%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20id%3D%22Layer_1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20160.5%2021.5%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%20160.5%2021.5%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%23F84C1E%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22GUIDES%22%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M92.2%2C21.2l-6.5-10v10h-2.8V7h3.5l5.9%2C9.4V7h2.8v14.2H92.2z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M106.7%2C16.3c0%2C2.9-2.3%2C5.2-5.2%2C5.2c-2.9%2C0-5.2-2.3-5.2-5.2s2.3-5.2%2C5.2-5.2C104.3%2C11.1%2C106.7%2C13.4%2C106.7%2C16.3z%0A%09%09%20M104%2C16.3c0.2-1.4-0.7-2.7-2.1-2.9s-2.7%2C0.7-2.9%2C2.1c0%2C0.3%2C0%2C0.5%2C0%2C0.8c-0.2%2C1.4%2C0.7%2C2.7%2C2.1%2C2.9s2.7-0.7%2C2.9-2.1%0A%09%09C104%2C16.8%2C104%2C16.5%2C104%2C16.3z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M116%2C11.4l2.1%2C6.3l1.8-6.3h2.7l-3.1%2C9.8h-2.7l-2.3-6.7l-2.3%2C6.7h-2.7l-3.2-9.8h2.8l1.8%2C6.3l2.2-6.3L116%2C11.4z%22%0A%09%09%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st1%22%20d%3D%22M149.9%2C7.5l10.4-7c0.1-0.1%2C0.1-0.2%2C0.1-0.3c0-0.1-0.1-0.1-0.2-0.1h-29c-1.6%2C0-2.1%2C0.9-2.1%2C2.5V21%0A%09%09c0%2C0.8%2C2.9-2.1%2C5.4-4.7h25.6c0.1%2C0%2C0.2-0.1%2C0.3-0.2c0-0.1%2C0-0.3-0.1-0.3l-10.3-7c-0.4-0.3-0.5-0.8-0.2-1.1%0A%09%09C149.8%2C7.5%2C149.9%2C7.5%2C149.9%2C7.5L149.9%2C7.5z%20M138.4%2C5.4c0%2C0.1-0.1%2C0.1-0.1%2C0.1h-4v1.9h3.5c0.1%2C0%2C0.1%2C0.1%2C0.1%2C0.1v1.6%0A%09%09c0%2C0.1-0.1%2C0.1-0.1%2C0.1h-3.5v3.3c0%2C0.1-0.1%2C0.1-0.1%2C0.1h-1.8c-0.1%2C0-0.1-0.1-0.1-0.1V3.7c0-0.1%2C0.1-0.1%2C0.1-0.1h5.9%0A%09%09c0.1%2C0%2C0.1%2C0.1%2C0.1%2C0.1V5.4z%20M147.7%2C12.6c0%2C0.1-0.1%2C0.1-0.1%2C0.1h-1.9c0%2C0-0.1%2C0-0.1-0.1l-4-5.9v5.8c0%2C0.1-0.1%2C0.1-0.1%2C0.1h-1.9%0A%09%09c-0.1%2C0-0.1-0.1-0.1-0.1V3.7c0-0.1%2C0.1-0.1%2C0.1-0.1h2.3c0%2C0%2C0.1%2C0%2C0.1%2C0.1l3.7%2C5.5V3.7c0-0.1%2C0.1-0.1%2C0.1-0.1h1.8%0A%09%09c0.1%2C0%2C0.1%2C0.1%2C0.1%2C0.1L147.7%2C12.6z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M0%2C14c-0.1-4%2C3-7.3%2C6.9-7.4c0.1%2C0%2C0.2%2C0%2C0.3%2C0c4%2C0%2C6%2C2.4%2C6.6%2C4.7l-2.6%2C0.8c-0.4-1.8-2.1-3-3.9-2.9%0A%09%09c-2.4%2C0-4.4%2C1.9-4.4%2C4.4c0%2C0.1%2C0%2C0.3%2C0%2C0.4c-0.2%2C2.4%2C1.7%2C4.5%2C4.1%2C4.7c0.1%2C0%2C0.2%2C0%2C0.4%2C0c1.8%2C0.1%2C3.5-1.1%2C4-2.9l2.6%2C0.8%0A%09%09c-0.8%2C3-3.5%2C5-6.6%2C4.8c-3.9%2C0.1-7.2-3-7.3-6.9C0%2C14.3%2C0%2C14.2%2C0%2C14z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M17.2%2C15.4l2.4-0.4c0.6-0.1%2C0.7-0.4%2C0.7-0.7c0-0.7-0.5-1.3-1.7-1.3c-1-0.1-1.8%2C0.6-1.9%2C1.6c0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%0A%09%09l-2.4-0.5c0.2-1.5%2C1.6-3.2%2C4.2-3.2c3.1%2C0%2C4.3%2C1.8%2C4.3%2C3.7v4.8c0%2C0.5%2C0%2C1%2C0.1%2C1.5h-2.5c-0.1-0.4-0.1-0.8-0.1-1.2%0A%09%09c-0.7%2C1-1.8%2C1.5-2.9%2C1.5c-1.7%2C0.2-3.2-1.1-3.4-2.8c0%2C0%2C0-0.1%2C0-0.1C14.3%2C16.7%2C15.6%2C15.7%2C17.2%2C15.4z%20M20.4%2C17.1v-0.4L18.2%2C17%0A%09%09c-0.7%2C0-1.2%2C0.6-1.2%2C1.2c0%2C0.6%2C0.5%2C1.2%2C