Virginia Guard Chance Mallory Returning for Another Season

Mallory, a local product, will be a key piece for the Cavaliers next season.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 8:34pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball player in motion, with the player's form broken down into overlapping planes of Virginia's blue and orange colors, capturing the dynamic energy of the sport.Chance Mallory's decision to return to Virginia next season will be a key piece of the Cavaliers' puzzle as they look to build on their recent success.Charlottesville Today

Chance Mallory, a rising sophomore guard for the Virginia Cavaliers, has announced that he will be returning to Charlottesville for another season. Mallory, who was born and raised in Charlottesville, initially decommitted from Virginia before recommitting after Ryan Odom was hired as the new head coach. Last season, Mallory averaged 9.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game off the bench.

Why it matters

Virginia is losing several veteran players from last year's team, so Mallory's decision to return is a big boost for the Cavaliers as they look to build on their success. As a local product, Mallory's continued commitment to the program is also important for maintaining the team's connection to the Charlottesville community.

The details

Mallory was a standout player at St. Anne's-Belfield High School in Charlottesville, where he set school records for points, steals, assists and wins. He was a four-time All-VPL selection and the 2024 VISAA State Player of the Year. Mallory chose Virginia over offers from several other top programs, including Tennessee, Villanova and Maryland.

  • Mallory announced his decision to return to Virginia on April 6, 2026.

The players

Chance Mallory

A rising sophomore guard for the Virginia Cavaliers, Mallory is a local product from Charlottesville who was a standout high school player at St. Anne's-Belfield.

Ryan Odom

The new head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers, Odom was able to convince Mallory to recommit to the program after he initially decommitted.

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What they’re saying

“HOOS BACK Chance Mallory WILL be back in the blue and orange #GoHoos”

— Virginia Men's Basketball, Twitter account

What’s next

Mallory's role for the 2026-2027 season remains to be determined, as Virginia will likely be active in the transfer portal and Odom will have to decide if Mallory is best suited as a starter or coming off the bench again.

The takeaway

Retaining a talented local player like Chance Mallory is a big win for the Virginia Cavaliers as they look to rebuild their roster for next season. Mallory's decision to stay home and continue developing under Odom shows the program's continued appeal and ability to keep top in-state talent.