Locker Room Access - Virginia

Virginia officially tips off its first season under new coach Ryan Odom next Monday when they’ll host Rider at JPJ.  Before that, they faced a pair of quality opponents in preseason exhibitions.  The Hoos lost 95-87 at Vanderbilt on October 16th, then bounced back with a home win over Villanova by a score of 75-72 on Friday.  

About As Expected

It’s best not to overanalyze the details of preseason scrimmages.  But at the same time, the results are often indicative of how teams will perform early in the season.  When past UVA teams have started well in November, there were usually hints based on leaked scores of secret scrimmages.  And last year when they were hammered by VCU and Georgetown in October, it was unfortunately a harbinger of things to come.  

This October’s results are pretty well in line with consensus expectations.  They lost a competitive game on the road at Vanderbilt, Kenpom’s 19th ranked preseason team.  And then held on over a younger but very talented Villanova squad, ranked 50th.  That’s not a bad starting point for a revamped Virginia roster in their first year together with lots of room for growth over the course of a season. 

Go-to Scorer

Senior guard Malik Thomas was Virginia’s leading scorer in both preseason scrimmages, going for 18 points at Vanderbilt then following that up with a 16-point performance in the win against Villanova.  He went 5-10 from the field and 3-3 from the foul line on Friday, without committing a turnover.  There’s no full box score available from the Vanderbilt game, but reports suggest he did it in impressive fashion there too.

Malik Thomas just powered through the entire Villanova lineup for an and-one.

Clearly looks like the dynamic three-level scorer UVA was promised.

— Preston Willett (@PrestonWillett) October 24, 2025

Thomas is a 5th year senior transfer from San Francisco.  He led the West Coast Conference in scoring a year ago at just under 20 points per game.  Ryan Odom brought him in to get buckets, to be the go-to scorer on this team.  So far, so good.  He’s stepped into that role comfortably, and seems to have transitioned to the high major level just fine.  

Offense>Defense

Ryan Odom loves offense, as he’s said many times.  Well, he should like this team. They’re loaded with offensive weapons, three-point shooting in particular.  The Hoos sank 10 triples in Friday’s win.  All 11 players who appeared in the game attempted a three-pointer. The entire rotation is a threat from deep, no one can be ignored out there.  

The offensive showings in these scrimmages were far from perfect.  They committed 18 turnovers Friday and missed a bunch of free throws at Vandy.  But this is where not overanalyzing the details comes into play.  The bottom line is Virginia scored well in both games, going for 87 points (in 48 minutes) at Vandy and then scoring at an efficient 1.12 points per possession in the win over Villanova.  It was a fairly balanced attack as well.  

They’re clearly behind on defense, however, allowing 95 points (in 48 minutes) to Vandy and 72 to Villanova. The Hoos committed far too many fouls.  Several players would have fouled out in the Vandy game and Villanova got to the line 22 times.  They also let Villanova grab 14 offensive rebounds, leading to 15 second chance points.  Some of it can be excused by normal early season issues, poor rotations and things that will get cleaned up as the team gels.  But I expect we’ll see that carry over into November.  And even once settled in, this team is just built to be stronger on the offensive end.  

Ten Deep

This is a legitimately deep Virginia team.  Odom has said he feels comfortable using ten players.  Judging from the scrimmages, that’s exactly what he’ll be doing this season.  Ten Hoos logged double digit minutes in the win over Villanova.  And although Odom did stick with the same starting lineup in both games, there isn’t much separation between some starters and the back end of the rotation. 

The starting guards were Dallin Hall, Malik Thomas, and Sam Lewis while Euro imports Thijs de Ridder and Johann Grunloh began the game up front.  Odom has brought prized transfer additions Jacari White, Ugonna Onyenso, and Devin Tillis off the bench.  Quite the luxury.  Freshman Chance Mallory is solidly in the guard rotation.  As is our man Elijah Gertrude, every bit as explosive as we remember.  

Under Odom, who starts doesn’t seem to mean very much.  For example, Sam Lewis had a quiet game and only played 11 minutes on Friday.  Odom turned to Chance Mallory in crunch time. The freshman stepped up and hit a pair of clutch free throws to seal the game.  It’ll be interesting to see how the roles evolve as the season goes.  Particularly in the case of Gertrude, as he continues to work his way back.  I expect Odom will often ride the hot hand, with some players’ minutes greatly varying from game to game. 

Excitement

Virginia fans are excited for the return of Wahoo basketball.  That’s my main takeaway as the season nears.  There was a really good crowd on hand for the Villanova scrimmage.  Fans are as active as ever on social media.  Our Locker Room Access forum is hopping.  After a long drawn out coaching change, there’s a lot of positive energy.  Ryan Odom and his staff have done a great job not only assembling a team worthy of excitement but also getting the fanbase on board.  Wahoos are ready for the start of a new era.  

(Featured Image Credit: Jamie Holt/UVA Athletics) 

The first offseason with Ryan Odom as the Virginia men’s basketball head coach is nearly complete. We’re under a month now until the regular season begins, with the first exhibition game at Vanderbilt scheduled for later this week.  Along the way, we’ve learned a few things about Odom and what to expect from the 2025-26 Wahoos.  But also some questions remain. 

What we’ve learned

Like a Glove

From his opening press conference, it’s been clear that Ryan Odom truly understands the culture at UVA.  He’s said and done the right things to adhere himself to fans and the community. It’s not surprising given his background, having spent a big part of his childhood in Charlottesville while his father served as an assistant under Terry Holland.  Even taking that into consideration, it’s been an impressively smooth transition.  For those of us that follow year-round, it doesn’t even feel like he’s the new guy anymore. 

