Idaho, in the fold. Buchanan, a top-100 prospect, chose UVA over Gonzaga.

Previously, 7-footer Francisco Caffaro announced he had entered the portal. Starters Jayden Gardner and Ben Vander Plas both exited the program after this season as graduate transfers.

There had been rumors that Shedrick planned to transfer after his playing time diminished greatly late in the season, although he regained a starting role once Vander Plas broke his right hand in practice just before the ACC Tournament. Shedrick started all of UVA’s games in that event and the Cavaliers’ lone game in the NCAA Tournament, a first-round upset loss to Furman.

Shedrick, regarded as one of the top shot blockers in the ACC, started 15 games for the Cavaliers.

In that loss to Furman, Shedrick arguably played his best game of the season, scoring 15 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and blocking four shots. The 7-footer is a native of North Carolina.

Virginia is now forced to go hunting for at least two big men in the portal, one with experience for sure.