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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 12: Thijs de Ridder #28 of the Virginia Cavaliers brings the ball up court in the first half against the NC State Wolfpack during the quarterfinals of the 2026 Men's ACC Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 12, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Virginia Cavaliers men’s basketball program announced three major roster wins on Monday: point guard Chance Mallory, forward Thijs De Ridder, and forward Johann Grünloh will be returning for the 2026-27 season.
The three players will join head coach Ryan Odom in his second season in Charlottesville, showcasing Odom’s ability to not only recruit talent, but retain it. In the nearly unpredictable transfer portal landscape, the retention is a landmark win for Odom an staff — and an indication of the program he intends to develop.
The team’s official social media pages announced the three returners all within two hours of each other. But, all three had the same message: “Let’s run it back.”
Mallory, a Charlottesville native and hometown hero, will be returning for his sophomore year. Although he didn’t make the starting lineup his freshman year, he averaged 24 minutes and nine points, and 3.4 assists in his 36 games. As a veteran who made a quick impact, his minutes and role are likely to rise.
Soon after, the program announced the anticipated news of De Ridder’s second-year prospects. He led the team in scoring this season, averaging 15.6 points a game. The re-commitment means the Belgian forward, who previously played professionally in Europe, will fulfill his two years of NCAA eligibility in Charlottesville.
Together with Grünloh, Virginia secures starters in the frontcourt. Grünloh contributed 7.1 points per game – but he really shined as a shot blocker, tallying 2.2 a game as the 17th best shot blocker in the country.
While recruiting season spins into motion, Virginia fans can rest assured that three critical and familiar players will soon be back.
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