Most transfers get a welcome graphic, maybe a couple of posts announcing their commitment. Some might even get a highlight video or a short feature.
Graduate guard Jacari White got an army.
A keen eye may have spotted the 12 or so Virginia students standing a few rows behind the away bench at Friday’s game against NC Central, all in sweatshirts and matching white headbands. When White checked in a few minutes into the game, the group took off their sweatshirts in unison, revealing military-green t-shirts with White’s portrait — except White, thanks to ChatGPT, was wearing an army uniform.
When White buried a three-pointer some 30 seconds later, the group erupted. When he did it again not long after, they went berserk.
Calling themselves the Jacarmy, the group is a fan club for the Cavaliers’ new veteran spark plug that says it intends to be there in the student section for every home game. The idea came over the summer, when a handful of students that knew each other through various Christian organizations on Grounds hatched an idea to increase their engagement with the team and one of its newest players.
“It started over the summer when we saw that Jacari White was transferring,” second-year College student Ben Miller said. “He was balling out at North Dakota State, and we kind of figured that this is a guy that we can rally behind and that we wanted to support and welcome to U.Va.”
Miller and fellow second-year College student Lucas Yerton are both soldiers in the Jacarmy, who refer to White as their “general” and salute whenever he subs out. White only had one year of eligibility left. They had to act fast. It was Miller who designed the t-shirts before having them printed for the group — after making sure White was on board.
“I DMed Jacari over the summer [to] make sure that it was ok,” Miller said. “Because I didn’t want to do it without asking first. And he said ‘Yeah, it’d be dope,’ and then once he said yes we were like ‘Now we have to.’”
The group is hoping to add more members and is already musing about expanding the show to involve more players as the season progresses. Fans can get their own Jacarmy t-shirt through the group’s Instagram, which also posts edits of White for a growing audience.
In those edits, made by second-year Education student Elijah McEntire, the skillset that drew many of these students to White becomes apparent. Yerton remarked at his great shooting — over 40 percent from distance over his collegiate career — and Miller added that White’s hustle and athleticism stand out every time he is on the court.
“We think he’s a hustle guy, and he’s got some hidden bounce,” Miller said. “He’s getting up there — some boards today. He’s a dog.”
In White’s four years of college basketball, starting with a year at State College of Florida before three at North Dakota State, he has averaged double-digit points three times while adding all-conference accolades twice. In his first two games in Charlottesville, he is averaging 10 points, 1.5 assists and a steal. He has quickly become a core member of the Cavaliers’ second unit and a nightmare in transition.
“He brings in a lot of experience,” Yerton said. “That’s important — especially with today’s age of college basketball. To have guys like that who have been around the game so much, it’s big.”
Virginia fans may remember a similar story in the 2022-23 season. Then-graduate student forward Ben Vander Plas was an Ohio transfer known for his white headband and prominent mustache and became the fixation of another player-focused fan club, the Vander Gals. Like the Jacarmy, the Vander Gals could be seen on TV wearing white headbands and cheering for their player. In lieu of the military-inspired t-shirts, they had homemade Vander Plas jerseys and fake mustaches.
For the Jacarmy just as much as the Vander Gals, the goal behind the endeavor is mostly about enjoying the game, rallying together with friends and celebrating their favorite player. Their message is simple — everybody is welcome to come and support White with them.
“We’re trying to expand,” Miller said. “Anybody’s welcome to join and everybody hopefully will join.”
And their message to White?
“We salute you,” Miller added.
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