When former Virginia men's basketball coach Tony Bennett stepped down last October, four-star guard Chance Mallory from Charlottesville de-committed from the Cavaliers and re-opened his recruiting. Maryland, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Virginia Tech were in the mix to land him, along with Virginia.
On Saturday, Virginia officially announced that former VCU coach Ryan Odom was the next head coach in Charlottesville, taking over for interim coach Ron Sanchez, who was let go after the ACC Tournament. It didn't take long for Odom to make an impact at his new school and it's tough news for the Hokies and head coach Mike Young.
Chance Mallory re-commits to Virginia after Ryan Odom is hired
On Saturday, Mallory re-committed to Virginia to play for Odom and remain in his hometown for his college career. The 56th overall prospect in the Class of 2025, the eighth-ranked point guard, and third-ranked player overall in the Commonwealth according to On3.
NEWS: 4⭐️ Chance Mallory, a top-50 recruit in the 2025 class, has re-committed to Virginia and new head coach Ryan Odom, he told @On3Recruits.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) March 22, 2025
The Charlottesville native is staying home.
Story: https://t.co/giyruoRXXk pic.twitter.com/NCbZuDnbsa
The 5-foor-9 St. Anne's Belfield School product averaged 26 points a game this season shooting just over 50% from the field and 40% from behind the arc. He is a play-making point guard and someone who would have come in and made an impact next season for Young if he picked Virginia Tech.
He told On3 that in the end, he loves Charlottesville and that he wanted to play for his hometown school.
Virginia Tech is thin at the guard position for next season with Brandon Rechsteiner entering the transfer portal this week and the portal officially opens on Monday. Freshman Ben Hammond is still on the roster and Class of 2025 recruit Sin'Cere Jones should help, but one thing is clear, regardless of what happens with Hammond, Young is going to have to dive into the transfer portal this spring for another point guard and hopes he has better luck that he did last year.