Virginia Basketball’s Transition Season and New Prospects
Last year, Virginia Basketball underwent a transitional phase with interim head coach Ron Sanchez, but they are poised to ascend in the ACC once again. The Cavaliers made a strategic move by hiring Ryan Odom from VCU and followed up with a notable recruitment from the transfer portal, revamping their roster in hopes of regaining their former conference standing under Tony Bennett.
Underrated Offseason Moves
Interestingly, their offseason efforts seem to be somewhat underrated. According to Jeff Borzello of ESPN, Virginia was missing from a list of the top 13 transfer portal classes, despite making significant upgrades.
Top Transfer Portal Classes Not Including Virginia
Here are the top 13 portal classes according to Borzello:
- 1. St. Johns
- 2. Kentucky
- 3. Michigan
- 4. Louisville
- 5. Florida
- 6. Washington
- 7. Indiana
- 8. Oklahoma
- 9. USC
- 10. Iowa
- 11. Creighton
- 12. Auburn
- 13. NC State
Despite not being listed, Virginia successfully recruited several four-star transfers, including Johann Grunloh, Jacari White, Sam Lewis, Dallin Hall, and Malik Thomas, suggesting they may be one of the most improved teams nationally.
Projected Starting Lineup
With numerous transfers, the composition of Virginia’s starting lineup is a topic of interest. Here’s a potential structure:
Point Guard: Dallin Hall (Sr.)
2024-25 Stats: 6.8 PPG, 4.2 APG, 35.3% 3PT
Former School: BYU
Height: 6’4”
Backup: Chance Mallory (Fr.)
Shooting Guard: Jacari White (5th)
2024-25 Stats: 17.1 PPG, 39.8% 3PT
Former School: North Dakota State
Height: 6’3”
Backup: Elijah Gertrude (R-So.)
Shooting Guard/Wing: Malik Thomas (5th)
2024-25 Stats: 19.9 PPG, 39.4% 3PT
Former School: San Francisco
Height: 6’5”
Backup: Sam Lewis (Jr.)
Forward: Devin Tillis (5th)
2024-25 Stats: 13.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 39.5% 3PT
Former School: UC-Irvine
Height: 6’7”
Backup: Silas Barksdale (Fr.), Martin Carrere (So.)
Center: Johann Grünloh (Fr.)
2024-25 Stats: 8.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 36.2% 3PT
Former Team: Rasta Vechta
Height: 6’11”
Backup: Ugonna Onyenso (Sr.), Carter Lang (R-So.)
The Road Ahead for Virginia
This lineup is set to be one of the most improved in the ACC, and without a designated leader, Virginia could be contending alongside teams like Duke, Louisville, NC State, and North Carolina in the upcoming season.
