Sophomore guard Elijah Gertrude will miss the upcoming men’s basketball season with a knee injury sustained during an April scooter accident, the program announced Friday.
The accident occurred April 30, and Gertrude underwent repair surgery May 17. The program said in its release that the surgery had been “successful.”
Gertrude, a fluid guard with impressive athleticism, had initially planned to redshirt his freshman year, still recuperating from the ACL injury he suffered during his senior year of high school. But that decision was reversed a few weeks into the 2023-24 season, and Gertrude played in 16 games, averaging 3.4 points and 1.2 rebounds.
He flashed his considerable potential often, converting circus shots and contributing to highlight reels in his limited minutes. But he struggled shooting three-pointers and displayed the rawness that a redshirt year might have solved.
He seemed an intriguing prospect, someone who might transform over the offseason into a more potent and refined facilitator and scorer. As the Virginia fanbase’s bitterness over last season’s ending morphed into excitement over the upcoming one, thoughts of the 6-foot-4 Gertrude engendered enthusiasm and raised expectations.
“He had a solid first season on Grounds and was off to a terrific start in our offseason workouts,” Coach Tony Bennett said in the program’s statement.
The enthusiasm and the expectations fans have for Gertrude will now have to wait, but Bennett has added reinforcement. He scooped up Kansas State sophomore guard Dai Dai Ames and Florida State senior guard Jalen Warley in the transfer portal, and senior guard Dante Harris recently withdrew his name from the transfer portal and will return as a walk-on.
Also returning at the position are junior guard Isaac McKneely, junior guard Andrew Rohde, senior guard Taine Murray and redshirt freshman guard Christian Bliss. That returning talent alongside the incoming transfer haul will reinforce Bennett’s roster in Gertrude’s absence.
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