Gertrude will announce decision on Wednesday; speculation is he’s a Cavalier

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Four-star combo guard Elijah Gertrude is expected to commit to Virginia on Wednesday at 4 p.m. from his hometown in Jersey City, N.J.

Gertrude is also considering Seton Hall, Kansas, St. John’s and Rutgers. He has visited UVA and Seton Hall, which is only 12 miles from his home. He had visits scheduled to Kansas and Rutgers, but it appears those will not happen.

Several of the nation’s recruiting services consider Virginia a lock to land Gertrude, a 6-foot-3, athletic guard unlike any player in Tony Bennett’s era in Charlottesville.

Former UVA guard Doug Smith, who lives in Jersey City and has observed Gertrude for the past couple of seasons, said: “Gertrude is crazy athletic, an elite athlete that is starting to come into his own and still doesn’t know totally who he is as a player and will need that guidance at the next level.”

Gertrude is rated the No. 92 overall prospect at any position in the nation by On3’s consensus rankings.

“Elijah does really hard things very easily,” Smith said. “He’s very Justin Anderson-like at a young age. I’m talking eye-opening raw athleticism.”

Gertrude’s commitment would be a welcomed relief by UVA fans, especially after losing star big man TJ Power to Duke last week. UVA had led early for Power before he decided to choose the Blue Devils.