The recruitment of class of 2022 wing prospect Ryan Dunn is something Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) head boys varsity basketball coach John Buck had never experienced before.

“I’ve never seen someone take off on that type of recruiting trajectory in 15 years of coaching this program,” Buck said, referring to the 6’7”, 180-pound Dunn, who graduated from Long Island Lutheran this past spring and has verbally committed to the University of Virginia. “He outpaced any one year growth as far as recruiting. His senior year was a strange one for us. We’re independent, so we play in tournaments, showcases, non-league type of stuff. During the pandemic, those things were limited. We wound up going 3-0 during his senior year. Ryan was unanimously voted as captain. He practiced hard his senior year. He got better in that time, but I think his leadership skills grew.”

Dunn headed into May of 2021 without a scholarship offer. On May 6, Stony Brook became the first school to offer the then Long Island Lutheran senior, who has now begun a postgraduate year at Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. Dunn’s recruitment picked up steam in June, the first time in over a year that college coaches could watch prospects in person because of the pandemic. Coaches from Hofstra, Quinnipiac, Cleveland St., St. Joseph’s, U-Mass, Towson and St. Bonaventure were impressed, offering Dunn scholarships.

In July, while competing with the New York Jayhawks on the Under Armour AAU circuit and once again able to be seen in person by college coaches, Dunn saw high-major scholarships roll in. Minnesota, Boston College, Marquette, Texas A&M, California, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Virginia, Clemson, and TCU offered that month. Georgetown and Maryland followed suit in August.

“When I started getting recognition it was kind of cool at first,” Dunn said. “I came from nobody knowing who I was. In July it was like a circus. A lot of schools were offering me. I’ve just tried to stay humble. My parents stay humble. After my last tournament, Virginia called, and that was kind of cool because I watched Virginia play in the ACC. It’s a big-time program. That was another confidence boost. I talked to Coach Bennett and Coach O (Orlando Vandross). It just felt right. Coach Bennett discussed what he saw in me.”

How was the New York native so under the radar prior to this spring and summer? The pandemic cost Dunn any exposure he would have gotten from the summer of 2020 AAU circuit and fall workouts his senior year, not to mention a full season. Furthermore, the New York underwent a growth spurt from his junior to his senior year while also improving his basketball abilities.

It wasn’t until his late middle school, early high school years that Dunn switched his athletic allegiance fully to basketball (he played baseball as well).

“I wanted to take basketball seriously,” Dunn said. “Because I was never this size, I never thought I would be playing at this level or going to Virginia this year. Then it started coming to reality. I got a lot stronger, a lot better. My confidence got really high, so I thought maybe D2. I never thought I’d reach this level. It’s still sort of surreal, but I am getting used to it.”

Part of Dunn’s early high school basketball journey included a year at Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA), where he says he played “a little bit below the main team” coached by the legendary Steve Smith. Dunn later attended Long Island Lutheran, where he concluded his high school career.

“He came to us after his sophomore year,” Buck recalled. “He was thin. His junior year, we were top 10 in the country. He is definitely not the same type of guy on the floor as he is now. I think he was feeling his way out, but I think he learned a lot during his junior year. He definitely played and practiced hard. His body was not as strong and he was not as fast. I think he took that year, learned a lot.”

Dunn estimates he was 6’2” or 6’3” his junior year. The summer before his senior year, he grew to around 6’5” or 6’6” and has since tacked on another inch or two. The growth spurt surprised Ryan’s older brother, Justin, a former Boston College standout pitcher who is a member of the Seattle Mariners.

“I went to go see him in Cleveland and he was shocked,” the younger Dunn said with a laugh.

Watching Justin’s commitment to perfecting his baseball craft, as well as learning determination from his parents, instilled the work ethic needed for Ryan to achieve what he has on the basketball court.

“That’s a big thing for my family. We don’t back down from things,” said Dunn, who has worked on his basketball skills with trainer Andre Brown, who has trained with former UVA star guard Justin Anderson. “Growing up, my brother was really into baseball. He would always bring me around places. I’d always workout with him. Once he got drafted, I saw it. It’s different. Playing professionally, the work is different, making sure every detail is perfect. That has been a big thing in my jump. If I didn’t have that ... I think that has been a big thing for me. We’re really close. He gives me advice, telling me to get in the gym when I can. He has kind of been a big part of my development.”

Dunn “attacked” skill development during the pandemic according to Buck, who discussed how his standout student athlete improve.

“He’s a late bloomer in a lot of ways,” Buck said. “He grew. Added strength and confidence. He chose to attack it as opposed to wait it out. I think he worked hard and used it to his advantage. Add the fact that he grew four inches from the end of his sophomore year to his senior year. It was just the mentality he had. He attacked it and attacked it and attacked it.”

“I think he always had a good shooting touch. He always had a soft release,” Buck said. “That’s something he always had from Day 1. Where he improved the most is his ballhanding. And just his strength and power. That has allowed him to play the game more ferociously. He can take some bumps going up to the rim. He can finish in traffic.”

Committing To Virginia

Assistant coach Orlando Vandross was the first from UVA to reach out to Dunn, and this included a call to Coach Buck.

“Orlando Vandross called me during the summer after watching him play. He said they were really intrigued,” Buck said. “As soon as UVA came on the radar, I know he and his father were intrigued by that.”

