Local Guard Chance Mallory Commits to Virginia, Again

Only a few hours after being officially named as Virginia’s head coach, Ryan Odom has already landed a key recruit.  Chance Mallory announced his commitment on Saturday.  The 5’10” point guard out of St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville will stay home and play for the Cavaliers.  He chose Virginia from a group of finalists that also included Maryland, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Virginia Tech.  Mallory is ranked as the 56th senior in the country, according to the On3 industry average.  He’s currently the only recruit in Virginia’s 2025 class.  

Chance Mallory is a Hoo!

“I love the city of Charlottesville too much.” pic.twitter.com/kz0fXIkng4

— Zach Carey (@Zach_Carey_) March 22, 2025

Chance Mallory’s Recruitment

This is the second time Mallory has verbally committed to his hometown program.  He originally chose Virginia in September, following his official visit weekend.  Then in late October, after Tony Bennett’s surprise retirement, Mallory reopened his recruitment.  He now has the distinction of being Tony Bennett’s final recruit and Ryan Odom’s first.  

After reopening, Chance took his time while UVA sorted out the coaching vacancy.  He made more official visits in recent months to Maryland, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt.  All of those programs, with the exception of Vanderbilt, were involved during his original recruitment.  The plan was always to decide around this time frame, once the UVA situation cleared up. Finalists were named in early March, leading up to today’s announcement.  

Chance Mallory says Ryan Odom’s hiring was “definitely a deciding factor” in his decision to commit to Virginia.

“I feel like it was the right fit with me and my play style.”

Adds that “I really didn’t want to go anywhere else” pic.twitter.com/Uk1yRqwVKQ

— Zach Carey (@Zach_Carey_) March 22, 2025

Ryan Odom did try to recruit Mallory to VCU.  There was already a relationship and familiarity in place.  All things even, staying home seemed to be Mallory’s preference.  As long as UVA hired the right coach.  Once it became obvious that Odom was headed to Charlottesville, the noise picked up that the Hoos were again the favorite to get Chance back on board. 

What Chance Mallory Brings to Virginia

Although undersized at 5’10”, Mallory is a superb athlete.  He’s quick, explosive, and strongly built.   Chance is one of the best shooters in the class.  Combined with high IQ playmaking ability, he has all the tools you want in a point guard at the college level.  

Mallory has been a dominant high school player at St. Anne’s-Belfield, under head coach Damin Altizer. He averaged more than 25 points per game in each of the last two seasons, named as the VISAA State Player of the Year as a junior.  It wasn’t so different on the AAU side.  He was one of the top performers in the Under Armour Association, averaging over 21 points per game.  The summer before, he finished with the best offensive efficiency rating on the circuit. 

Chance truly is one of the best shooters in the country. He shot 38% from three-point range in AAU play, and was at 40% last season for STAB.  Those percentages don’t do him justice because it’s on very high volume.  He takes and makes tough shots, not just wide open ones, often creating them on his own.  

While I would consider him more of a score-first lead guard, Chance is a trustworthy floor general too.  He’s shown good decision-making and values possessions, with a 2.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.  There will naturally be adjustments needed in college.  It won’t be nearly as easy for him to make plays in the lane.  And he’ll need to buy into being the type of pressure-applying pesky defender Coach Odom expects of his point guard.  

This is a great addition for Virginia. Certainly, a key building piece for Ryan Odom.  I expect Chance to be an immediate contributor with the potential to develop into a real star for his hometown program. 

Moving Forward

This is where I usually lay out Virginia’s roster and their recruiting going forward.  But right now, it’s all in flux.  The transfer portal officially opens on Monday.  Two UVA players, Blake Buchanan and Dai Dai Ames, have already announced their intention to enter.  There will be more.  That’s just how it is after a coaching change.  It’ll be a couple weeks before we really get a grasp on the roster fallout, and what holes need to be filled for next season. 

That familiar feeling of returning to Grounds!

🔶⚔️🔷#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/HgRxPreHzN

— Virginia Men's Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) March 22, 2025

This is Ryan Odom’s first day on the job.  He met for the first time with the team today. The work begins.  Recruiting the current roster, and scouring the portal.  The next few weeks will be chaotic.  We’ll see where it leads.  

Final Thoughts

Big day for the Virginia program, the start of a new era.  Chance Mallory is a huge part of the future of Wahoo Basketball.  He’ll be the first true in-state high school scholarship recruit to sign with Virginia since BJ Stith back in the class of 2014.  Hopefully, that will be the beginning of a new pattern under Ryan Odom.  

It’ll be an exciting next few months and offseason ahead, as we get back into recruiting.  Locker Room Access is the best place on the web to follow along.  Also be sure to check out our partner Fan Fund, an innovative new way to support your favorite student-athletes.. 

Welcome Chance, and go Hoos!