Power Play: How TJ Power fits at Virginia

How the Duke transfer projects as a volume shooter for UVA

One of the themes of the ACC from this spring/summer transfer portal window was the amount of intra-conference transfers. Some of this development had to do with the unravelling of Louisville, which turned over its entire roster. NC State landed Mike James and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield. Speedy point guard Ty-Laur Johnson leapt for Wake Forest.

Outside of fellow ACC programs raiding Louisville’s roster, Jalen Warley left FSU for Virginia. Jaeden Zackery spent three seasons with Boston College, but now plays for Clemson. Duke added former Syracuse forward and one of the best defensive prospects in the league, Maliq Brown. Jaden Schutt, after two seasons with Duke, is now at Virginia Tech, where he projects as an ideal fit into Mike Young’s motion offense. Lynn Kidd, one of the better low-post scorers in the league, left Blacksburg and is now at Miami.

Expansion brought on some of this same movement, too: Jaylen Blakes (Duke) now plays for Stanford. Boopie Miller left Wake Forest for SMU.

There were even some indirect ACC-to-ACC additions. UNC landed Ven-Allen Lubin, who spent the 2023-24 season with Vanderbilt, but started his career at Notre Dame. After two seasons with UNC and a year at Georgetown, Dontrez Styles is now with NC State. Lucas Taylor, now with Syracuse, went through a similar trajectory: two years at Wake Forest and one year at Georgia State.

One of the highest-rated players to move from one ACC program to another in 2024 was forward TJ Power, a former 5-star and Top 20 prospect in the 2023 class. Power departed Duke for Virginia.

The 6-foot-9, 216-pound Power struggled to find reliable minutes in Duke’s rotation last season — despite the Blue Devils facing a clear need for stretch shooting in their frontcourt. Power played just 181 minutes (92 in ACC play), and he attempted 51 field goals, with 42 of those shots coming from beyond the arc (15-of-42 3PA, 35.7 3P%).

Power will need to improve his defense in space — whether he’s guarding the ball, navigating screens or being put in rotation. Generally, he knows where to be from a team defense standpoint, which was something Duke coach Jon Scheyer mentioned. But it’s the execution of those rotations and lateral movements that limited his role in Durham.

That said, he’s a shooter with size and good movement skills. This is a nice relocation from Power on the back side of the play: the double team gets the defense in rotation and the skip pass forces a closeout to Jeremy Roach. Power slides to the corner for a wide-open triple.

(Power is also an industrious worker. After every Duke home game last season, Power would be back out on the floor of Cameron Indoor Stadium, with Jared McCain, getting shots up.)

Here are more relocation skills for Power — this time against Virginia. Duke runs “Floppy” action for Tyrese Proctor, which flows into empty-side pick-and-roll. Proctor rejects the screen and beats Isaac McKneely off the dribble. With the dunker spot occupied (Sean Stewart), Power shakes up from the corner to the wing — creating a passing window for Proctor.

Those types of tools make Power a plug-and-play fit for Virginia’s motion offense. Let’s take a moment to see what that could look like.

The Menu

After posting an offense that ranked outside the Top 200 in adjusted efficiency for the second time in five seasons, it’s worth considering potential scheme adjustments for Tony Bennett’s offense. This is something he’s tried before.

By this point, Virginia’s offensive menu is known. It’s really about executing the base sets correctly, playing hard and avoid mistakes. Of course, there are some clever after-timeout and situational alignments, when game flow allows for more choreographed sets or requires late-game quick-hitting actions.

Beyond that, there are some spread pick-and-roll concepts, which would tap into the ball-handling abilities of Warley, Dante Harris, and Dae Dae Ames. (The offseason injury to Elijah Gertrude is a colossal bummer.)

For years now, Bennett has also leaned on Inside Triangle/Motion (middle third) concepts as an important form of offense.

Blocker Mover, however, is the base.

Blocker Mover

The continuous series of pindowns, flare screens and all the little wrinkles that come out of it create Virginia’s patient, foundational approach to offense.

