Virginia Professional Athletes

Virginia Alumni NBA Roundup | Oct. 4–10, 2026

Murphy III Is the Story — and He Knows It

Trey Murphy III isn't just healthy. He's confident in a way he hasn't been allowed to be before.

The 26-year-old Pelicans forward, recovering from shoulder surgery that derailed his rise into New Orleans' unquestioned second option, told reporters he's no longer "apprehensive" about his body — and that All-Star aspirations feel less like wishful thinking and more like a logical next step. For a player whose shooting touch, athleticism, and offensive versatility have always drawn praise, the injury narrative has been the one thing standing between Murphy and the broader recognition his game invites.

Off the court, that recognition is arriving anyway. Murphy recently signed an endorsement deal with New Balance — a milestone he didn't hesitate to credit, at least in part, to teammate Dejounte Murray. Murphy publicly gave Murray his "flowers" for paving the way and helping open the door. It's a revealing moment: a rising star with enough self-awareness to acknowledge the ecosystem around him, and enough profile now that brands are paying attention regardless.

On the floor, the preseason has been a mixed bag so far. Murphy had a disappointing outing in New Orleans' loss to Miami, earning a poor grade alongside Zion Williamson in what was an overall C− performance for the Pelicans. First-year head coach Jamahl Mosley is in the middle of a deliberate cultural reset — emphasizing toughness, accountability, and defensive discipline — and the preseason loss was a reminder that the vision and the execution are still finding each other. Murphy's regular-season form will go a long way toward determining whether this Pelicans retool works. And yes, a Pelicans training camp dunk contest debate is apparently a real thing: Murphy's creativity above the rim earned him a mention among the team's top aerial threats.

Around the Rest of the Wahoo NBA Diaspora

De'Andre Hunter is generating genuine optimism in Sacramento. The Kings forward's injury update ahead of the 2026-27 season has Kings fans excited, with Sports Illustrated noting he's being underrated heading into the year. Hunter, a prototypical 3-and-D wing, could be a legitimate difference-maker for a Kings team still chasing relevance in the Western Conference.

Ryan Dunn is getting his opportunity in Phoenix. The Suns are giving the former Virginia standout another chance to carve out a rotation role, with the organization reportedly prioritizing Dunn's development ahead of other wing options. His athleticism and defensive instincts have always been the pitch — now it's about consistency.

Sam Hauser won't be in uniform for Boston's preseason opener against Cleveland — he's one of eight Celtics sitting out — but his offseason comments from training camp carry weight. The sharpshooter called this the most competitive Celtics camp he's been through in six years, a notable admission from a veteran who's been part of championship-caliber rosters. When he does take the floor, Hauser remains one of the league's most reliable catch-and-shoot threats.

The Virginia pipeline into the NBA is longer than most programs get credit for, with 13 active alumni spread across the league. But right now, all eyes from Charlottesville are pointed toward New Orleans — where Murphy III is trying to turn a healthy shoulder into an All-Star season.

Three Virginia alumni are fighting for NBA paychecks this preseason — and the most compelling story belongs to a guy who's already secured his.

The Loyal Cavalier: Gill's Seven-Year Run in D.C.

Anthony Gill is back in Washington for a seventh season with the Wizards, making him the franchise's longest-tenured on-court contributor. That kind of loyalty is rare anywhere in professional sports, rarer still on a rebuilding team that has cycled through front offices, coaching staffs, and rosters wholesale. Gill revealed his reasoning for returning centers on the organizational relationships he's built over the years — connections that outlasted even the Russell Westbrook era, about which Gill spoke fondly this week. Westbrook, now a future Hall of Famer in retirement, shared the floor with Gill during one of D.C.'s more turbulent stretches, and Gill's reflection on those years says a lot about how he's navigated a career that most observers wouldn't have predicted lasting this long.

The Wizards' 2026-27 training camp roster is stacked with high-profile names — Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Khris Middleton, AJ Dybantsa — and Gill's spot on that forward line is a testament to durability and organizational trust rather than star power. He's the connective tissue in a locker room being rebuilt around a wave of premium youth talent.

Beekman Gets His Shot

Reece Beekman, 24, is in the same building on a different kind of deal. Washington signed the Virginia point guard to an Exhibit 10 contract, giving him a training camp audition alongside the full roster. Beekman went undrafted out of Virginia in 2024 after four seasons with the Cavaliers, and this is his shot to prove he belongs at the next level. Exhibit 10 deals don't guarantee a roster spot — they're essentially a structured tryout with a financial incentive to land on the team's G League affiliate — but they're a legitimate foot in the door. The fact that Washington signed him rather than a team closer to contention actually works in Beekman's favor: more reps, more opportunity, more runway.

The Wizards' roster announcement listed Beekman alongside three others in the Exhibit 10 group. He'll need to separate himself quickly.

Huff Grinding in Indiana

Up in Indianapolis, Jay Huff is in camp with the Pacers. Day 3 of Indiana's training camp drew attention to Huff among others as the team began shaping its frontcourt depth. The Virginia center has bounced around the NBA fringe since going undrafted, and each preseason is a fresh argument for a roster spot. The Pacers, coming off a deep postseason run in recent years, have real depth to compete against — but Huff's size and shooting ability from the five position give him a profile worth tracking.

