De Ridder granted two years of eligibility by NCAA

From Staff Reports

Thijs De Ridder has been given the green light to begin his collegiate career at Virginia, according to multiple sources.

The 6-foot-8 forward from Belgium was granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA on Friday, and is expected to be a key piece for Ryan Odom and the Cavaliers this season.

De Ridder most recently played for a professional team, Surne Bilbao Basket, in Spain. The 22-year old put up 9.3 points per contest and shot 38 percent from beyond the arc.

Initially projected as a possible second-round NBA draft choice, De Ridder chose to test his skills on the NCAA level, and committed to UVA earlier this month. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.