It’s hard to imagine this core concept changing much if at all, especially with a good deal of roster turnover in Charlottesville.

As far as Power is concerned, though, there are reasons to be bullish about his usage in Blocker Mover.

Given the current constraints of the roster, Power likely projects to spent most of his time at the 4, although that’s open for debate. He could slot in as a 3 as well, despite the different roles those two positions occupy in UVA’s scheme — on both ends.

Power split time between the two forward spots as a freshman, although positionally that can be fluid in Duke’s system, especially on defense (switch heavy). According to Pivot Analysis, Power played 85 minutes (+68) with two of Kyle Filipowski, Mark Mitchell, Sean Stewart and Ryan Young on the floor with him. Essentially, these were the minutes with Power as the de facto 3-man.

Regardless of position, if Power shots it well, Bennett will need him on the floor.

During the 2023-24 season, Virginia played 103 minutes with PF/C Jake Groves on the floor at the same time as Ryan Dunn (a non-shooting forward) and either Jordan Minor or Blake Buchanan at the 5, per CBB Analytics. UVA went +6 in those minutes. The lineup of Reece Beekman, McKneely, Groves, Dunn and Minor posted an offensive rating of 111 points per 100 possession in 48 minutes. It’s a small sample, but that’s positive.

When those lineups worked together in Virginia’s “Sides” setup, it meant Dunn and Minor operating as the blocker/screeners and Groves and McKneely working as the off-ball movers, along with Beekman.

Here’s an end-of-game possession at Clemson. When UVA has two or more threats to shoot coming off the down and flare screens, it makes these long possessions more difficult to cover. Chase defenders must be ready to track around a handful of screens, and the screen defenders must be ready to help out on BOTH off-ball targets, instead of keying in on only one.

McKneely is an incredible movement shooter; according to Synergy Sports, McKneely shot 54 percent on 2-point attempts and 47 percent on 3-point attempts off the catch last season. He already is the next great wing shooter for the program — following the footsteps of Joe Harris, Malcolm Brogdon, Kyle Guy, Ty Jerome, Sam Hauser, Trey Murphy and Armaan Franklin, among others. His importance to next season’s offense cannot be overstated. McKneely’s movement will be imperative, especially with a changing of the guard at the point guard position. Any improvements as an on-ball scorer would go a long way, too.

The 2020-21 UVA team is essentially an outlier in terms of how many very good tall shooters it possessed. The 6-foot-8 Hauser and 6-foot-9 Murphy are two of the best shooters on the planet. Both guys are set to earn incredible amounts of money in the NBA, too. Huff was an excellent 3-point bomber for a 7-footer: quick release and good range. After a good summer in Vegas, Huff signed a two-way contract with the scout-savvy Memphis Grizzlies.

Hauser was the primary off-ball mover in the offense, similar to how McKneely was used last season. The current Boston Celtics forward was a beast in the midrange, although he shot it well from every level of the floor.

When matched with Georgia Tech, Josh Pastner place Jose Alvrado, an undersized but incredibly aggressive and clever defender, on Hauser. Alvarado is a pest chasing guys off screens, but Hauser is too tall and his touch is too good. When he exits the screen with room to catch the ball, it’s automatic: this is going up.

Here’s a similar setup vs. NC State. Hauser operates at the 3 as both UVA and NC State feature lineups with two 5s: Huff, Francisco Caffaro, Manny Bates, and DJ Funderburk. This time, Hauser reads the coverage and fades the down screen from Caffaro — cutting to the corner as Jericole Hellems cheats over the top.

Power didn’t receive much of off-screen usage at Duke, but it’s clearly a part of his repertoire.

This is Duke’s “Thru STS” action — Caleb Foster cutting through to the left wing as Power sets the baseline cross screen for Ryan Young and then comes off the pindown (screen-the-screener, STS) from Mitchell.

Power misses the shot, but you can see the movement and relocation abilities.

Pindown + Pop

While that 2020-21 UVA squad was jump shot-reliant and vulnerable against switches — the 21-point loss at FSU comes to mind — it was fun to watch the three big shooters coordinate with one another in screening actions. It was especially satisfying when the Hauser and Murphy could combine for one of Blocker Mover’s top secondary reads: pindown-and-pop.

