Malik Thomas didn’t just transfer to Virginia - he’s transforming it.
After an all-conference campaign at San Francisco, Thomas arrived in Charlottesville with high expectations, joining a retooled Cavaliers roster under first-year head coach Ryan Odom. Early on, though, things didn’t quite click.
Through non-conference play, Thomas was solid but unspectacular, averaging 11.1 points, 1.8 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game. He looked like a player still searching for his role, adjusting to a new system and a higher level of competition in the ACC.
Fast forward to conference play, and it’s a different story entirely.
In six ACC games, Thomas has flipped the switch - averaging 18.7 points, 2.0 assists, and 6.3 rebounds per game - and he’s doing it with a confidence and control that’s reshaping Virginia’s identity. He’s not just contributing anymore; he’s becoming the engine of the 14th-ranked team in the country.
So, what’s changed?
Let’s start with the obvious: the shot is falling. And when a scorer sees the ball go through the net, everything else tends to follow.
Thomas is shooting a scorching 43.8% from beyond the arc in ACC play, a massive leap from the 28.8% he posted during the non-conference slate. That kind of jump doesn’t just help his box score - it changes how defenses treat him, and how his teammates play around him.
Virginia has taken notice. When a guy’s that hot, you feed him.
And the Cavaliers have done just that. Thomas buried six threes in back-to-back road games, showing off his expanded arsenal - catch-and-shoot looks, step-backs, transition pull-ups, deep shots late in the clock.
He’s hitting from everywhere, and doing it in every way.
That versatility is crucial in Odom’s offense, which emphasizes spacing and perimeter shooting. But unlike some other high-octane systems that rely almost exclusively on the three-ball, Virginia still values balance. They need an interior presence to keep defenses honest - and that’s where Thomas has made perhaps his most important adjustment.
At San Francisco, he could overpower defenders in the WCC, muscling his way to the rim at will. In the ACC, that margin is thinner.
The athletes are bigger, the help defense is quicker, and the lanes are tighter. Early in the season, Thomas tried to force the issue, attacking the rim recklessly to compensate for his cold shooting.
It often led to crowded drives, tough finishes, or turnovers.
Now, he’s playing smarter. He’s reading the floor, understanding when to go and when to pull back.
One of the most telling signs of his growth is how he handles transition opportunities. Earlier in the year, he’d barrel into traffic.
Now, he’s showing poise - driving with purpose, drawing defenders, and kicking out to open shooters. He made several of those reads during his recent hot stretch, especially in the win over Louisville, where his decision-making was as impressive as his scoring.
And while the offense has taken the spotlight, Thomas’ defensive development deserves real credit too.
Virginia’s defense has quietly become one of the best in the nation again, anchored by elite rim protection from Johann Gruenloh and Ugonna Onyenso. With those two patrolling the paint, the Cavaliers' perimeter defenders are free to play aggressively - chasing shooters off the line, funneling drives inside, and trusting the back line to clean things up.
Thomas fits that mold perfectly. At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, he’s strong enough to hold his own against bigger wings and agile enough to stay with quicker guards. He’s not a steals machine - that’s more Chance Mallory’s territory - but he brings physicality and versatility, which is exactly what Virginia needs from its wings.
Where he’s really helped, though, is on the glass. Defensive rebounding has been a soft spot for this team, especially after giving up 20 offensive boards (16 in regulation) to Virginia Tech a month ago.
Since then, the Cavaliers have tightened things up, and Thomas has been a big part of that. He’s crashing the boards with more urgency, helping Virginia claw its way to a middle-of-the-pack mark in defensive rebounding - a quiet but critical improvement.
All of this adds up to something bigger: Malik Thomas is raising Virginia’s ceiling.
When March rolls around, teams need guys who can take over. Players who can hit tough shots, make smart decisions, and stay composed when the game gets tight.
Thomas is proving he can be that guy. Virginia has other options - Thijs De Ridder and Jacari White have both had their moments - but right now, Thomas is leading the charge.
He’s not just playing well. He’s playing with purpose, poise, and a growing sense of ownership. And if he keeps this up, Virginia might be more dangerous than anyone expected.