Virginia will get to add some valuable frontcourt depth with transfer forward Braxton Key this coming season.
When he transferred in May from Alabama to U.Va., he was expected to have to sit out the coming season per NCAA transfer rules. Instead, Key, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound Charlotte, N.C., native, has been ruled immediately eligible after his hardship waiver was approved by the NCAA.
He’ll be able to compete for U.Va. beginning Nov. 6 in its opener against Towson and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Key started 47 games at Alabama, averaging 7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season as a sophomore after missing the first 10 games while recovering from knee surgery.
As a freshman, he led Alabama in scoring with 12 points per game to go along with 5.7 rebounds, starting 30 of the 34 games in which he played. Key made the Southeastern Conference’s All-Freshman team.
He played at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., where recruiting analysts considered him one of the nation’s top 10 small forwards and top 60 overall players in the class of 2016. U.Va. and Virginia Tech were among schools to offer him, but he chose Alabama.
Key participated last season in both of Alabama’s games in the NCAA tournament, including an 86-83 first-round win against Tech. He didn’t score and played only 17 minutes after getting into early foul trouble. He contributed six points in Alabama’s 81-58 second-round loss to Villanova.
Norm Wood, 757-247-4642, nwood@dailypress.com