The Wider Virginia NBA Footprint

It's worth noting the Cavaliers' NBA presence doesn't stop at three players in camp. Ryan Dunn had his option picked up by the Phoenix Suns before the season, locking in the young wing's spot in Phoenix's developing core. The brief also logs Sam Hauser in Boston, De'Andre Hunter in Sacramento, Trey Murphy in New Orleans, and others scattered across the league — a quiet testament to how Tony Bennett's program produced NBA-caliber talent even as it prioritized a system over individual showcase stats.

But this week belongs to Gill, Beekman, and Huff. One veteran proving longevity is its own kind of excellence; two younger Cavaliers proving the pipeline is still open.

The Trade Buzz Around Trey Murphy III

The NBA offseason rarely sleeps, and for Virginia alumni watchers, this week's most notable story is centered firmly in New Orleans — or more accurately, on the rumors threatening to move Trey Murphy III out of it.

A trade proposal circulating in NBA circles would send Murphy, the Pelicans' ascending 3-and-D wing, to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for center Jalen Duren. The idea puts Murphy at the intersection of multiple team rebuilds: Detroit looking to add perimeter shooting and positional versatility, while New Orleans navigates a franchise in flux. Murphy had already been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers before this Pistons concept emerged, underscoring just how wide the market for his services has become.

That level of trade interest is a double-edged sword for New Orleans. On one hand, it confirms that Murphy has carved out real value in a league always hungry for reliable wing shooting. On the other, it signals that contenders and rebuilding teams alike see something the Pelicans should be careful not to take for granted.

New Orleans' Most Dependable Piece

Sports Illustrated made the case plainly this week: amid mounting franchise changes in New Orleans, Murphy is the Pelicans' least concerning player. His shooting, steady development arc, and consistent availability have made him the rare constant on a roster that has seen significant turbulence. Murphy still has room to improve, but the foundation — an elite shooting stroke and the defensive versatility to guard multiple positions — is already built.

That's not a small thing for a franchise dealing with uncertainty elsewhere on the roster. Murphy's dependability isn't flashy, but in a league where durability and consistency are routinely undervalued until they're gone, New Orleans would be wise to treat his retention as a priority rather than an afterthought.

The Broader Wahoo Watch

Murphy is the headline name this week, but Virginia's NBA footprint remains impressively wide. Malcolm Brogdon is in New York with the Knicks. De'Andre Hunter landed in Sacramento. Ty Jerome and Braxton Key are both suiting up for Memphis. Reece Beekman is in Orlando, Ryan Dunn and Mamadi Diakite are in Phoenix, and Sam Hauser continues his role in Boston. Joe Harris — himself a Piston — adds an ironic footnote to the Murphy trade buzz, given that a deal would bring another Wahoo into the Detroit fold.

The depth of Virginia's NBA presence is a credit to Tony Bennett's player development pipeline. The Cavaliers have consistently produced players who stick — not always as stars, but as contributors who earn roster spots and, in Murphy's case, become franchise cornerstones in the making.

For now, Murphy remains a Pelican. But with Detroit circling and the Lakers lurking in the background, New Orleans' front office faces a decision that will define a significant piece of their competitive identity heading into the 2026–27 season. Hold him, and they keep their most reliable wing. Move him, and they'd better be very sure of what comes back.

Anthony Gill isn't just coming back to Washington — he's making history there.

The Virginia forward re-signed with the Washington Wizards this week on a one-year deal, returning for a seventh season with the franchise and cementing his status as the longest-tenured active player in Wizards history. For a team in full rebuild mode, Gill's longevity is a storyline unto itself: no one on the current active roster has worn a Washington uniform longer.

The 33-year-old filled the club's final open roster spot, a move that multiple outlets called underrated given the depth it provides up front. The signing was first reported by insider Brett Siegel and later confirmed by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Gill enters the season coming off a career-high 5.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game — modest numbers, but the kind of reliable veteran production a young roster leans on.

This is technically Gill's third stint with Washington — hence Sports Illustrated's framing of it as his "Third Wizards Era" — making the relationship between player and franchise one of the more quietly enduring in the modern NBA. Cult-favorite status in a rebuilding market is a rare thing; Gill has earned it the hard way, through consistency and durability over flash.

Wizards coverage noted the signing fills out what will likely be a rotation-depth role, with updated depth charts placing Gill in the frontcourt mix as the preseason approaches. Washington still has financial questions to sort out heading into the year, but locking up Gill checked off the last open roster box.

Elsewhere in the NBA

Gill is far from the only Hoo drawing attention this week. Over in Boston, Sam Hauser's name surfaced in trade speculation, with a pitch circulating that would send the sharpshooting forward — along with Payton Pritchard — to land a 43% three-point shooter for the Celtics. Hauser has carved out a valuable role in Boston's system, and his inclusion in trade scenarios reflects his rising market value, even if no deal is imminent.

Down in New Orleans, Trey Murphy III earned a favorable mention in Pelicans coverage — and not just as an afterthought. A piece analyzing a potential Michael Porter Jr. trade concluded that Murphy, given his trajectory and contract value, represents the better long-term investment for New Orleans. That's a notable endorsement for the former Virginia wing, who continues to establish himself as a core piece for the Pelicans.

Virginia's NBA footprint spans 13 active players across the league — from Reece Beekman in Orlando to De'Andre Hunter in Sacramento — but this week, Gill's milestone signing was the headline. Seven seasons. One franchise. A UVA guy outlasting nearly everyone in the District.