This has been the least exciting high school recruiting cycle I can recall. Hope something happens in the fall.
No, itās a dead period. Next time coaches are allowed out is early September, only to see players at their schools or homes. In other words, open gym season.
Cash and stash.
Cross Ethan Taylor off the list
Genuinely curious as to what the pitch is for Odom in these high profile battles
A little surprised (worried) that we arenāt even making lists
I mean I think this class is clearly barreling towards failure. Weāre not really in contention for anyone weāre targeting right now and decided to dip on the one top 100 guy that was interested in us
Werenāt you one who advocated for Bennett to throw offers to the Top 40-50 guys rather than just focus harder on guys in 50-125 range? Maybe it wasnāt you. But this is to be expected to get little or no traction with top guys. At least until thereās a track record for success in an easy-sell offense.
Yes because CTB had a national title and NBA success to sell. Odom has neither.
Iām really excited about Odom, but the early returns on his actual recruiting ability are pretty poor to date
Itās about the same as other new coaches. Gibson if we had gone in on woulda been the highest ranked recruit out of all the new coaches.
Get back in on Gibson, offer Collingwood and get a late October visit, try to get Quentin Coleman on a visit.
Go hard after Peck and maybe offer Julius Avent.
And see what pops up in spring with decommits, coaching changes, and young guys in the portal. Hopefully with momentum off a good season
I went back and looked at the timing of when recruits committed to Odom the last 4 years at VCU and Utah State. It paints a picture that this might be more the norm than you think. Heās definitely comfortable playing the long game, and not afraid to miss out completely.
2025 class-VCU
Silas Barksdale-committed in early Sept
Jordan Tillery-committed in October
2024-VCU
Brandon Jennings-committed in November
Terrence Hill-late cycle in May
Luke Bamgboye-late cycle June
Martin Carrere-late cycle July
2023-Utah State
Karson Templin-Oct
Garrison Phelps-Oct
2022-Utah State
Signed no high school recruits
The 2026 class equivalent would be Utah Stateās 2022 class (no one) and VCUās 2024 (first commit in Nov)
For the moment, I am not really concerned about 2026 recruiting. I had very low expectations of what might be accomplished. I donāt see how anything which happens before next spring can be deemed a āfailureā. Furthermore, I donāt see a problem. Yet. As I and others have noted, Coach Odom has been swinging for the fences. I like this approach in Year 1. Even if no one commits to Virginia in the fall, there remains the transfer portal next spring. Also, due to the new NCAA regs, I have a suspicion that we are seeing a new recruiting dynamic evolve. Those 2026 recruits who commit in November are not bound by those commitments. I will be curious to see what sort of percentage of them has a change of heart in April, and reopen their recruitment. Even if Virginia misses on every single prospect itās offered in the early signing phase, it is likely that a suitable alternative will become available at seasonās end. Of course, a lot will depend on the peceptions created by this seasonās performances. Itās a brave new world out there, and roster management, along with recruiting strategies, are in a state of flux. At least, they are as seen by this outside eye.
Itās still early, especially with the way Odom likes to operate. Only 13 players in the top 100 have committed and 25 in the top 150.
I have a feeling weāre gonna end up with two guys ranked in the top 150 along with one or two international recruits, and a lot of this early angst about recruiting is gonna be forgotten about by next offseason.
There was a lot of early angst about his transfer recruiting and it was completely gone in a couple months.
For perspective:
thought Nova was the school to watch?
Letās beat out these clowns
Not pretending to know much about this recruitment, but thatās a very beatable fieldā¦..