Update: UVA coaching staff and transfer portal

By Jerry Ratcliffe

New Virginia basketball coach Ryan Odom is trying to rebuild the Cavaliers’ roster and his staff at the same time since being introduced as the head Wahoo a week ago.

Sources say that at least three of his assistant coaches from VCU will likely follow him to UVA: Bryce Crawford, Darius Theus and Matt Henry, along with administrative assistant Kelsey Knoche.

Crawford has been with Odom for years, first working together at Lenoir-Rhyne, then five years at UMBC, two years at Utah State and the past two seasons at VCU. He is a graduate of Ohio State and works with guards.

Henry, who hails from Alexandria, has also been with Odom since the UMBC days, three seasons there, two more at Utah State and the last two at VCU.

Theus played at VCU and was part of three Rams teams to appear in the NCAA Tournament, including the 2011 Final Four squad. He also served on staffs at Sienna and Texas.

Knoche, who was Odom’s director of operations at Utah State and VCU, handles the day-to-day logistics of the program and is one of less than 15 women to hold the position of director of operations on a Division I basketball staff.

Meanwhile, former Nevada big man Nick Davidson — who visited UVA over the weekend — is down to five schools already, and the Cavaliers made the cut: Virginia, Texas, Notre Dame, Washington and Clemson. Davidson, who is 6-foot-10, is considered the No. 2 center in the portal.

Former VCU freshman guard Brandon Jennings visited UVA over the weekend as well. The 6-4 guard from Richmond’s St. Christopher’s played in 35 games this past season, averaging 13 minutes a game, a meager 2.7 points and 2.3 rebounds, while shooting 36 percent from the field and 39 percent from the 3-point arc.

Virginia has reportedly reached out to a pair of High Point players in the portal: Kezza Giffa, a native of Paris, who averaged 14.6 points per game and shot 44 percent from the field; and Juslin Bodo (nice NIL opportunity looming there in Charlottesville), who was the two-time, Big South Defensive Player of the Year.

Bodo has apparently been in contact with UVA, Texas, Florida State, NC State, USC, Mississippi State and Rutgers. Giffa has had communication with UVA, Virginia Tech, SMU, Wake Forest, Florida, Ohio State and Ole Miss.

On the outgoing part of the portal, former Virginia center/forward Blake Buchanan has committed to Iowa State.

The ACC’s leading 3-point shooter, Isaac McKneely, began his visit to Tennessee on Monday. Reports have it that the Vols and Louisville are the frontrunners for his services.

From the women’s side of the portal, Latasha Lattimore, who averaged 14.3 points and 8.2 rebounds for the Cavaliers last season, has apparently committed to Ole Miss.