Ryan Odom and Virginia’s staff spent the offseason patching the holes left by Ugonna Onyenso, Malik Thomas, and Jacari White, and they also built around the pieces already back for 2026. After a look at UVA’s summer practice period and a little more information from inside the program, the picture is clearer now: some Cavaliers matter a whole lot more than others when it comes to how this season plays out.
At the top of that list are the players who can set the tone immediately. Chance Mallory and Thijs De Ridder sit in that spot because Virginia’s ceiling starts with them.
If Mallory handles the point guard job as a full-time starter and De Ridder keeps scoring at a high level, the Cavaliers should be in decent shape. If that doesn’t happen, the early part of the season could get rocky in a hurry.
Sam Lewis and Jurian Dixon also carry real weight because Virginia needs offense from them. On the front line, Grünloh is expected to take on a bigger role in the paint in 2026/2027, especially when it comes to rebounding.
After that comes the group that should form the backbone of the rotation. Jan Vide is the likeliest backup point guard behind Mallory, and he could also slide into the starting group in certain matchups if Odom wants more ball movement on offense.
Harmon and Adekunle look like a strong wing pair off the bench, with both bringing a solid mix of scoring and defense. Kalu Anya may end up with a bigger role than expected behind De Ridder and Grünloh because of his rebounding.
Elijah Gertrude has already shown he can do a little of everything for UVA, and he can play both shooting guard and small forward in short bursts.
The next tier is where the playing time gets more situational. Martin Carrere drew a noteworthy vote of confidence from Odom, who said he thinks Carrere can operate as another ball-handler.
That stood out, especially for the 6'9" stretch forward who followed Odom to UVA from VCU, even if actual point guard minutes would likely only come in an emergency. Silas Barksdale and Desmond Roberts could also work their way into the mix, particularly because Odom has shown a willingness to go deeper into his bench than many coaches, especially against lesser opponents.
The biggest unknowns may be Favour Ibe and Carter Lang. Virginia needs to settle the backup center spot before Week One, and Barksdale and Kalu are more power forward types than true centers. Ibe and Lang have the size to help behind Johann Grünloh, whether that size comes in height or weight.
At the bottom of the list are the developmental pieces who are still growing into their roles. Owen Odom, along with walk-ons Quincy Watson and Nick Rotter, are expected to keep improving during the season with an eye toward earning rotation minutes down the road.
In Other News...
Virginia Suddenly Faces A Huge Problem Up Front This Fall
Virginias defensive front is heading into the fall with a very different look, and the challenge is clear after several key graduate players moved on from last years group. The Cavaliers still want the same things from that unit in 2026: pressure on the quarterback, sturdiness against the run and enough depth to hold up through an ACC schedule. Fisher Camac gives them a returning starter to build around, while transfers like Ezekiel Larry and Nnanna Anyanwu are expected to be part of the answer on the edge.
The bigger issue is how quickly all of those pieces can come together once camp opens. Virginia will need returning players and newcomers to mesh fast on the interior and on the outside, because the margin for error up front is thin when so much production has to be replaced at once. The coaching staff has options to sort through, but the real test is whether the Cavaliers can turn that mix into a front that still looks like a strength rather than a work in progress. [Read more 🡒]