Ryan Odom keeps talking about Martin Carrere like a guard, and that alone has turned him into one of the most interesting names in Virginia’s offseason conversation.
Carrere, a 6'9" G/F, has been viewed by plenty of UVA fans as a depth piece - a forward who can space the floor and give the rotation some size. Odom, though, has been pushing a different idea all summer: that Carrere can actually handle the ball and help initiate the offense.
That came up again in a July media presser, when Odom was asked whether anyone beyond Chance Mallory and Sam Lewis could be in the mix to handle the ball or start the offense heading into 2026. Odom’s answer was direct:
"I think certainly we're always trying to make sure that we're putting the pieces in the right places. Martin is a very good handler. He's somebody that could be a guy that could fit into that role."
That kind of comment changes the way Carrere gets viewed. Instead of just being a stretch forward in the background, he suddenly looks like a legitimate secondary ball-handler candidate in Virginia’s system.
Carrere’s scoring has long been the part of his game that stands out most. The question now is whether that translates into real creation for himself and others in 2026/2027. His first season at UVA in 2025/2026, after transferring from VCU, wasn’t efficient by the numbers - he shot 38.5% from the field - but that apparently didn’t shake Odom’s belief in what he can become.
The broader issue for Virginia is obvious: the point guard depth behind Chance Mallory is thin. That means the staff may need to lean on more versatile options if Mallory needs a break, and Carrere is now firmly in that conversation along with Sam Lewis, Jan Vide, and Elijah Gertrude.
There’s also the obvious upside if this really works. A 6'9" player who can handle, facilitate, and score gives Virginia something unusual, and the comparison that jumps out is Brooklyn Nets guard-forward Egor Dëmin, a 6'8"+ combo player with a similar build.
That’s why Carrere has become such a fascinating piece. If Odom is right, Virginia may have more than a stretch forward on its hands. It may have a rare size-and-skill blend that could make the 2026/2027 season a lot more interesting than anyone expected.
In Other News...
Virginia May Finally Have The Pass Rush Depth Fans Needed
Fall camp has brought a more encouraging tone around Virginias pass rush, with defensive coordinator John Rudzinski spending part of his media availability breaking down a group that looks deeper than it has in recent seasons. Fisher Camac, Matthew Fobbs-White, Jewett Hayes and Devon Baxter all drew mention as players who could help give the Cavaliers more pressure off the edge, and the overall message was one of cautious optimism about what that room might provide this fall.
Camac, in particular, sounds like a player the staff believes is on an upward track. Rudzinski pointed to his athleticism and his study habits as important pieces of his development, the kind of traits that can help a pass rusher turn flashes into steady production. Virginia has been looking for more consistent disruption in that area, so the real question now is whether this group can translate camp promise into something the defense can count on once the games start. [Read more 🡒]
Beau Pribula Now Holds The Key To Virginias Ceiling
Virginias quarterback decision is now official, and with Missouri graduate transfer Beau Pribula tabbed as the starter, the Cavaliers have settled the most important position on the field heading into the season. Tony Elliott has been consistently upbeat about what Pribula has brought to the program, pointing to his leadership and poise, along with the way he has already connected with teammates and handled himself around the media.
John Rudzinskis view adds another layer to why this choice matters so much for Virginia. The defensive coordinator has emphasized Pribulas athleticism, his command of the offense and his ability to make life harder on the defense, which is exactly the kind of profile that can change what the Cavaliers are capable of this fall. The job now shifts from winning the competition to proving the ceiling really is higher with him at the controls. [Read more 🡒]