Looks like Blake Buchanan is headed to the portal

By Jerry Ratcliffe

While not officially confirmed, it appears that Virginia sophomore forward Blake Buchanan is headed for the NCAA transfer portal, which opens on March 24.

Buchanan’s Instagram account on Tuesday showed photographs of him in his Virginia uniform and the caption was a red heart. Several teammates commented on Buchanan’s post, including junior guard Isaac McKneely, who wrote: “thanks for all your screens.”

The 6-foot-11 forward grew up in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, where he was the state of Idaho’s Mr. Basketball his senior year at Lake City High School. He was originally recruited by Gonzaga, Washington State, Iowa, Pepperdine, Idaho, San Francisco, San Jose State and Utah Valley.

A source close to Buchanan said there’s chatter about an unnamed SEC that is interested in recruiting him. The same source confirmed later in the day that Buchanan will enter the portal when it opens next Monday.

Buchanan appeared in 32 games this past season for the Cavaliers, including 22 starts, and averaged 5.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots, while shooting 53.4 percent from the field and 54.1 percent from the free-throw line. He was 11th in the ACC in blocked shots per game.

Virginia often had to play Buchanan out of position by necessity, sliding him into the post spot, where he was often at a disadvantage to heavier, stronger, more experienced post men. Buchanan worked hard in the weight room and bulked up to 227 pounds, but sometimes couldn’t equalize the physicality of some opponents.

Still, he had a nice stretch this season when he nearly posted a double-double in points and rebounding. His first career double-double (11 points, 15 rebounds) came against SMU in mid-January. Buchanan posted 16 points and 9 rebounds at Miami later that month.

One of his best games came early on his freshman season when he sparked Virginia’s upset win over Florida, when he scored 18 points (10 of 16 free throws) and seven rebounds.