Ryan Odom's 6′ 11″ UVA recruit Johann Grünloh is tipped "to make an early impact at Virginia" by recruiting insider

Virginia hired Ryan Odom in March, and is looking to improve its roster significantly ahead of next season. The addition of 6-foot-11 German center Johann Grünloh is considered a major move towards achieving that goal, which one basketball analysts agree with.

Grünloh previously played for SC Rasta Vechta in Germany's top-tier Bundesliga and averaged 7.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game last season.

However, he decided to join the Cavaliers despite being projected as a second-round pick in the 2025 NBA draft. It will give him more time to develop at the collegiate level.

Basketball analyst Grant Hughes recently ranked Grünloh among the top international players entering college basketball. He also noted that he is "poised to make an early impact at Virginia."

"Johann Grunloh is poised to make an early impact at Virginia next season under new coach Ryan Odom,” Hughes wrote on Friday, via 247Sports.

The Cavaliers finished the 2024-25 season with a 15-17 (8-12 ACC) overall record, a performance that led to the dismissal of interim coach Ron Sanchez.

Odom has a solid track record of building programs, with one of his highlights being the historic upset win over Virginia in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.

With the addition of Grünloh, the Cavaliers are expected to perform well next season.

Odom has also secured commitments from other players to reshape the roster. This includes Sam Lewis (Toledo), Jacari White (North Dakota State), Martin Carrere (VCU), Dallin Hall (BYU) and Devin Tillis (UC Irvine).

Incoming freshmen Chance Mallory and Silas Barksdale, both Virginia natives, also committed to the program.

Ryan Odom grateful to be back home in UVA

Ryan Odom was officially introduced as Virginia's coach before a crowd at John Paul Jones Arena in March. He expressed his gratitude for being given the opportunity.

“I’m so thankful to be home here at UVA,” Odom said. “I’m motivated to help continue to build this place.”

Odom’s father was an assistant coach of the Cavaliers from 1982 to 1989, and it was where his love for basketball began.

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Edited by Victor Ramon Galvez