Last year’s New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year Jabri Abdur-Rahim made his commitment to the University of Virginia over the summer.
Landing prospects like Jabri will always take a head coach that they trust and will want to play for. Players can connect with the coaching staff but it likely won’t work without some kind of connection with the head coach.
Jabri was a guest on the debut episode of The Front Office podcast and was asked about his Virginia decision, expectations playing for the reigning national champions after his encore season at Blair Academy, and his thoughts on Virginia head coach Tony Bennett.
Abdur-Rahim described his future coach as a “genuine person” and someone he could see himself losing with or going through hard times with.
Jabri Abdur-Rahim (@jabri404) speaks on Virginia Head Coach Tony Bennett and more with #TFO
Full Episode: https://t.co/k4dWsCq34N pic.twitter.com/bphgnYe0A8
— The Front Office (@tfrontoffice) November 23, 2019
Trust was a big factor for Jabri in picking a head coach. He praised the other coaches who recruited him but sees Bennett as someone who will be in his corner throughout and even after his college career.
Jabri talked more with The Front Office crew about other topics including his goals for this season, not taking his foot off the gas, being the son of NBA legend Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and more.
The full conversation can be found at the 21:10 mark on the full episode below.