UVA Set to Host Trio of Top 50 Recruits

Ryan Odom and the Virginia men’s basketball program have a big recruiting weekend coming up.  The Cavaliers are expected to have three Top 50 ranked recruits from the class of 2026 in town on official visits, coinciding with the football showdown against Florida State. 

*All rankings from the On3 industry average 

Latrell Allmond

Ranking: 29

Summer stats: 14.7 PPG (54 FG%, 31 3FG%), 7.4 Reb, 1.6 Blk for Team Loaded 

Petersburg (VA) forward Latrell Allmond will make his long awaited official visit to Charlottesville this weekend.  It’ll be his fourth and possibly last official visit following earlier trips to Indiana, Tennessee, and Oklahoma State.  He plans to announce his college choice in mid-October. 

The main competition consists of Indiana and Tennessee.  Their affiliation with Adidas is helpful in this case, as Allmond has strong ties to the brand.  However, Ryan Odom has had past success with players from Allmond’s Team Loaded program. And Virginia’s Director of Recruiting Ahmad Thomas is a former Team Loaded coach himself.  The Hoos have a shot to surprise folks by keeping the in-state prize at home.  

Arafan Diane

Ranking: 19

Summer stats: 18.6 PPG (74 FG%), 10.8 Reb, 1.5 Blk for Iowa United

Iowa United Prep big man Arafan Diane is widely considered the best true big man in the class. The Guinean recently named a final five of Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Arkansas, and Houston.  This will be his third official visit, with trips scheduled to all five finalists.  He plans to announce his decision in early November. 

The perceived frontrunner has been Houston.  Kelvin Sampson and the Cougars will get Diane’s last visit in late October.  But it seems to be a fairly open contest between all of the finalists.  Coaches from each school made the trip to see him in recent weeks.  Odom has been involved with Diane since very early in the process.  That relationship paid off with this scheduled visit.  If they could somehow close the deal, it would be a monumental recruiting win for Odom in his first year. 

Bo Ogden 

Ranking: 34

Summer stats: 20.9 PPG (55 FG%, 53 3FG%), 4.5 Reb. 2.4 Ast for ASAK Elite

Combo guard Bo Ogden out of Westlake High in Austin, Texas may be the best shooter in the class.  He knocked down just under 53% from deep on high volume this summer, while converting at an 86% clip from the foul line.   He’s down to a final six of Virginia, Gonzaga, Kansas, Texas, Tennessee, and Purdue.  A decision is expected before November’s early signing period. 

Bo’s dad is on the Texas coaching staff.  It would be fairly surprising if he doesn’t end up choosing the Longhorns.  But Odom and the staff have done a nice job positioning UVA as perhaps the leading alternative, if Ogden chooses to take his own path.  The trip to Charlottesville will be his third official visit.  He’s already been to Purdue and Tennessee.  

What’s Ahead

The official visits won’t end here.  UVA has another top 50 recruit scheduled to visit the following weekend, Link Academy (MO) wing Luca Foster.    

We’re exactly six weeks from the season opener.  That means official practices begin today.  There should be highlights of that on social media later.  And the first exhibition game at Vanderbilt is only a little over three weeks away, on October 16th.  Another year of Wahoo basketball will soon be at hand.  Stay tuned to Locker Room Access for full coverage as always!

(Featured Image Credit: Josie Drumheller/UVA Athletics)