CHARLOTTESVILLE – Jordan Minor was brought to Virginia for rebounding and defense. The graduate transfer contributed one final assist as he left the program.

Minor helped UVa recruit Duke transfer forward TJ Power, a fellow Massachusetts native.

“He reached out to me, asked me some questions,” Minor said Monday night by phone from Toronto, where he’s working out in preparation for the NBA draft. “I was just an extra tool for him. He could bounce questions off me.”

Power announced his commitment to Virginia on his Instagram account Monday. A few hours later, UVa got a commitment from San Diego State forward Elijah Saunders.

Saunders, a 6-foot-8 Phoenix native, has played in 53 games for the Aztecs over the past two years. Last season, he averaged 6.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

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Power, a 6-foot-9, 216-pounder, played in 26 games as a freshman this basketball season for the Blue Devils, averaging 2.1 points and 0.7 rebounds per game.

A Shrewsburry, Massachusetts, native and the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state, Power initially picked Duke over scholarship offers from Virginia, North Carolina, Notre Dame and Iowa, among others.

Power, who scored six points against UVa in Duke’s regular season win in March, will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Minor, a native of Kingston, Massachusetts, knew of Power when Power was starring in high school. Minor was already into his college career at Merrimack.

Last summer, Minor and Power worked out together when both were home for part of the offseason, before Minor transferred to Virginia for his final college season.

“I got in the gym with him and saw how good he was first hand,” said Minor, who averaged 4.3 points and 3.1 rebounds for the Cavaliers, coming on late in the season and starting 18 games. “I think he’s going to be a great player for them. He’s going to be so versatile, stretching the floor and being able to make plays off the bounce.”

The Cavaliers, who finished third in the ACC last season, lose guard Reece Beekman and forward Ryan Dunn to the NBA draft, forwards Minor and Jake Groves to exhausted eligibility, and guard Dante Harris and wing Leon Bond III to the transfer portal.

Last week, UVa picked up a commitment from Florida State guard Jalen Warley. With Warley, Power, Saunders and two incoming freshmen, coach Tony Bennett still has one open roster spots for 2024-25.

Saunders visited Virginia over the weekend, and Kansas State point guard Dai Dai Ames was on UVa’s Grounds on Monday.

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