During his introductory press conference at Virginia, new basketball coach Ryan Odom noted that his staff has contacts all over for what is a global game now. On Wednesday, the Hoos added their first international recruit of the Odom era when Martin Carrere from France announced his commitment.
Carrere decided to follow Odom to UVA after playing for him at Virginia Commonwealth University last season. He announced his decision on social media.
Carrere becomes the first transfer player in the frontcourt for the Cavaliers during this cycle, though technically he was listed as a guard/forward for VCU. He joins guards Sam Lewis from Toledo, Jacari White from North Dakota State, and Duke Miles from Oklahoma as recent transfers.
The 6’8”, 180-pound native of Pontonx-sur-l’Adour, France, did not see any minutes for the Rams last season as he took a redshirt year. He does, however, have international experience with professional club Limoges CSP Elite and France’s U18 National Team. Playing for the French U18 National Team in the U18 FIBA EuroBasket Tournament in the summer of 2024, he averaged 6.7 points per game and knocked down 41.9% of his 3-point attempts (13-31). Playing for Limoges CSP Elite U21 in the Betclic Elite U21 league in France, he averaged 8.6 points and hit 38.8% of his 3’s.
As an option at small forward or power forward, Carrere could provide floor spacing that stretches the defense. That could be pick-and-pop looks, drifting to the corners, or other concepts. He showed some of those skills in his international highlights. Eurohoops Scouting noted on Twitter after his VCU commitment that he is an impressive shooter with extraordinary passing ability for his size.
Those shooting clips extend the early trend in the transfer portal for Odom and his staff so far. Lewis led the MAC at 44.4% 3-point shooting (59 makes). White knocked down 39.8% of his 3’s on 88-221 shooting at North Dakota State and he’s made at least 40 triples for three straight years. Miles hit 43.0% of his 3’s at Oklahoma last season with 40 makes. The prior season at High Point, he connected on 36.1% with 44 makes.
That makes sense given how Odom’s teams have played for most of his head coaching career. VCU ranked No. 21 nationally last season in 3-point rate (percentage of total shots that are 3’s) at 47.8% and No. 35 the previous year at 44.2%. During his two years at Utah State, the Aggies ranked 61st (42.1%) in 2023 and 116th (40.2%) in 2022. UMBC regularly sat in the top half of the country during his five years there as well.
With most of UVA’s players from last season in the transfer portal and multiple already committed elsewhere already, Odom’s first roster in Charlottesville is starting to take shape. He’s added two class of 2025 recruits in Chance Mallory and Silas Barksdale, both 4-star prospects in the 247 rankings, in addition to White, Lewis, Duke, and Carrere from the portal. More transfer news is expected to continue for the Cavaliers.
Elijah Gertrude, a former 4-star prospect coming off a knee injury, and Carter Lang, a walk-on from local school St. Anne’s-Belfield via a transfer from Vanderbilt, are the only returning Virginia players that have not entered the transfer portal or completed their eligibility from last season.
International highlights for Carrere can be seen in this YouTube video.
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