This is where 4s and 5s in Virginia’s system can find open 3-pointers.

In the clip above, Miami’s power forward is in drop coverage, which means he’s in the lane as Hauser curls Murphy’s down screen. The chase defender sticks with Hauser as the drop defender remains in the paint — leaving Murphy all alone as he pops out.

To start the GT game, Bennett flipped the roles: Hauser, with Alvarado starting on him, is one of the screeners and Murphy is one of the perimeter movers. Murphy comes off a flare from Hauser and into the re-screen pindown. As he curls, Hauser pops; Alvarado does well to show and recover. But as Hauser receives the pass, Murphy relocates back beyond the arc and Jordan Usher doesn’t stick with him, which is a mistake.

Virginia has generated these types of looks for years. It can really hum if the guard coming off the screen is able to draw two defenders on the ball — then the shooter popping out can be wide open.

After Guy runs around, Ty Jerome tight curls a down screen from De’Andre Hunter. Jerome’s drive forces help and Hunter is all alone in the corner as a result.

This feels like a great way to synchronize McKneely and Power together. McKneely worked well with Groves in this action last season, too. From Blocker Mover: this is a delightful hook pass from McKneely to hit Groves in rhythm for the pop 3.

Here, Duke runs its 5-out Zoom action with Power as the 3. Mitchell initiates in the middle of the floor, Power sets the pindown for McCain into the pitch-and-screen action with Mitchell. Dunn hedges the screen, which puts two defenders on McCain, a dangerous shooter, and leaves Taine Murray 1-on-2 vs. Mitchell’s short roll and Power popping/spacing to the corner.

Those pop actions off the pindown from UVA are potent because they force screen defenders to help and recover back out. The pop also creates a long closeout for defenders who may not be super comfortable playing in space. When long, sloppy closeouts occur, the pop shooter must be ready to break contain and put the ball on the deck to attack.

Once again, McKneely draws two and puts West Virginia center Jesse Edwards in a tough spot with Groves popping out. Groves drives the closeout and scores.

During his one year at Duke, Power didn’t show a lot of catch-and-go potential, but he didn’t have ample opportunities either. That said, there were still some flashes.

Power ghosts this screen vs. Pittsburgh and attacks the rotating defense — getting into the paint and hitting Stewart in the dunker spot.

On this possession, Duke runs spread pick-and-roll and Proctor is able to turn the corner, which forces help at the rim. Proctor kicks to Power and he keeps the advantage chain humming: pump-and-go and the dish to Stewart for 2.

The pop isn’t the only secondary read for the player coming off the pindown in Blocker Mover. There’s also the weak-side flare — or “Boomerang” — screen.

Kihei Clark curls this screen from Caffaro and gets into the paint, which pulls in help defenders, as Franklin comes off the flare from Jayden Gardner.

If McKneely and Power are able to work as two of the movers, these types of reads should be on the table, especially as comfort and chemistry grow.

Inside Triangle

Similar to its “Sides” offense, Virginia’s Inside Motion/Triangle offense should allow Power to work in off-ball tandem actions with McKneely and also score in the midrange, something he never really had the opportunity for at Duke.

Down at Clemson: here’s that setup with McKneely, Groves and Minor as the triangle in that middle third of the floor. Beekman initiates. Dunn spaces to the weak side.

This 3 from Groves comes early in the clock for Virginia. He gets away with a bit of a shove, but that push creates separation and he cuts out behind the down screen from Minor.

These screening actions flow from one to another. Certain setups can trigger staggered screens or post splits. After a player screens, though, they’ll look to duck-in or pop. Keep the movement going.

Here, the possessions starts with Gardner setting a pindown for Ben Vander Plas. The ball kicks to McKneely on the right wing. This launches into staggered screens for Franklin, curling down the right side of the lane. Franklin’s movement draws Andrew Carr’s attention away from BVP — who pops out for an open 3.