There were early bumps in the road.  Most of last year’s team transferred. Some fans were upset when he didn’t retain former players from Bennett’s staff.  To his credit, he hasn’t dodged questions on those topics.  In his recent Locker Room Access interview (VIP), they dove into all that and more.  Once he got past the initial turnover that goes along with any coaching change, Odom has pushed all the right buttons to bring Wahoos together.  

Most importantly, Odom’s values align with UVA’s.  He speaks our language, and it’s done with sincerity.  People recognize that.  The style of play on the court may change, but he’s done a remarkable job of quickly reassuring fans and alumni that it will still be done with the same high level of integrity they expect at UVA.  

UVA will spend

The spring late recruiting/transfer cycle was the craziest ever.  We may never see anything like it again.  With revenue sharing now coming into effect, it was hopefully the last year of practically unregulated NIL deals.  Spending was out of control, all over college basketball.  UVA very much took part.  With Odom needing to assemble an almost entirely new roster, it was a necessity.  

By my estimation, the combined payroll of this year’s UVA roster will exceed $15 million.  That would place them among the highest in the country.  But there are plenty of others in the same neighborhood.  That was the market this year.  If you needed players, you had to pay…a lot more than ever before.  

So while the system will change a little under revenue sharing going forward, the lesson remains that UVA is willing to finance men’s basketball at a level that few programs can match.  And just as importantly, Odom won’t hesitate to leverage those resources.  

Year by Year

It’s already becoming apparent that Odom will employ a roster management style that’s befitting the times. Planning will be more on a year-to-year basis than we’ve seen in the past.  That doesn’t mean there won’t be roster continuation, ideally there will be.  But young players need to establish themselves before they’re counted on as integral pieces for the following year.  That’s the main difference. 

Odom embraces the portal and the advantages it can offer.  Under Bennett, it was mostly just used as a stop gap to plug holes.  Long term roster planning always took priority.  The bottom line is it’ll be about maximizing each season first and foremost with Odom.  In today’s environment, that’s probably the best way to go.  

Questions

Potential ceiling

Since the invention of the transfer portal, it’s been the prevailing theory that teams loaded with new transfer additions have a certain ceiling.  And I generally believe that to be accurate.  They can have a good season, but rarely do they come together well enough to be relevant in the national picture.  Final Four contenders or even major conference champions don’t typically have rosters put together the way UVA did it this year. 

However, this year could prove to be an exception to the norm.  And it goes back to the unusual spending that took place in the spring.  The opportunity to earn millions brought many more high level transfers into the portal than ever before.  In the past, this UVA team and similar ones like it around the country couldn’t have been assembled.  The depth of talent wasn’t available.  

I think a lot of prognostications have that same built-in assumption, which may cap where we see UVA predicted (or not) in preseason polls.  There’s a good chance the Hoos are being underestimated.  

Euro Adjustment

The biggest variable for UVA this season will be how well their high profile European imports adjust to college basketball.  Belgian forward Thijs de Ridder and German center Johann Grünloh might be Odom’s starting frontcourt, and they have the potential to be one of the best in the country. 

Virginia’s two foreign newcomers up front — This de Ridder and Johann Grunloh — both look the part. Both are comfortable facing up. Both taking and making 3’s with confidence. Good players.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) October 1, 2025

Both players came over from top division European pro teams, and both are legit NBA prospects.  They’re the type of guys who previously would have never considered the college route.  Thanks to the earnings opportunity available now, they’re here.  Odom and his staff, particularly Griff Aldrich, deserve a ton of credit for luring them over.  They were sneaky big recruiting wins.  

There’s no past comparison for them. Again, there’s a built-in bias because so often overseas recruits disappoint initially in college basketball.  But those were not players with the same background.  At the same time, they will have an adjustment.  The college style of game is very different and they’ll need to assume more featured roles than they had in Europe.  

Recruiting

High School recruiting is definitely still a big question mark for Odom.  The signing period is quickly approaching and he’s still searching for his first commitment from the 2026 class.  Although to be fair, there are six other ACC teams in the same predicament.  NIL and some of the changes to the recruiting calendar have led to high school prospects holding out longer. 

From going back through Odom’s history at previous stops, this isn’t unusual for him.  He’s quite comfortable going deep in recruiting cycles and often signs high school players during the late spring period.  It’s very different from what UVA fans are used to.  Tony Bennett nabbed a lot of early commitments and was usually finished by September.  Whereas, Odom never had a recruit committed before the fall at VCU or Utah State.   

Odom took shots at quite a few very high level recruits this go-round, not getting far in most cases.  There are still a few left in play, as I’ll get to below.  But truthfully, it’s been a boring cycle with little activity so far.  As a recruiting dude, I’m hoping for a bit more juice in the years ahead.  

Recent Visitors

Virginia hosted top 50 ranked wing Luca Foster on an official visit last weekend.  The 6’5 SG/SF from the Philadelphia area attends Link Academy (MO).  He’s been on a visit tour this fall with previous stops at Villanova, Oklahoma, Michigan, Georgetown, and Ohio State.  There’s one more scheduled trip left to Gonzaga next weekend, with a decision likely coming in late October to early November. 

Petersburg (VA) forward Latrell Allmond will announce his college choice on Monday.  He was in town for an official visit a couple weeks ago.  The final five are Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Indiana, and Oklahoma State.  It would be a pretty big surprise if the Wahoos get the call, but we’ll see what happens.  

Five-star Iowa United center Arafan Diane was also recently in Charlottesville for a visit.  The Hoos are joined by Kentucky, Indiana, Houston, and Arkansas in his final five.  He has two more upcoming visits remaining to Indiana and perceived favorite Houston before a planned decision date in mid-November.  

Excited for a new season?  Come join the discussion on the Locker Room Access forum, the place to be for any Wahoo basketball fanatic. 

(Featured Image Credit: Jamie Holt/UVA Athletics)

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)