After Virginia’s dominating 78-52 win over the rival Hokies, Tony Bennett announced that walk-on Justice Bartley has been awarded a scholarship.
Bennett led his post-game presser with the announcement, explaining that he told Isaiah Wilkins and those around him on the bench in the game’s waning seconds that he would be awarding the scholarship after the game. Bennett noted that Justice “embodies being a servant in our program,” as a “walk-on who does all the little things.”
JUSTICE! What a night! 'Hoos get the win and @justicebartley_ gets a scholarship! #servanthood #Wahoowa pic.twitter.com/j7iCkOlENB
— Virginia Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) January 4, 2018
Bennett told the team to prepare their water bottles so they could spray him when he found out. (Please, let there be video of this!)
Bartley’s big night actually started when he entered late in UVA’s victory and drilled a three-pointer, his first of the season and second of his career. The junior from Georgia walked-on at UVA in 2015; he played at Montroe Christian, Justin Anderson’s alma mater, in high school.
NCAA teams are allowed 13 scholarships, of which Virginia has now used 12. They have two incoming first-years next season (Kody Stattmann and Kihei Clark) and will graduate three seniors (Devon Hall, Isaiah Wilkins, and Nigel Johnson), so Tony Bennett will still have at least two scholarships available for late commits or transfers next year.
Teammate Ty Jerome was stoked about the development.
MY DAWG!!!! You deserve it more than anyone. Incredibly happy for you✊ ✊ https://t.co/H4WUMDNCmU
— Ty Jerome (@TyJerome_) January 4, 2018
Congrats to Justice Bartley on the well-deserved scholarship.