After years of knee rehab and limited court time, Virginia’s Elijah Gertrude exploded for 11 points on 3-of-5 from three-point range against Richmond last Friday, playing 17 crucial minutes, more than some of his highly touted teammates. This isn’t just a good exhibition performance, folks. This is a guy who’s finally healthy and showing everyone why he was a top-40 national prospect when he committed to Tony Bennett back in 2022.
From Four-Star Recruit to Forever Waiting
Think about the journey this kid has had. Gertrude, a 6-foot-4 guard from Jersey City, N.J., arrived in Charlottesville as a four-star recruit, per 247Sports, but he spent most of his career just waiting. He waited on a knee that needed to be rebuilt twice. He waited behind a backcourt that ripped off 30 wins. And when he *did* get on the floor, it felt like the outcome was already sealed, and he was just getting garbage time. He’s the last scholarship holdover from the Bennett era, and for good reason. The dude’s got heart.
His freshman year in 2023-24 was supposed to be a redshirt season, given he tore his ACL before his senior year of high school and was still building the leg back. But then backup point guard Dante Harris rolled an ankle, and Bennett tossed Gertrude into the fire against No. 14 Texas A&M on November 29, 2023. For a month, he looked like the real deal, averaging 13.3 minutes and dropping a career-high 13 points against NC Central. He flashed those defensive tools that made him so coveted, averaging 3.4 steals and 2.2 blocks per 40 minutes in that stretch. But then, poof, his role faded. From January on, he played just 6.8 minutes a game, shot 6-of-26 from the field, and finished the season with 3.4 points in 16 appearances. Then the unthinkable happened: his knee gave out again. On April 30, 2024, he re-tore the same right ACL, with additional damage, hitting a manhole cover on a scooter near Memorial Gymnasium. Surgery in May 2024 meant missing all of 2024-25. Last season, under Odom, he was still trying to get his legs back, and after an early look in the first four games where he shot 5-of-14, the crowded backcourt pushed him out, limiting him to 4.6 minutes over his final 13 appearances. Brutal, right?
The Comeback Is Real: Exhibition Breakout Signals Huge Season Ahead
But this preseason, baby, it’s different. Gertrude looks like a completely new player. He led Virginia with 10 points in a loss to Vanderbilt in Charleston, and then, against Richmond, he dropped 11 on 3-of-5 from three while playing 17 minutes, more than Jurian Dixon, Chance Mallory, or Nolan Adekunle. Coach Odom isn’t holding back on VirginiaSports.com, saying, “He’s shooting the ball much better. He’s handling the ball much better. He’s defending at a high level. He’s a guy that we’re gonna count on this season.” That’s high praise from the coach, and it’s earned.
After three years of injuries and limited minutes, Gertrude is finally healthy, and these two exhibitions are screaming that he can win a share of the backup minutes at the two spot. The key for him, though? Staying within himself, knocking down those open threes, and staying out of foul trouble. If he can do that, this season could be a massive breakout for Elijah Gertrude, and everyone in college basketball is about to find out what Virginia fans already knew he could be. Get ready for a show!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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