This offense is a great way to spring screen-the-screener action. From the NC A&T game last season: Harris, Groves and Andrew Rohde form the triangle, with Dunn on the wing and Murray spaced to the weak-side corner.

Groves sets a “Rip” screen (a back screen) for Harris and immediately comes off a pindown from Rohde. The defense is a step behind, Groves attacks the closeout and kicks back out to a popping Rohde for a jumper.

The randomness of this offense makes it tough to defend. Without running a series of continuous, more predictable screens or scripted actions (which can be game-planned for), the flowing motion can create confusion.

At Virginia Tech in the 2022-23 season: Caffaro, Franklin and BVP form the triangle. Caffaro offers a cross screen for Franklin, who takes a step in that direction. Instead of cutting across, Franklin opts to use BVP’s pindown, coming off for a clean catch-and-shoot 3.

Another way to play off that confusion is with re-screen efforts. This is an after-timeout possession against Boston College. Kadin Shedrick sets a slice screen for Beekman and then a back screen for Franklin.

After the initial screen for Franklin, Shedrick flips his angle and quickly sets a re-screen pindown for Franklin. This brings Franklin back up the lane. Franklin would have an open 3, but Jaeden Zackery abandons McKneely in the weak-side corner to help. Franklin sees the long rotation coming and skips to McKneely for an even better look from deep.

Virginia can also play through the post and generate inside-out looks with this motion-based approach.

At Pittsburgh, the triangle is Franklin, Gardner and Shedrick. As Clark initiates on the right wing, it looks as though Gardner will come off a down screen from Franklin — instead the two split off. Gardner cuts to the strong-side block and receives the entry pass from Clack. The triangle remains.

After splitting away from Gardner, Franklin comes off a down screen from Shedrick for a quick catch-and-shoot 3.

Leak Out: Roll, Replace

One of the things Virginia likes to do with its spread pick-and-roll offense is mix in some roll-replace action.

This usually happens with the 4-man, but Bennett will utilize different shooters. As the 5 sets the ball screen for the 1, the 4 starts inside the lane, close to the rim, and leaks back up the floor — replacing the space exited by the screener.

Even if the initial shot isn’t there, the possession can flow into another progression. Hauser receives the pass from Clark and launches into empty-side pick-and-pop action with Casey Morsell.

Here’s Power running that exact same roll-replace action for Duke down at Georgia Tech.

During the 2020-21 season for Virginia, this was a great way to unlock spread pick-and-roll for Huff — by leveraging the gravity of Hauser.

Notre Dame puts two on the ball vs. Clark as Huff dives to the rim. When Hauser lifts up, he brings Nate Laszewski with him, leaving the paint wide open for Huff.

Bennett would move the pieces around last season, at times, placing McKneely in the roll-replace action instead of a non-shooter like Dunn.

Duke has this screen-roll bottled up with Filipowski in drop coverage and Mitchell sagging off Dunn. Proctor sticks with McKneely. Beekman is brilliant, though, and he squeezes a pass into Minor and relocates for the corner jumper. Something out of nothing.

UVA can get creative and add wrinkles to this action — designed to highlight a movement shooter like Power.

Again from the 2020-21 season: Caffaro sets the ball screen for Clark and rolls down the paint. Hauser waits to replace up the floor. Instead of diving all the way to the rim, Caffaro stops in the middle of the paint and sets a down screen for Hauser.

Virginia can also flow into Blocker Mover or Inside Triangle off this action, too.

Huff screens and rolls with Clark as Hauser replaces up the floor. Beekman kicks to Morsell, who recycles it back to Hauser. Now, UVA has its triangle: Hauser passes to Murphy and immediately sets a down screen for Huff, a very difficult action for an opposing center to defend.

Stack/Spain

Virginia will also use a similar alignment to run its stack or “Spain” pick-and-roll action. This play features a back screen from an off-ball player on the opposing center/screen defender, which Rodhe does here for Dunn.

NC State’s defense compresses in the middle and DJ Horne is caught ball-watching off McKneely. Beekman sees the window and hits McKneely with a skip pass for another triple.

