Virginia guard Jalen Warley, who transferred into the program from Florida State this offseason, has entered the transfer portal in the wake of head coach Tony Bennett’s retirement, the program announced Tuesday.
Warley is the first player to depart the program since Bennett’s abrupt retirement earlier in October.
Per NCAA rules, a 30-day transfer portal window opens anytime a school has a coaching change, meaning Virginia players technically have until mid-November — after the 2024-25 season begins — to leave the program. That said, because the academic year has already begun, any players who transfer now (including Warley) will not be immediately eligible at their next school and will have to redshirt this season.
The 6-foot-7, 205-pound guard was one of Virginia’s top offseason additions and was expected to compete to start this season. He averaged 7.5 points, 2.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game last season for the Seminoles.
Warley’s departure is a significant loss for interim coach Ron Sanchez, who now has one less perimeter option. Warley and Kansas State transfer Dai Dai Ames were both contenders to start at point guard for the Cavaliers, although that position should now go to Ames. The rest of Virginia’s starting five should include returners Isaac McKneely — one of the nation’s better 3-point shooters — and sophomore big Blake Buchanan, as well as transfer imports TJ Power (Duke) and Elijah Saunders (San Diego State).
Sanchez, who spoke to the media last week for the first time since being named interim coach, said he did not anticipate making major stylistic changes this season.
“It would be a mistake for me to come in here and think that I could do things completely different,” he said, “and try to have the same results.”
Virginia opens its season on Wednesday, Nov. 6, when it hosts Campbell. The Cavaliers were picked to finish fifth in the league by ACC media before Bennett’s retirement.
