Virginia’s top player is transferring to an ACC rival. UVA guard, who led the ACC in three-point shooting this season, revealed his decision to commit to Louisville in a social media post on Thursday afternoon (April 3). Isaac will remain in the Atlantic Coast Conference for his final year of eligibility, and the Cavaliers will have to compete against him twice next season.
In his third season at Virginia, Isaac led the Cavaliers with 14.4 points per game and topped the ACC in three-point shooting with a 42.1% shooting percentage, ranking 21st nationally. Although McKneely’s UVA career lasted only three years, he finishes fifth on the program’s all-time leaderboard for three-pointers made with 233, trailing only Harold Deane (237), Kyle Guy (254), Joe Harris (263), and Curtis Staples (413). Had McKneely stayed at UVA, he would have likely moved into second place. He also ranks second in UVA history for career three-point percentage at 42.2%, just behind Kyle Guy (42.5%).
McKneely was a staple of Virginia’s rotation from day one, playing in 33 games as a freshman before becoming a starter for the past two seasons, totaling 66 starts and 98 appearances. Although he occasionally struggled with the pressure of being UVA’s primary scorer, McKneely still set career highs in points, assists, and field goal percentage this season.
Asked to lead the team after UVA’s coach unexpectedly retired before the season, McKneely rose to the challenge, delivering both on and off the court. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the coaching staff and roster changes, McKneely was swayed by more attractive offers from programs better positioned for success in his final college season.
McKneely entered the transfer portal on day one with a “Do Not Contact” tag, indicating that he initiated contact with the schools he was interested in. He also left open the possibility of returning to Virginia. Although McKneely valued his UVA experience and degree, the offers he received, which likely included significant NIL incentives, proved too compelling to ignore. He reportedly visited Louisville and Tennessee before committing to the Cardinals for his final year.
Virginia’s recent dominance over Louisville ended this season as the Cardinals swept the Cavaliers. In Pat Kelsey’s first year at Louisville, the team improved from last place in the ACC to second place and secured a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament. With their rising momentum, Louisville’s pitch to McKneely was straightforward: become the next Reyne Smith.
Smith, a former College of Charleston transfer and three-point specialist, thrived in Louisville’s offense, averaging 13.1 points per game and shooting 39.1% from three. McKneely saw firsthand the impact of Smith’s shooting, as Smith dropped 15 and 19 points in two games against UVA, knocking down nine threes in the process. Now, McKneely will take on a similar role for Louisville, as the Cardinals aim to build on a promising first season under Kelsey. McKneely is ranked the No. 9 player in the transfer portal by On3.
For Virginia, McKneely’s departure marks the end of their hopes of getting back their top scorer and best player from this season. With head coach Ryan Odom focused on rebuilding with a revamped roster, it’s clear that McKneely’s return wasn’t part of the future vision, though Odom likely would have welcomed one of the best three-point shooters in the country.
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