Tony Bennett followed up quickly. Recalling an early conversation with UVA’s head coach, Dunn said: “When he first saw me, he said he noticed my size. Me doing what I can do at my size was special to him. I’m lengthy, tall, and play multiple positions. He said he can help me with coming off screens, shooting, being like a Trey Murphy, a DeAndre Hunter, or a Malcolm Brogdon. He sees a lot of them in me. He said if I come there, Coach Curtis can help me in the weight room.”

Virginia, which offered a scholarship on July 26, earned a spot in Dunn’s final eight, which he revealed on August 18. Boston College, Georgetown, Maryland, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh and South Carolina rounded out the final list. Dunn took an official visit to Pitt in August and officials to Minnesota and Virginia in September. UVA wanted him to visit the same weekend as previous commits Isaac McKneely, Isaac Traudt and Leon Bond, but the Minnesota trip was already scheduled. No matter, as Dunn saw all he needed to see on the trip to Charlottesville.

“I was talking to Coach Buck before and I said UVA was kind of like LuHi on steroids,” Dunn recalled. “Once I sat down in Coach Bennett’s office, LuHi came to my head. I saw the words on top and saw the Final Four banner and thought, ‘This is where I need to be.’”

Ryan Dunn announced his commitment publicly upon returning home to New York, but he verbally committed to Cavalier head coach Tony Bennett while on Grounds on his official visit. ~ Edit courtesy of FreeKeyThree/Ryan Dunn

Dunn verbally committed on the spot, becoming the fourth member of UVA’s 2022 recruiting class, which currently stands no. 6 in the nation according to 247 Sports and no. 10 in the nation according to Rivals.com.

“It was cool,” Dunn said of making his commitment on Grounds. “Coach Bennett was really excited. He called the day after and said he was still smiling. He said he was excited to get me, to have this four in the class.”

“Coach was forthright. He said he is excited to bring that level of talent in this recruiting class,” Buck said. “Ryan is a 6’7”, athletic shooter. They need those types of guys in the ACC who have the ability to get out in transition and also make shots. They need guys to make shots. Kyle Guy, Ty Jerome, those types of guys. Ryan will be able to get shots off at his height. As he learns the offense and the rhythm, he'll be able to add to his offensive game.”

Perkiomen

Prior to his recruitment skyrocketing, Dunn and his family discussed the possibility of a postgraduate year at prep school. Perkiomen head coach Thomas Baudinet was informed of the interest and evaluated Dunn to be part of his team in the 2021-22 season.

“It was clear that he likes to compete and plays hard,” Baudinet said, recalling his initial impressions of Dunn as a player. He watched some live-streamed games of Dunn. “He didn’t take plays off. He was talking to his teammates. He didn’t shoot the ball great in either game, but he still made a bunch of plays. He does a lot of good things on the court.”

Coach Baudinet calls Dunn a “great teammate” with “strong work ethic.” On the basketball court, what does he like most about the newest Panther and future Cavalier?

“His size and length at his position, and the way he moves. He’s a very fluid mover,” answered Baudinet, who is confident Dunn will be able to defend the 2 through 4 positions on his team this season. “He’s a good athlete. I wouldn’t say he’s the most explosive, but he has some slipperiness as he is going around the rim. He is able to make very high-level plays around the rim. He can move guys around and finish, and he has the body control to kick plays out. As far as physical gifts, his size, length, and the way he moves stand out. You see them on both sides of the floor. I think he’s a good finisher around the rim. He can shoot but he’ll need to improve his shooting at that level. He’ll have to be a more consistent shot maker. As he grows and matures, his decision making, being tighter with the ball, and cutting will improve.”

Dunn would have had the chance to be one of, if not the top player at Long Island Lutheran his senior year. The season was unfortunately cut short due to the coronavirus, so Dunn hopes a season at Perkiomen will help him in terms of playing experience.

“Getting in-game experience,” Dunn answered when asked what he looked forward to most about his postgraduate year. “I didn’t play a lot throughout my high school years. I’m anxious to show what I got on the court. When I’m getting to the point where I’m tired, to be able to push through. Being a leader, helping others, touching up my game.”

More With Virginia Commit Ryan Dunn

You mentioned Coach Bennett comparing you to Brogdon, Hunter, and Trey Murphy III. Of those players, is there any one you think you compare best to?

DUNN: “I think I’m a little bit of everything. I think I can be a point guard, but my handle has to be a lot better. For me, I like to pass, which is also a big thing as a point guard. Getting into the wing spot, my driving and finishing are big things I saw with Trey Murphy and them.”

Are there any players you like to watch and/or learn from?

DUNN: “I watched LeBron, but I didn’t break down film. I didn’t know what I was doing. Once I started working on basketball the way I am now, I’ve watched Durant and how he uses his body. Brandon Ingram too.”

Virginia’s 2022 Class is the most highly rated since the 2016 Class, which featured Guy, Jerome, Hunter and Huff, who helped UVA men’s basketball to its first national title. Have you heard those comparisons? If so, what are your thoughts on the comparison?

DUNN: “Being mentioned with that class is cool, but we are four different people. We have to come in and be who we are first. I hope to bring home a championship, but we have to be who we are and try to help the team win.”

What is an underrated aspect of your game?

DUNN: “I’d say passing. I like to pass a lot. Sometimes my parents say I pass too much. I like to get other people involved. I’m working on getting myself more involved in scoring too. I have a good mid-post game I haven’t shown yet. Mid-post, on the low block.”

The past few years, having grown and also taken your game to another level, do you feel your basketball career is just starting in some ways?

DUNN: “I feel like I’m getting there, but I still have a long way to go. I’m going to an ACC school. A big-time program. It’ll be a lot harder.”