Virginia’s push for Moussa Kamissoko is starting to feel like one of the defining recruiting battles of Ryan Odom’s early run in Charlottesville.
The 6-foot-8, 180-pound small forward out of Long Island Lutheran in Glen Head, N.Y., has emerged as UVA’s apparent top priority on the wing in the 2027 class. According to 247Sports.com’s composite rankings, Kamissoko is the No. 4 small forward in the cycle and the No. 14 player overall.
Virginia has been in the mix for a while. The Cavaliers have been in contact with him since January, and the official offer came on June 4. Now the challenge is clear: keeping pace with a crowded group of major programs that includes Alabama, Kentucky, UConn, Syracuse and Louisville.
2027 5⭐️ Moussa Kamissoko is one of the most dynamic prospects in the ‘27 class.He told @LeagueRDY he’s been hearing the most from Arkansas, Louisville, Auburn, NC State, Virginia, Oklahoma State, Penn State and NC State.He’s playing his junior season for @LuHiBasketball. #7… pic.twitter.com/uZNVUfn9G1
What makes Kamissoko so appealing is the full package. His length jumps off the page, and so does his scoring touch from all three levels. He’s comfortable shooting with a hand in his face, and his jump shot is polished enough that defenders have a hard time getting to it because of his high release.
He also shows a strong feel for the game. Kamissoko moves well without the ball, finds space for catch-and-shoot chances, and can create his own offense when needed.
He doesn’t play like a wing who’s hunting every shot, either. If the defense cuts off his path, he’s willing to move the ball and keep the offense flowing.
5⭐️ Moussa Kamissoko got busy is first 3 sessions of EYBL averaging 17.5 points per game 6.3 rebounds per game1.5 assists per game pic.twitter.com/WaQnvGlVNG
That same combination shows up on the defensive end, where his size and reach make him a problem. He can bother ball-handlers, jump passing lanes, block shots and get out to contest perimeter shooters. That’s a big part of why he’s viewed as one of the top true two-way wings in the 2027 class.
Some recruiting services believe Virginia is already in his top three with Syracuse and Penn State, though that hasn’t been confirmed. Either way, this looks like a recruitment that could run all the way to the finish line.
For Odom, that’s not a deterrent. It’s exactly the kind of fight he seems ready to take on.
If Kamissoko lives up to the billing, he has the profile to step in right away for Virginia and potentially play himself into one-and-done territory. For now, though, the bigger story is that his name is going to stay on UVA’s radar for months to come as the Cavaliers keep pressing for one of the most coveted wings in the class.
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For Virginia, the timing matters as much as the development. Grunlohs size gives the Cavaliers a needed presence around the rim after Ugonna Onyenso moved on to the NBA, and Odom also wants him doing more than just anchoring the paint. If Grunloh can rebound, push the ball and help start fast breaks, he could become one of the more important pieces of the season before long. [Read more 🡒]
Tony Elliotts 2027 Class Puts Virginias Recruiting Identity Under The Microscope
Virginias 2027 football recruiting class is still in the early stages, but the early shape of it says plenty about Tony Elliotts approach. The group sits 67th nationally on 247Sports and near the bottom of the ACC, with 15 commitments made up mostly of three-star prospects. It also fits the broader pattern of Elliotts staff, which has tried to build through player development and supplement the roster with transfers while continuing to work the in-state high school pipeline.
The part that will keep drawing attention is how much room there still is for this class to change the conversation. Virginia has not yet landed any of the states top 15 2027 prospects, and the current ranking leaves little margin for error if the Cavaliers want to climb into a more competitive neighborhood by Signing Day. For a program trying to define its recruiting identity, this class is becoming a useful snapshot of where the staff is comfortable shopping and how far it still has to go. [Read more 🡒]