Ryan Odom’s Virginia pipeline received its first boost through high school recruiting when four-star VCU commit announced on social media Wednesday afternoon (April 2) that he has switched his commitment to Virginia. This marks the second high school commitment Odom has secured since taking over as head coach of the UVA men’s basketball team, following Chance Mallory’s pledge to the Cavaliers just hours after Odom was officially appointed as head coach.
A 6’9″ center from Hampton, Virginia who played his high school basketball at Woodside High School in Newport News, Barksdale initially committed to VCU last September, choosing the Rams over offers from Butler, Miami, Illinois, Tennessee, Maryland, Iowa, Mississippi State, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, and Seton Hall. Shortly after his commitment to VCU, Barksdale experienced a significant rise in the recruiting rankings, jumping 60 spots in the 247Sports rankings for the class of 2025. Currently, 247Sports has him listed as the No. 88 overall prospect in the class of 2025, the No. 11 center in the country, and the No. 5 overall recruit in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ESPN also has Barksdale rated as a four-star recruit.
Of course, Ryan Odom leaving VCU to take the Virginia job led many to believe that Barksdale might reconsider his college decision. Sure enough, Barksdale decided to follow Odom to Virginia, giving UVA’s new head coach another talented young player around which to build his program as his tenure in Charlottesville begins. Barksdale told 247Sports’ Dushawn London that “it was a very tough decision”, but also added that “growing up I’ve always been a big fan of UVA.”
Watch the video below for some highlights of Silas Barksdale playing for the Boo Williams Nike EYBL AAU program last summer:
With Barksdale’s commitment, Virginia’s incoming freshman class now includes two players who are both four-star recruits, top 100 prospects in the class of 2025, and top five recruits in Virginia. Barksdale and Mallory mark UVA’s first high school commits from Virginia (on scholarship) since B.J. Stith in 2014.
Virginia Basketball 2025 High School Recruiting Class
Chance Mallory (Charlottesville, VA): four-star point guard, No. 54 overall, No. 3 in Virginia
Silas Barksdale (Hampton, VA): four-star center, No. 88 overall, No. 5 in Virginia
The Cavaliers are hopeful that Barksdale won’t be the only VCU guy to follow Odom to Virginia. Brandon Jennings and Luke Bamgboye, who just wrapped up their freshman seasons at VCU, are both in the transfer portal and both reportedly took visits to UVA last weekend. With the Cavaliers having an abundance of roster spots available following the exodus of all but two of their scholarship players from this past season, Odom and Co. are looking to get the ball rolling in the portal with a couple of commitments from Jennings and Bamgboye.
Keep track of all of the players Virginia has contacted in the transfer portal here: Virginia Basketball: Transfer Portal Contact Live Tracker
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