1.2%2C1.1c0%2C0%2C0.1%2C0%2C0.1%2C0c1.1%2C0.1%2C2.1-0.7%2C2.2-1.8C20.4%2C17.4%2C20.4%2C17.3%2C20.4%2C17.1z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M30.1%2C21.1h-2.7l-4-9.8h2.9l2.4%2C6.6l2.4-6.6h2.8L30.1%2C21.1z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M36.7%2C15.4l2.4-0.4c0.6-0.1%2C0.7-0.4%2C0.7-0.7c0-0.7-0.5-1.3-1.7-1.3c-1-0.1-1.8%2C0.6-1.9%2C1.6c0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%0A%09%09L34%2C14.2c0.2-1.5%2C1.6-3.2%2C4.2-3.2c3.2%2C0%2C4.3%2C1.8%2C4.3%2C3.7v4.8c0%2C0.5%2C0%2C1%2C0.1%2C1.5h-2.5c-0.1-0.4-0.1-0.8-0.1-1.2%0A%09%09c-0.7%2C1-1.8%2C1.5-2.9%2C1.5c-1.7%2C0.2-3.2-1.1-3.4-2.8c0%2C0%2C0-0.1%2C0-0.1C33.8%2C16.7%2C35.1%2C15.7%2C36.7%2C15.4z%20M39.9%2C17.1v-0.4L37.7%2C17%0A%09%09c-0.7%2C0-1.2%2C0.6-1.2%2C1.2c0%2C0.6%2C0.5%2C1.2%2C1.2%2C1.1c0%2C0%2C0.1%2C0%2C0.1%2C0c1.1%2C0.1%2C2.1-0.7%2C2.2-1.8C40%2C17.4%2C39.9%2C17.3%2C39.9%2C17.1z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M44.1%2C21.1V6.6h2.7v14.5H44.1z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M49.8%2C6.4c0.9%2C0%2C1.6%2C0.7%2C1.7%2C1.6c0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0c0%2C0.9-0.7%2C1.6-1.7%2C1.6c-0.9%2C0-1.6-0.7-1.6-1.6%0A%09%09C48.1%2C7.1%2C48.9%2C6.4%2C49.8%2C6.4C49.8%2C6.4%2C49.8%2C6.4%2C49.8%2C6.4z%20M48.5%2C21.1v-9.8h2.7v9.8H48.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M61.7%2C18.3c-0.6%2C1.9-2.5%2C3.2-4.5%2C3.1c-2.8%2C0.1-5.1-2.1-5.1-4.9c0-0.1%2C0-0.3%2C0-0.4c-0.1-2.8%2C2.1-5.1%2C4.8-5.2%0A%09%09c0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0.1%2C0c3.1%2C0%2C4.9%2C1.9%2C4.9%2C5.1c0%2C0.4%2C0%2C0.8%2C0%2C0.8h-7.1c0.1%2C1.3%2C1.2%2C2.3%2C2.5%2C2.2c1%2C0.1%2C1.9-0.5%2C2.3-1.5L61.7%2C18.3z%0A%09%09%20M59.2%2C15.1c0-1.1-0.9-2-2-2c-0.1%2C0-0.1%2C0-0.2%2C0c-1.1%2C0-2.1%2C0.8-2.2%2C1.9H59.2z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M68.9%2C13.9c-0.3-0.1-0.5-0.1-0.8-0.1c-1.4%2C0-2.6%2C0.7-2.6%2C2.8v4.5h-2.7v-9.8h2.6v1.5c0.6-1%2C1.7-1.6%2C2.8-1.5%0A%09%09c0.2%2C0%2C0.4%2C0%2C0.6%2C0L68.9%2C13.9z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st0%22%20d%3D%22M71%2C17.8c0.1%2C0.9%2C0.9%2C1.6%2C1.8%2C1.5c0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0c0.9%2C0%2C1.3-0.5%2C1.3-1s-0.3-0.8-1.1-1L71.7%2C17%0A%09%09c-1.9-0.4-2.8-1.6-2.8-2.9c0.1-1.9%2C1.8-3.3%2C3.7-3.2c0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0c2.8%2C0%2C3.8%2C1.8%2C3.9%2C2.8l-2.2%2C0.5c-0.1-0.8-0.8-1.4-1.6-1.3%0A%09%09c-0.7%2C0-1.3%2C0.4-1.3%2C1s0.4%2C0.8%2C0.9%2C0.9l1.4%2C0.3c1.9%2C0.4%2C2.9%2C1.6%2C2.9%2C3c0%2C1.6-1.2%2C3.2-3.8%2C3.2c-3%2C0-4-1.9-4.1-3L71%2C17.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
Virginia Basketball Lands Commitment From Kansas State Transfer Dai Dai Ames
Virginia strikes again in the transfer portal. UVA filled its final scholarship spot for the 2024-2025 season with another transfer pickup as Kansas State guard Dai Dai Ames committed to Virginia on Wednesday morning, as first reported by ESPN's Jeff Borzello.
