According to On3’s Joe Tipton, West Virginia native and Poca High School alum Isaac McKneely has entered the transfer portal after three years at Virginia University. The guard averaged 11.1 points in 93 games for the Cavaliers.
NEWS: Virginia guard Isaac McKneely is entering the transfer portal, source tells @On3sports. Will maintain the possibility of returning to Charlottesville.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) March 24, 2025
The 6-4 junior averaged 14.7 points per game this season and shot 42% from three. Represented by Drew Kelso of One Motive… pic.twitter.com/743FSj9St2
McKneely has had a great career in Charlottesville, Virginia. During his sophomore season (2023-2024), McKneely shot an outstanding 44.5% from three. The sharpshooter has been widely known for his elite ability to make the three-point shot.
Last season, the Cavaliers went 15-17, did not make the NCAA Tournament, and did not play in the NIT Tournament. Even though Virginia struggled last season, McKneely had his best collegiate season. The standout scorer averaged a career-high 14.1 points per game while also averaging 2.7 rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game.
A former four-star recruit and West Virginia native has entered the portal
Ross Hodge is set to inherit the head coaching vacancy in Morgantown, and his first task on the job for West Virginia will likely be reaching out to McKneely.
McKneely has a track record of proven success playing at a high level in Division 1 basketball. The Virginia Cavaliers are in the ACC, and the ACC is usually a very successful conference in producing quality basketball teams. Before the 2025 NCAA Tournament began, the ACC was tied for first place for most Men’s Basketball championships with 15 titles (tied with the PAC-12).
Virginia’s success more than likely played a role in the decision for McKneely to commit back in January 2021. When the 6’4” guard committed to Virginia, the Cavaliers were coached by Tony Bennett. Bennett was a big part of why McKneely chose to take his talents to Charlottesville.
“Virginia is a great basketball school, but also known as a great academic school, that is very important to me. Coach (Tony) Bennett has been very honest and upfront with me this whole process. I have a good feel for a lot of what they do there, and it would be a really good fit for me," McKneely told said at the time.
At the end of the day, is McKneely going to come home and play for his home state? The Mountaineers have their work cut out for them, as sources indicate ACC powerhouse programs Louisville and UNC have jumped to the forefront on his recruitment.
But crazier things have happened. We also would not hold our breath. A program that has missed the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons and is dealing with what will be their fourth new head coach in four seasons might not be the ideal destination, hometown connection or not.
In an alternative universe, it would be nice to currently have a basketball program stable enough to convince the former number-one prospect for West Virginia to play in front of his home state. However, WVU might not be in the best spot to make the move happen.
Wherever McKneely lands, however, the native West Virginian will bring a consistent scoring presence along with the ability to control an offense at the power conference level.