Virginia's Thijs De Ridder Announces Return for Another Season

The All-ACC forward will be back in Charlottesville for the 2026-27 campaign.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:07pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball player in motion, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in shades of blue, orange, and white, conveying the dynamic energy of the sport.De Ridder's return gives Virginia a strong foundation to build upon as they aim to compete for an ACC title.Charlottesville Today

Thijs De Ridder, a first-team All-ACC forward for the Virginia Cavaliers, has announced that he will be returning to the team for another season. De Ridder was a key contributor for Virginia in the 2025-26 season, ranking 15th in the ACC in scoring, 9th in field goal percentage, and 17th in rebounding. His return, along with the previously announced return of guard Chance Mallory, will make the Cavaliers one of the favorites to win the ACC next season.

Why it matters

De Ridder's decision to return is a major boost for the Virginia basketball program. As an All-ACC performer, he will provide valuable leadership and production on the court. With several key pieces departing, having De Ridder and Mallory back gives the Cavaliers a strong foundation to build upon as they look to build on their NCAA Tournament appearance in the first season under head coach Ryan Odom.

The details

De Ridder was named to the All-ACC first team and the All-Rookie team this past season. He ranked 15th in the ACC in scoring (15.9 ppg), 9th in field goal percentage (51.3%), and 17th in rebounding (6.3 rpg). De Ridder reached double figures in scoring 24 times and had 11 games with 20 or more points, including a career-high 32 against Notre Dame. He also recorded three double-doubles on the year.

  • De Ridder announced his decision to return on April 6, 2026.

The players

Thijs De Ridder

An All-ACC forward for the Virginia Cavaliers who was a key contributor last season, averaging 15.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Chance Mallory

A guard for the Virginia Cavaliers who previously announced he would be returning for another season.

Ryan Odom

The head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers, who is entering his second season at the helm of the program.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, I think first off, it's the character in our locker room. We sign guys who wanted to be part of something bigger than themselves, who chose Virginia for all the right reasons and wanted to experience Virginia and all that it could offer them, even outside of basketball, of course.”

— Ryan Odom, Head Coach, Virginia Cavaliers

What’s next

With De Ridder and Mallory both returning, Virginia will look to build on their NCAA Tournament appearance last season and compete for the ACC title in 2026-27.

The takeaway

De Ridder's decision to return to Virginia is a major boost for the Cavaliers as they look to build on their success from last season. His scoring, rebounding, and leadership will be crucial as the team replaces several key departures and aims to contend for an ACC championship.