Kansas State transfer Dai Dai Ames has committed to Virginia, his agent Jack Lieb of Fraction told ESPN. Tony Bennett gets a former ESPN 100 prospect who averaged 5.2 points and 2.0 assists as a freshman with the Wildcats.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) May 15, 2024
A 6'1" guard from Chicago, Illinois, Ames appeared in 31 games as a true freshman this season at Kansas State, including 16 starts. In a little over 20 minutes played per game, Ames averaged 5.2 points and 2.0 assists per game and shot 32.9% from three on 2.3 attempts. Ames started the last 13 games of the season and played his best basketball down the stretch, scoring in double figures in three of the last five games.
In what was ultimately his final game as a Wildcat, Ames scored a season-high 16 points and dished out five assists against Iowa in the NIT. He made six of his eight field goal attempts and knocked down four of his five threes. Though his season-long numbers weren't gaudy due to limited playing time as a true freshman, his strong play late in the season when his minutes increased suggests a very bright future.
Watch some highlights from his freshman season at Kansas State in the video below:
Ames was a consensus four-star prospect coming out of high school and was a top 20 point guard in the class of 2023 and the No. 2 overall recruit in the state of Illinois. As a senior at Kenwood Academy High School in Chicago, Ames averaged 21.4 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.4 steals per game and was named a 2023 Jordan Brand Classic All-American.
UVA hosted Ames for an official visit last week and he made his decision on Wednesday morning, committing to Virginia with three years of eligibility remaining. Ames is Virginia's fifth transfer addition of the offseason, joining Florida State guard Jalen Warley, Duke forward TJ Power, San Diego State forward Elijah Saunders, and Vanderbilt forward Carter Lang, a Charlottesville native who is joining the Cavaliers as a walk-on next season.
Here's Virginia's current scholarship roster for the 2024-2025 season sorted by position and including details on each player's eligibility remaining:
PG: Jalen Warley (1 year), Dai Dai Ames (3 years) Christian Bliss (4 years)
SG: Isaac McKneely (2 years), Elijah Gertrude (3 years), Ishan Sharma (4 years)
SF: Andrew Rohde (2 years), Taine Murray (1 year)
PF: TJ Power (3 years), Elijah Saunders (2 years), Jacob Cofie (4 years)
C: Blake Buchanan (3 years), Anthony Robinson (4 years)
Scholarship spots used: 13/13
More Virginia Men's Basketball News and Content
Virginia Basketball Transfer Portal Contact Live Tracker
Virginia Basketball Adds Vanderbilt Transfer Forward Carter Lang
San Diego State Transfer Elijah Saunders Commits to Virginia Basketball
Duke Forward TJ Power Transfers to Virginia Basketball
Report: Virginia Hosting Kansas State Guard Transfer Dai Dai Ames
Former Virginia Wing Leon Bond III Transfers to Northern Iowa
Virginia Basketball Lands First Transfer Commitment From FSU Guard Jalen Warley
MATT NEWTON
Managing Editor and Publisher, CavaliersNow Email: mattnewton@virginia.eduTwitter: @mattynewtssWebsite | LinkedIn | Instagram Matt Newton is the managing editor and publisher at CavaliersNow. He has been covering UVA athletics since 2019 and has been the managing editor at CavaliersNow since launching the site in August 2021. Matt covers all things UVA sports, including Virginia basketball and football news and recruiting, former Wahoos in the pros, and coverage of all 23 of the NCAA Division I sports teams at the University of Virginia. A native of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Matt grew up a huge Philadelphia sports fan, but has also been a UVA sports fanatic his entire life thanks to his parents, who are alums of the University of Virginia. Matt followed in his parents' footsteps and attended UVA from 2017-2021, graduating with a degree in Media Studies and a minor in Economics in May of 2021.