An alert AFP reader noticed that Dante Harris was no longer listed on the UVA Basketball roster. Here’s what’s up.
“Dante Harris is currently enrolled at UVA and working towards earning his degree. He is not on the active roster, but is working out with the team.”
That’s the word from a UVA Athletics spokesperson on Tuesday.
Harris, now a grad student, played in 24 games in the 2023-2024 season, averaging 2.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 13.7 minutes per game.
His season was derailed a good bit by an ankle injury in November that forced him out of the lineup for 10 games, and seemed to limit his mobility and effectiveness even when he got back on the floor.
Harris transferred to Virginia after two productive seasons at Georgetown, where he averaged 11.9 points and 4.1 assists per game in 2021-2022, and was named the Big East Tournament MVP as a freshman in 2021 after leading the Hoyas to a surprise tournament title.
After his tough season at Virginia, Harris entered the transfer portal in April, but pulled his name out of the portal in May, and at that time indicated his intention to return to UVA for his final season of eligibility.
In the meantime, coach Tony Bennett went to the transfer portal to address a glaring need at point guard, with four-year starter Reece Beekman foregoing his final year of eligibility for the NBA, and Elijah Gertrude, the heir apparent, suffering a season-ending injury in a scooter accident in the spring.
Bennett signed Dai Dai Ames, who started at point guard at Kansas State as a freshman last season, and Jalen Warley, a 6’7” combo guard who played for three seasons at Florida State.
Bennett also has Christian Bliss, who redshirted in the 2023-2024 season, and Andrew Rohde, who struggled in his first year at UVA, but was a big-time scorer as a freshman at St. Thomas in 2022-2023, as options at the point.