Here’s Power working in a similar role to Rohde — Duke’s stack/Spain action vs. Arkansas. Trevon Brazile does an excellent job closing out to Power and denying a good look from deep.

Strong = Staggered

Another alignment frequently used by Virginia is a staggered screen setup, which is known in some basketball circles as “Strong.”

Franklin starts in the right corner at Wake Forest — with Dunn and Vander Plas ready to set the staggered screens. Clark spaces to the left corner. Beekman initiates.

Cameron Hildreth is caught flat-footed as Franklin comes off the consecutive screens, which creates an easy pitch-and-catch opportunity for Beekman and Franklin.

UVA likes to use this setup for a couple different end-of-half specialty plays. I refer to this as “Strong Fan.”

After the staggered screens, the initial screener (Buchanan, in this case) quickly lifts up and sets a flare screen to allow the 4 (Groves) to fan out towards the sideline for a catch-and-shoot 3 as the clock expires.

In the above play, McKneely comes off the staggers from Buchanan and Groves, and Buchanan follows with the flare screen for Groves.

Here’s the same play call from two seasons ago at Louisville — again at the end of the first half. Franklin runs off the staggered screens and Gardner fans for BVP.

Power, in this case, would be in the role of Groves or BVP, with McKneely running off the double screens.

Another play type that’s been a go-to, especially with Beekman, in these situations is something I refer to as “Strong Keep.”

The off-ball shooter runs off the staggered screens, which is dummy action to occupy the help defenders while the point guard attacks 1-on-1 with space in the middle of the floor.

Beekman was excellent at getting downhill one this play type over the last three seasons. From when he took over down the stretch to beat Illinois in 2022: same action, with Beekman getting into the paint and hitting Gardner at the rim.

Without an ace guard like Beekman on the roster, this becomes more difficult, but having multiple spacers and movement shooters is crucial to opening up the floor.

Along with McKneely and Power, it’d be significant for Rohde to bounce-back and at least get into the low-to-mid 30s in terms of 3-point percentage.

Baseline-out-of-bounds: BLOB

Virginia has several baseline-out-of-bounds calls that could also prove useful for Power.

One of the team’s go-to looks starts in a Box set and triggers Flex action: baseline cross screen into a pindown (screen-the-screener).

Here, Beekman enters the ball and then sets a cross screen for Dunn, which is followed by a pindown from Minor. That’s the Flex action.

Once again, it’s the same Flex action vs. Memphis. This time, though, two defenders go with Beekman when he comes off the down screen from Groves, who slips into space and scores on a cut layup.

Good shooters turn into good screeners on offense. It’ll be interesting to see how much Virginia is able to leverage Power as a screener, and if it can open up some of this in-between game, too.

A primary BLOB play type has Virginia come out in a similar setup, but instead of running Flex, there’s just a wide pindown from the 4 or 5 for a shooter.

Dunn is playing the 5 here and he doesn’t have gravity as a screener/shooter; however if these roles have Power screening for McKneely, it could up some good stuff.

Let’s look at one more BLOB set for a quick catch-and-shoot jumper. UVA ran this a bunch with Hauser, too. The Cavaliers start in a Box set and it looks as if Hauser will come off a slice screen from Morsell and cut toward the basket, through the lane.

Hauser stunts in the direction of Morsell but then changes his route — sprinting to the corner off a screen from Caffaro. Once again, he shoots right over Alvarado and hits a 3.

Same set vs. Notre Dame: Murphy lifts to set a slice screen for Hauser, but he opts to run off Huff’s screen and sticks a long 2.

Box/Elevator/Throwback

Finally, during the 2022-23 season, I wrote a piece over at Streaking The Lawn about Bennett/Virginia’s use of the Box set in half-court offense; how it’s a frequent ATO look to create open looks for the team’s top shooter(s). Please check that out if you’re interested.

McKneely will have plenty of opportunities in these sets next season. If Power lives up to his billing as talented volume shooters, he could get looks, too. And if he’s matched vs. opposing, less mobile 4s, that could be a real boon for Virginia’s offense.