After NCAA Recent Actions, coach Ryan Odom And The Virginial Receive huge Boost Following ACC Tournament
virginia Basketball’s strong week just got even better. Although international prospect Thijs de Ridder signed with the Cavaliers earlier, it was uncertain whether the NCAA would grant him eligibility to play under new head coach Ryan Odom. That uncertainty ended today, as the NCAA officially cleared him. With his eligibility confirmed, UVA’s prospects have significantly improved — positioning them as legitimate contenders for both the ACC regular season and tournament titles.
NEWS: Virginia's Thijs de Ridder has been cleared for immediate eligibility by the NCAA, sources say.
The 22-year-old power forward posted 9.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, shooting 39% for 3 in Spain's ACB this season. Should be an instant impact player for Ryan Odom. pic.twitter.com/x9d29Cjmkv
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) July 18, 2025
Thijs De Ridder is a 6-foot-8, 231-pound power forward known for his versatility and skill. He spent the past two seasons playing for Surne Bilbao Basket in Spain’s top-tier Liga Endesa. In the 2024-25 season, he posted averages of 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 50.2% from the field and 39.1% from beyond the arc. The year prior, in 2023-24, he averaged 6.4 points and 4.2 rebounds, shooting 51.5% from the floor and 36% from three.
On the international stage, De Ridder represented Belgium in the 2025 European Championship Qualifiers, appearing in six games. He also competed in the FIBA U20 European Championship in both 2022 and 2023. In the 2023 tournament, he led Belgium to a fourth-place finish, putting up impressive numbers—16.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game over seven matchups. His standout play earned him several honors in 2023, including Belgian Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, and Big Man of the Year. In 2025, he was also named one of the Liga ACB’s Top 5 Young Players.
Head coach Ryan Odom has been intentionally building a roster designed to play at a fast tempo and excel from the perimeter. As Aidan Baller recently analyzed, UVA could be poised to become one of the nation’s top three-point shooting teams this upcoming season.
So what kind of playing style can fans expect from this year’s team?
In sharp contrast to Tony Bennett’s deliberate, defense-first approach, head coach Ryan Odom is already making it clear that speed will be a defining feature of his system. During summer workouts, Odom has been pushing an up-tempo style that he expects to carry into the fall. He’s also brought in coaching influences known for their fast-paced offenses, including former Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni and current Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. Carlisle’s Pacers, who reached the NBA Finals this past June, ranked as the seventh-fastest team in the NBA last season, according to Statmuse.
Players have echoed this shift in style. San Francisco transfer Malik Thomas spoke to The Sabre during summer media sessions, saying, “Our pace is unbelievable. We’re going to bring a different style of basketball to Virginia, shooting a lot of threes and getting downhill.”
Alongside the emphasis on pace, Thomas highlighted the team’s focus on three-point shooting—a clear priority for Odom during the recent transfer portal cycle. Below is a breakdown of several new additions to the roster and their three-point shooting percentages from last season.
Malik Thomas shot 39.4% from three last season, Jacari White 39.8%, Devin Tillis 39.5%, Dallin Hall 34.3%, Sam Lewis 44.4%, Johann Grünloh 35.4%, and Thijs de Ridder 38%. Those percentages clearly reflect the team’s new offensive direction—and having a defined identity will be critical for a roster made up largely of transfers.
CBS Sports analyst Matt Norlander recently highlighted Virginia as one of the most improved teams heading into next season:
“After spending last week on the recruiting trail and talking to a range of coaches, I can tell you that many believe Ryan Odom’s Cavaliers are poised for a major step forward. Virginia finished 15–17 last year, struggling under Ron Sanchez following Tony Bennett’s surprising retirement last October. Odom, hired from nearby VCU, was given a roster budget exceeding $10 million and has put together a squad that could finish among the top five in the ACC.
Key transfers like BYU’s Dallin Hall and Kansas State’s Ugonna Onyenso will need to elevate their play, but Odom has added three high-scoring mid-major transfers who bring serious offensive firepower: Malik Thomas (19.9 ppg at San Francisco), Jacari White (17.1 ppg at North Dakota State), and Sam Lewis (16.2 ppg at Toledo). Together, they could easily combine for over 30 points a game. The addition of Thijs De Ridder—one of the top international pickups this offseason—only strengthens the roster. The 6’8” Belgian forward brings two years of pro experience in Spain and averaged 9.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 39.1% from three in one of Europe’s toughest leagues.
With a .636 career winning percentage across mid-major programs, Odom looks ready for this next challenge. UVA has the talent, and I’d be surprised if they aren’t a single-digit seed in the NCAA Tournament next year.”
The ACC also feels more open than usual. While Duke remains the preseason favorite, they don’t appear as dominant as last year’s Cooper Flagg-led group. Louisville has brought in a strong transfer class but hasn’t proven itself yet. Meanwhile, both NC State and North Carolina have significant questions to answer.
While nothing is guaranteed, the opportunity is there for an experienced, well-constructed team with a clear identity and a capable head coach to make a serious run.
And Virginia might just be that team.
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