Odom lands 6-11 German big man

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Ryan Odom’s first Virginia basketball team will have a little international spice to it this fall, enhanced Monday by a commitment from 6-foot-11 Johann Grunloh, one of the top international players coming to America.

Grunloh, from Hamburg, Germany, committed to UVA on Monday, boosting the Cavaliers frontcourt. The big man, projected by some as a potential second-round NBA Draft choice, instead to give college hoops a try. He is considered the second-best shot blocker playing in the German BBL, the highest level of professional club basketball in Germany.

Reportedly, Grunloh chose Virginia over Indiana and several other schools in pursuit.

That’s where Odom’s strong international recruiting ties, traced back to father, Dave’s, recruiting roots at Virginia and Wake Forest, i.e. Tim Duncan, Ricky Peral and others.

Grunloh will join 6-8 wing Martin Carrere from France on Virginia’s roster. Carrere redshirted last season at VCU and followed Ryan Odom to UVA. Odon’s VCU team also had two players from London and another from Ukraine.

Playing this season in Germany for SC Rasta Vechta, Grunloh teamed with former Virginia big man Jayden Gardner, who likely had a strong influence on the big German’s decision to come to Charlottesville.

This year, Grunloh has played in 33 games and has made at least 32 3-pointers, shooting 35 percent from the arc and 47 percent of his field goal tries. He averages 8.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots in 23.3 minutes per game. He has posted at least 13 double-figure performances this season.

Grunloh is 19 years old and turns 20 this fall.