Virginia Men’s Basketball Secures Signing of Belgian Forward Thijs De Ridder
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia men’s basketball has officially added thijs De Ridder to its roster, as announced by dean and Markel Families Head Men’s Basketball Coach Ryan Odom on Wednesday, July 16.
“We are excited and fortunate to add Thijs to our basketball program,” Odom stated. “Thijs is talented, experienced and competitive. he will have an immediate impact in our frontcourt, and we look forward to his arrival on Grounds.”
Player Profile and Background
De Ridder, pronounced “Tess,” is a 6-foot-8, 231-pound power forward. He brings a skilled offensive game and notable international experience to the Cavaliers.
For the past two seasons, De Ridder competed in Spain’s Liga Endesa for Surne Bilbao basket. In the 2024-25 season, he posted averages of 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, demonstrating efficiency with a 50.2% field goal percentage and a 39.1% success rate from beyond the arc.during the 2023-24 campaign, he contributed 6.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest,shooting 51.5% from the field and 36% on three-pointers.
International Acclaim
de Ridder has also represented Belgium on the international stage. He appeared in six games for Belgium during the 2025 European Championship Qualifiers. Furthermore, he participated in the FIBA U20 European Championship in both 2022 and 2023.
His performance in the 2023 FIBA U20 European Championship was especially noteworthy, as he led Belgium to a fourth-place finish. In seven games, De Ridder averaged an remarkable 16.9 points and 9.6 rebounds. His collegiate-level accolades include being named Belgian Rookie of the Year, sixth Man of the Year, and Big Man of the Year in 2023. He was also recognized as one of Liga ACB’s Top 5 Young Guys in 2025.
