Has Virginia Basketball Had An Underrated Offseason?

Shooting Guard: Jacari White (5th)

2024-25 Stats: 17.1 PPG, 39.8% 3PT

Former School: North Dakota State

Years of Eligibility: 1

Height: 6’3”

Backup(s): Elijah Gertrude (R-So.)

Summary: White’s commitment to Virginia came out of nowhere, as the fifth-year guard didn’t even include the ‘Hoos in his top-five list of schools. He’ll be welcomed in Charlottesville, though! The 6’3” shooting guard will fill a playmaking gap in the backcourt alongside Thomas, and he’ll be a sparkplug in transition. Also, his defensive tenacity will hopefully remind fans at John Paul Jones Arena of the beauty of a shot clock violation or a ten-second call.

With the additions of White and Grünloh — whom we’ll talk more about later — Virginia will not totally abandon its defensive identity, even if the Pack-Line is no longer. White fielded interest from Houston, Texas Tech, West Virginia, Ole Miss, and Virginia Tech, ultimately deciding on Virginia as his destination to spend a final year. White’s shooting, slashing, and defensive instincts mean that he’ll immediately find significant minutes even in a higher conference.

Shooting Guard/Wing: Malik Thomas (5th)

2024-25 Stats: 19.9 PPG, 39.4% 3PT

Former School: San Francisco

Years of Eligibility: 1

Height: 6’5”

Backup(s): Sam Lewis (Jr.)

Summary: San Francisco’s Malik Thomas is heading across the country to Virginia. A 6'5 super senior, Thomas received a final year of eligibility from the NCAA and will add a valuable scoring dimension to an improved roster. He averaged 19.9 PPG in 2024-25 and twice hit the 85% threshold from the free-throw line with the Dons. For reference, no Cavalier hit that mark last season. It’s hard not to be giddy about the ‘Hoos’ potential considering just how game-changing Thomas can be alongside a prolific two-way guard in White, and the frontcourt now has the makings of an All-ACC group. The super senior starred against the likes of Gonzaga and Loyola-Chicago, combining for 52 points against the Bulldogs and 71 against the Ramblers across the Dons’ two matchups against each.

An electrifying, three-level scorer is unique to Virginia teams of late. Thomas can fill it up in bunches and has the size to play the three. This was the announcement that many were awaiting, and the San Francisco transfer moved quickly after hearing the NCAA's decision. Now, it’s up to Odom, associate head coach Griff Aldrich and the rest of the staff to assemble the pieces that are in place in Charlottesville. If they can land Belgian forward Thijs de Ridder to round out the frontcourt, the Cavaliers may just have a top-15 preseason roster.

Forward: Devin Tillis (5th)

2024-25 Stats: 13.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 39.5% 3PT

Former School: UC-Irvine

Years of Eligibility: 1

Height: 6’7”

Backup(s): Silas Barksdale (Fr.), Martin Carrere (So.)

Summary: Enter Hampden-Sydney College as the common denominator in this commitment. Having played under Coach Russell Turner — a college teammate of Odom and Aldrich in the 1990s — Tillis will head over to Charlottesville after one year with UNLV and three years with the Anteaters. He is an impressive rebounder for his size and can step out to shoot the three, as evidenced by a 38.6% career three-point clip. Virginia has shooters everywhere. The news of Tillis’ commitment largely flew under the radar, but he should slot in as the starting four. He should play a critical role in Virginia’s system and could take on some mismatches with Grünloh and Thomas in the fold.

He’s a smooth operator under the basket, similar in play style to Jayden Gardner and also standing at 6’7. Virginia has lacked a forward with touch since he left. You’re looking at a potential glue guy for the Cavaliers in 2025-26 with Tillis. He’s been a part of back-to-back campaigns in which the Anteaters went 17-3 in-conference, so one can hope that the winning ways continue on the East Coast. That now makes three West Coasters — Hall, Thomas, and Tillis — in the way-too-early starting lineup.

Center: Johann Grünloh (Fr.)

2024-25 Stats: 8.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 36.2% 3PT

Former Team: Rasta Vechta (Basketball Bundesliga)

Years of Eligibility: 4

Height: 6’11”

Backup(s): Ugonna Onyenso (Sr.), Carter Lang (R-So.)

Summary: Odom is flexing his international muscles. Having already landed France’s Martin Carrere as a transfer from VCU, Odom has caught a big fish in German center Johann Grünloh — a rising freshman who has five years of experience professionally. He is teammates with a former ‘Hoo, forward Jayden Gardner (2021-23), and a four-year starter at UCLA in point guard Tyger Campbell (2019-23). That’s pretty good company for a 19-year-old. Grünloh’s addition provides an answer to frontcourt questions that plagued Odom’s operations in the transfer portal, as he should start immediately as a shot-blocker, stretch big, and rim-runner who should fit seamlessly into an uptempo system. He'll be backed up by a 7'0" rim protector in Kansas State's Ugonna Onyenso."

This is going to be one of the most improved lineups in the ACC and without a clear leader going into the year, Virginia could be in the mix along with Duke, Louisville, NC State, and North Carolina.