Something seismic just went down in Charlottesville — and the aftershocks are being felt hardest in Blacksburg. A pivotal recruiting twist has left the Virginia Tech Hokies staring down a deepening crisis at the guard position, as their top target has made a stunning choice that could shift the power dynamic in the Commonwealth.
After former Virginia head coach Tony Bennett stepped down last October, a talented four-star local phenom de-committed from the Cavaliers, reopening his recruitment and setting off a high-stakes battle among several top programs. Maryland, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, and even Virginia remained locked in the race for one of the most electric guards in the 2025 class.
But just as the recruitment war seemed up for grabs, a sudden change at the top in Charlottesville rewrote the script. On Saturday, Virginia officially announced Ryan Odom, formerly of VCU, as the program’s new head coach, replacing interim Ron Sanchez. Mere hours after Odom’s appointment, the Cavaliers landed a major coup: Mallory re-committed to Virginia, choosing to stay in his hometown and put on the Cavaliers’ jersey once more.
The blow to Virginia Tech couldn’t be more painful — or more untimely.
Chance Mallory, ranked 56th nationally and eighth among point guards, is considered one of the most versatile and high-IQ players in the 2025 class. Standing 5-foot-9 and coming off a season where he averaged 26 points per game, shooting over 50% from the field and 40% from deep, Mallory’s game is built for the modern offense: quick, crafty, and composed under pressure. With the ability to change tempo, facilitate scoring, and shoot lights out from beyond the arc, Mallory would have been a plug-and-play weapon for any program — and Virginia Tech knew it.
The Hokies’ backcourt depth is already thin. Just this week, Brandon Rechsteiner entered the transfer portal, leaving the team with only Ben Hammond, a relatively unproven talent, and Class of 2025 recruit Sin’Cere Jones, who may not be ready for immediate starting minutes. With the transfer portal officially opening on Monday, head coach Mike Young finds himself in scramble mode.
But Mallory’s decision doesn’t just hurt on the court — it sends a symbolic message. Virginia just successfully kept a hometown star from slipping away and reenergized its fan base with the hire of a new coach and a high-profile recommitment. Meanwhile, the Hokies lost a crucial recruiting battle in their own backyard — and to their in-state rivals no less. It’s a gut punch that could reverberate into next season and beyond, especially if Mallory blossoms under Odom as many expect.
Even worse, the timing is brutal. With several ACC programs reloading talent and aggressively mining the portal, Virginia Tech can’t afford to miss in back-to-back cycles. They’re already behind in talent at the guard spot, and Mallory’s rejection makes that deficit painfully clear.
Mike Young’s next moves will be under the microscope. Another misstep could open the door to a rough season, and if reinforcements don’t come quickly, the Hokies could be looking at a long, uphill battle in 2025 — both on the scoreboard and on the recruiting trail.
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