Basketball

Column: Honest but Brutal Reasons Why Highly Talented Star Hiring is Great for Virginia Basketball

Nero Scofield

Although it’s the offseason, Wednesday was a celebratory day for Virginia basketball.

Kyle Guy is making a return to the UVA men’s basketball program after five years, this time joining Tony Bennett’s coaching staff. Having played professional basketball for the past five years, Guy will take on the role of Athlete Development Mentor/Special Assistant within Virginia’s supplemental basketball staff.

“We are excited to welcome Kyle and his family back to Charlottesville,” said Tony Bennett. “Kyle is one of the best players I’ve coached and a truly outstanding young man. He will have an immediate positive impact on our program, working with our players and sharing the knowledge and competitive spirit he has developed throughout his college and pro career.”

Bennett needed to adjust his coaching staff following the departure of longtime member Johnny Carpenter, who recently left for a position with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies after being promoted to assistant coach last year. While Guy isn’t taking Carpenter’s place, Brad Soderberg has been appointed as the new assistant coach for the 2024-2025 season, moving from his previous role as director of scouting. Guy will now fill Soderberg’s position on the supplemental staff as Athlete Development Mentor/Special Assistant.

With those logistical details clarified, let’s explore the numerous reasons Kyle Guy’s addition to the Virginia men’s basketball staff is a boon for the program.

1. Providing a much-needed spark

Let me clarify: I don’t believe that Virginia has simply “fallen off” since winning the national title in 2019. Over the last five seasons, the Cavaliers have an impressive record of 110-47 overall and 68-29 in ACC play, claiming two ACC regular season titles and finishing second, third, and sixth in the conference standings in the other years.

However, their struggles in the NCAA Tournament are undeniable, and it’s crucial for UVA to rediscover its winning ways in March. Bringing in someone like Kyle Guy, who understands what it takes to succeed during that time, could be a significant step forward. His presence could revitalize a program that established itself as a premier basketball powerhouse in 2019 but has struggled to maintain that level since then.

2. Championship pedigree

Kyle Guy played a crucial role in Virginia’s first national title victory. UVA fans will always remember his incredible six points in the final 10 seconds of the Final Four against Auburn, including three vital free throws with under a second remaining. This was during a stretch where he also scored 25 points against Purdue in the Elite Eight and 24 points in the championship game against Texas Tech. While Guy won’t be able to bring that experience to the court, his direct work with the players is hoped to instill some of that missing killer instinct in Virginia’s post-title teams, allowing the Wahoos to learn from him.

3. Kyle Guy three-point shooting academy

One of the most immediate advantages of adding Guy to the coaching staff will be his ability to enhance the team’s three-point shooting skills. Aside from the 2020-2021 Virginia team, which featured excellent shooters like Trey Murphy III and Sam Hauser, the team’s three-point shooting has been inconsistent and, at times, very poor. Although Tony Bennett emphasizes defense, he also dedicates time to developing his players’ shooting, as evidenced by his impressive NCAA all-time three-point percentage record of 49.7%. Bringing in Guy, who holds the Virginia record for three-point percentage at 42.5% and continued to excel in shooting during his final professional season abroad, can only help. We can anticipate that Guy will work with the whole team to enhance their shooting, but I’m especially curious about how he will assist players like Isaac McKneely, TJ Power, and Ishan Sharma, who have the potential to become outstanding shooters with the right guidance.

4. Free-throw shooting under pressure

We touched on this earlier, but Guy’s three free throws against Auburn could be considered the most clutch in college basketball history. For someone who has openly shared his battles with anxiety to step to the foul line during the Final Four—when his team was down by two points, with less than a second left, and 72,000 fans in a football stadium, plus millions more watching at home—sinking all three to save the season and propel his team to the national championship game was nothing short of incredible.

While that was five years ago and Kyle Guy won’t be playing or taking free throws for Virginia now, he can still be a valuable asset for a team that has faced challenges with free throw shooting, especially in pressured situations (like against NC State in last year’s ACC semifinals). Who better than Kyle Guy to help the Cavaliers cultivate their clutch performance?

5. It’s a good story and a good fit

Ultimately, this move makes perfect sense for everyone involved.

For Kyle Guy, it’s an ideal opportunity to embark on a new chapter in his professional life. After playing 53 games over three seasons in the NBA and then having two successful seasons overseas, he made the tough decision to retire from basketball and is now considering a coaching career.

In a social media post on Thursday, he discussed this choice: “Sometimes you need to allow yourself to pursue what others may consider crazy. Most people won’t get why I’m stepping away from a lucrative opportunity in a great league. While I’m grateful, I want to follow my instincts this time. We only get one chance at this life, and I intend to live it on my terms. I’m at peace with my career and all I’ve accomplished, and I’m incredibly proud to show my sons what we’ve achieved.”

What better place for Guy to start redefining his relationship with basketball than Virginia, a second home during his college years that now offers a community where he and his family can settle down?

For UVA, having someone like Kyle Guy could significantly benefit player development, as previously mentioned. At the very least, the Virginia men’s basketball program and its fans can rejoice in the return of one of their most cherished players, who played a key role in achieving the program’s greatest success.

Additionally, it’s worth highlighting the exciting prospects for Virginia’s ‘Green Machine’ scout team going forward. The Cavaliers will now practice against a scout team that includes a former two-time All-American (and recent pro) in Kyle Guy, former ACC Defensive Player of the Year Isaiah Wilkins, and talented graduate assistant Chase Coleman, along with other current pros and former Wahoos who often visit Charlottesville during the offseason to join practice.

Given the significant legacy he established as a player, it will be fascinating to see the impact Kyle Guy will have on the program as a coach.

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