Virginia basketball is becoming a pipeline to the pro level

Aside from championship banners, the best thing a college basketball coach can produce is a long list of former players who go on to compete professionally.

The NCAA has always been a de facto minor league system for the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball. Now, NIL money and direct payment make college athletes professional apprentices who earn while they learn.

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Virginia hasn’t experienced much postseason success since winning the 2019 national championship, but both Tony Bennett and Ryan Odom have shown an ability to prepare their players for next-level opportunities.

Odom’s first pro class

Mar 19, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers center Ugonna Onyenso (33) shoots during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Four of the five players who joined the first edition of Odom’s program and subsequently exhausted their eligibility are now making a bid to play professionally. Center Ugonna Onyenso was recently drafted by the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, while guard Malik Thomas will play for the Toronto Raptors’ summer league team this week in Las Vegas. Guards Jacari White and Devin Tillis signed with professional teams in Belgium and Finland, respectively.

Only point guard Dallin Hall is not on that list.

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None of the other four came to Virginia as a surefire pro prospect. They had been role players at their former schools, or big fish in smaller ponds. Each developed his skills significantly in 12 short months working with Odom and his staff — none more so than Onyenso, who blossomed from a backup center at Kentucky and Kansas State to an elite rim protector and capable scorer.

That’s the sort of thing that players notice when they’re choosing a coach and a program, whether it’s coming out of high school or within the NCAA transfer portal. Who can get me ready for a chance at the big leagues?

This is not a new…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/virginia-basketball-becoming-pipeline-pro-141635339.html

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Publish date : 2026-07-06 14:16:00

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