At long last, UVA signs Thijs De Ridder

By Jerry Ratcliffe

The long-awaited arrival of Thijs De Ridder is over. Virginia has signed the 6-foot-8 Belgian star, although he and the Cavaliers are continuing to wait eligibility clearance by the NCAA.

De Ridder, a 22-year-old who removed his name from the NBA Draft process last month, was considered a likely second-round choice.

Most recently, De Ridder played for the Spanish professional team Surne Bilbao Basket. He averaged 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds and posted solid shooting numbers (54 percent field goals and 38 percent from the 3-point line).

De Ridder is considered a three-level scorer and would give Ryan Odom’s first Virginia team quite a boost in the frontcourt, where he will join another European standout in 7-footer Johann Grunloh from Germany, 7-footer Ugonna Onyenso, who transferred from Kansas State and previously played at Kentucky, and 6-8 freshman Silas Barksdale, who previously committed to Odom at VCU.

Grunloh was also projected as a possible second-round NBA Draft choice. He averaged 7.9 points and 5.6 rebounds (1.4 blocks) for RASTA Vechta in 2024-25.