When former Virginia head coach Tony Bennett stepped down last October, four-star guard Chance Mallory, a Charlottesville native, de-committed from the Cavaliers and reopened his recruitment. Schools like Maryland, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Virginia Tech quickly jumped into the mix, along with Virginia remaining in consideration.
On Saturday, Virginia made it official, naming former VCU head coach Ryan Odom as the new leader of the program, following the departure of interim coach Ron Sanchez after the ACC Tournament. It didn’t take long for Odom to make an impact in Charlottesville. Unfortunately for Virginia Tech and head coach Mike Young, that impact came at their expense.
On Saturday, Chance Mallory announced he is re-committing to Virginia, choosing to play for new head coach Ryan Odom and stay in his hometown for his college career. Mallory is ranked as the No. 56 overall prospect in the Class of 2025, the eighth-best point guard, and the third-ranked player in Virginia, according to On3.
Chance Mallory re-commits to Virginia after Ryan Odom is hired
NEWS: 4⭐️ Chance Mallory, a top-50 prospect in the 2025 class, has re-committed to Virginia and head coach Ryan Odom, he confirmed to @On3Recruits.
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.
The Charlottesville native is staying home.
Story: https://t.co/giyruoRXXk pic.twitter.com/NCbZuDnbsa
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) March 22, 2025
The Charlottesville native is staying home.
A standout at St. Anne’s-Belfield School, the 5-foot-9 guard averaged 26 points per game this season, shooting over 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range. Mallory is a dynamic playmaker who could have made an immediate impact for Virginia Tech next season had he chosen the Hokies instead.
Speaking with On3, Mallory said his love for Charlottesville ultimately led him to stay home and represent his hometown program.
Meanwhile, Virginia Tech finds itself thin at the guard spot heading into next season, especially after Brandon Rechsteiner entered the transfer portal this week. With the portal officially opening on Monday, the Hokies are expected to search aggressively for backcourt help. While freshman Ben Hammond remains on the roster and Class of 2025 recruit Sin’Cere Jones is on the way, head coach Mike Young will likely need to land another point guard through the transfer portal this spring—and he’ll hope for better luck than he had last year.
