Isaac McKneely, overview 51 at 2022 247Sports Composite Rankings, has committed to the University of Virginia, he told 247Sports in an exclusive interview.
The combined guard of 6 feet and 4 and 170 pounds of Poca (W.Va.) committed to Tony Bennett and the Cavaliers about their finalists, including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, Purdue and West Virginia.
“It was the perfect fit for me,” said McKneely. “People said that when you know you know and I think I know this is where I want to play. Coach Bennett did an amazing job recruiting me. It meant a lot to the head coach to recruit me so hard, because he is the one that will put me in the game, so he just showed me a lot of love and said he wanted me to play for him. “
“Education is great in Virginia, it is in the top five in education and how they play fits me,” he added. “My high school team does a lot of what they do there, so I think I can contribute and get to know the system very well. It’s the right place for me and I know it is.”
Tony Bennett has built a strong reputation for being one of the best coaches in college basketball, and while that stood out to McKneely about him, it is also the culture he produces.
“Honestly, the culture he built there,” said McKneely of what stood out specifically for him about Tony Bennett. “He has five pillars and all that. Just the culture he built there. He’s a religious man, which means a lot. So, just the culture and the style of play, as I said. There is so much to like about Virginia and Coach Bennett is one of the best coaches in the country, you can’t deny that and I can’t wait to go out there and play for him. “
The Cavaliers have had great success with recent players similar to McKneely and when asked what he will bring to the program, he had two previous highlights in mind about who he looks like.
“For fans of Virginia, I think I can bring a Joe Harris and Kyle Guy kind of paper come out of the screens and take my picture and make it easy for others too. That’s what Coach Bennett told me he thinks I can be, a Joe Harris and Kyle Guy kind of guy this is what I bring, fans from Virginia. “
McKneely is the Virginia Cavaliers’ first engagement in the 2022 class.