Who will lead Virginia Basketball in scoring this season?

De Ridder is the logical candidate, but Odom will have plenty of valid options

Mar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers forward Thijs de Ridder (28) attempts to shoot the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

One of the keys to Virginia's surprising men's basketball success in 2025-26 was its balanced offensive attack.

Yes, freshman forward Thijs De Ridder was the Cavaliers' clear go-to guy. En route to first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors, the 6-foot-9 Belgian averaged a team-high 15.6 points per game and led his team in scoring in 16 of its 36 games.

But Virginia was far from a one-man show. Two other players, Malik Thomas (12.4) and Sam Lewis (10.6), also averaged in double figures, and two more guards (Jacari White and Chance Mallory) each chipped in nine points or more off the bench. Seven different players led the Cavaliers in scoring in at least one game: De Ridder (16 times), Thomas (eight), Ugonna Onyenso, White and Lewis (three each), Chase Mallory and Dallin Hall (once each).

Despite losing four rotation regulars (Thomas, White, Onyenso and Devin Tillis) to graduation, coach Ryan Odom appears to have another deep roster for the upcoming season. So while all eyes will be on De Ridder again, there's no guarantee he'll still be on top -- which could mean problems for opponents.

Here's a look at Virginia's three most likely scoring leaders in 2027:

1. Thijs De Ridder

Putting anyone else atop this list would be foolish. De Ridder used his strength, footwork, and high basketball IQ gleaned from playing professionally in Europe to get to the basket against younger, smaller players and showed decent shooting range and touch (36 percent on 3-pointers). He figures to be even better in his second and final season at the American collegiate level.

But now that opposing ACC coaches have seen De Ridder, they'll surely design defenses specifically to stop him. Easier said that done, but he'll likely see more double-teams than he did as a freshman -- as soon as he touches the ball.

De Ridder is a capable passer and is unselfish enough to look for open teammates. If he can improve a subpar assist-to-turnover ratio (57 to 64), the Cavaliers can be even more explosive offensively.

2. Jurian Dixon

A year ago, Thomas joined the Cavaliers after leading the West Coast Conference in scoring at San Francisco. He had to sacrifice some of his offensive game to fit in, but still managed to become Virginia's No. 2 option.

Dixon appears to have similar potential after crossing the continent. He led UC Irvine with 15.9 points per game last season and earned first-team all-Big West honors, shooting 38.5 percent from 3-point range. He was consistent, reaching double figures 30 times in 35 games.

While Thomas is the natural comparison. Dixon may be asked to assume the 3-point shooting role that White filled so well last season -- even if, like White, he doesn't start.

3. Chance Mallory

Despite coming off the bench in every game as a freshman, Mallory established himself as one of Virginia's most important players and was consistently on the court in clutch time. Usually the shortest player on the floor, he still managed to hit double figures 20 times.

He's widely expected to assume the starting point guard role as a sophomore, now that Hall has exhausted his eligibility. He'll still look to set up his teammates first, but he has shown an uncanny ability to get to the basket at 5-foot-10, and if opponents play him to pass, he can make them pay. Improving his 3-point accuracy (34.5 percent last year) would make him even more dangerous.