Most — if not all — Virginia men’s basketball fans are accustomed to seeing No. 2 donned by Reece Beekman, a program legend. But like most hallmarks of this program these days, things change. No. 2 is now worn by junior forward Elijah Saunders, who shares little in common with Beekman, except that they both represent the Cavaliers with pride and class.
In this program, a Cavalier who embodies the five pillars of humility, passion, unity, servanthood and thankfulness will always win — regardless of the final score of any given game. Saunders’ journey has been far from linear, but his experience, selflessness and talent might just be the key to a successful season.
After former Coach Tony Bennett’s departure thrust Virginia into the national spotlight, many were quick to write off the 2024-25 Cavaliers. Nevertheless, Saunders and company have been humming along to the tune of a perfect 3-0 start. Friday’s victory over Villanova provided an opportunity to win on national television — and it became clear that Virginia has a few promising pieces like Saunders.
“I feel like something our team wants to prove is that even though we lost our coach leading up to the season, we still have a really good team just improving every day,” Saunders said.
This team has certainly demonstrated that it is on the right trajectory. And Saunders is at the core of it all, even though he is new to the program. He transferred to Virginia in May after spending two years at San Diego State, where he reached the national championship game in 2023 and the Sweet Sixteen in 2024. He left San Diego and came to Charlottesville in order to join a program with better development and a more developed NIL scene in the hopes of improving his chances at playing in the NBA.
Unsurprisingly, the University is very different from what Saunders was used to. Adjusting to a new school has been a challenging but rewarding experience for Saunders.
“It's been a lot, you know, especially moving all the way across the country,” Saunders said in an interview with The Cavalier Daily. You know, me and Jacob [Cofie] talked a lot about how much different the east coast is than the west coast. But I feel like I've done a good job of adjusting. [There are] really good people around us.”
Just like Saunders, this program is also on the early goings of a new chapter post-Bennett. Thankfully, the five pillars are clearly alive and well under Interim Coach Ron Sanchez. Even before Bennett retired, it was Sanchez who primarily recruited Saunders back in the offseason.
“Immediately, after talking to [Sanchez], I could tell that this was somewhere that I wanted to be,” Saunders said.
Still, this team has endured a tumultuous offseason, and Saunders has walked into a rocky situation. Virginia’s embarrassing loss in the First Four back in March still looms large, as does the fact that the Cavaliers have not won an NCAA Tournament game since the 2019 national championship.
Across the entire roster, only two players have ever won an NCAA Tournament game, and both of them are transfers. Sophomore forward TJ Power won three last year at Duke. Saunders has won seven — highlighted by a national championship appearance with San Diego State in the 2022-23 campaign. Saunders has played in a bevy of postseason games, while no other Cavalier except Power has ever played in the Round of 32. Saunders’ experience matters, especially as these new-look Cavaliers embark on a strange journey.
The path back to the NCAA Tournament leaves little margin for error, but if anyone on this roster has what it takes to lead, it is Saunders. On a strenuous journey, Saunders’ experience and talent could carry this team through a stormy night and into a promising dawn for the new era of this program.
And just as Saunders wanted to start a new chapter and join Virginia, this program wanted him as well. At a muscular and athletic 6-foot-8, Saunders is the prototypical small forward that the Cavaliers have sorely lacked since the days of Trey Murphy III in 2021. Saunders and Virginia have been a perfect match, especially on the leadership front. In talking with Saunders, he exudes Beekman’s inspirational leadership style. Saunders explained that sacrifice is key, as playing for the name on the front of a jersey is always more important than the name on the back.
“[It is about] sacrificing yourself — that was one of the biggest things that our older guys talked about that year,” Saunders said. “...Sometimes the way the team needs you to play to win is not always the way you want to play. We've got a younger team, and guys accepting that role, that's going to be big.”
That process of figuring out the team dynamic is essential — and it is going to have to happen immediately. The Cavaliers’ upcoming schedule is an absolute nightmare, and they will have to be at their best. They face No. 11 Tennessee Thursday, and eventually No. 10 North Carolina, No. 12 Duke, No. 21 Florida and other daunting opponents throughout the next two months.
Now on a different coast, plus over a year and a half removed from the 2023 Final Four, Saunders finds himself as a core leader of the Cavaliers — and that arduous schedule awaits. This program has been through a lot, but with Saunders’ veteran experience, there is a promising path forward. Perhaps that path ends with Virginia’s first win at the NCAA Tournament since the 2019 national championship.
Read More
Men’s basketball hangs tough but ultimately falls to No. 21 Memphis
By Emory Huffman | 17 hours agoVirginia nearly snatched a monumental win against an off-color ranked opponent.
Women’s basketball breaks its four-game losing streak, wins against Maryland-Eastern Shore
By Victoria Blankenship | YesterdayVirginia picked up its first win since Nov. 28.
BAXTER: Men’s basketball is outsmarting itself
By Thomas Baxter | YesterdayThe best three-point shooting team in the ACC just needs to shoot more.
