When Ugonna Onyenso arrived at Virginia last summer, he wasn’t entirely convinced it was a good fit. Previous stops at Kentucky and Kansas State had left the center feeling like another season on an emotional rollercoaster was likely ahead.
“Coming to Virginia in the summer, I didn't think it was kind of the right fit for me because of the stops that I've made and the ups and downs that I've had in college,” Onyenso said looking back with reporters late last season. “So coming to Virginia, I was like, okay, it's probably going to be [like one] of the other schools I'm still going to have my little ups and downs.”
It turned out to be the opposite. Onyenso settled in with UVA, found a role that he felt he could master, and connected with the team of players and coaches around him. What followed was a season where his team won 30 games and he posted 105 blocked shots to finish second in a single season at Virginia. That’s behind only the legendary Ralph Sampson, who owns spots 1, 3, 4, and 5 on that list with 157, 103, 103, and 99 blocked shots from his four seasons.
Onyenso also joined another one of the most recognizable names in basketball on a blocked shots list. With 21 blocked shots in the ACC Tournament, he broke the previous record held by Wake Forest Tim Duncan, who had 14 in 1995. That included 9 blocks against Duke in the tourney final.
In the end, Onyenso averaged 6.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. He made the All-ACC Defensive team and won the Bob Bradley Spirit and Courage Award at the ACC Tournament. That award is given to an ACC individual that has overcome significant hardship, illness, or injury.
The byproduct of the Hoos’ success and Onyenso’s individual play recaptured the attention of the NBA. As the spring progressed through draft combines, workouts, and more, Onyenso climbed up draft boards. And by Wednesday night, he had been selected with the 53rd overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Houston made the pick, but Onyenso was eventually traded to the Pistons.
The long journey from Nigeria to NBA Draft night brought excitement for Onyenso and fans from Virginia and beyond. Check out the moment and other social media stories below.
Onyenso’s selection in the NBA Draft is also the latest illustration of how an influx of talent helped create the new rise of the Virginia basketball program. He became the 11th UVA selected since 2012, joining Mike Scott (2012), Joe Harris (2014), Justin Anderson (2015), Malcolm Brogdon (2016), Devon Hall (2018), De’Andre Hunter (2019), Ty Jerome (2019), Kyle Guy (2019), Trey Murphy III (2021), and Ryan Dunn (2024).
In that same time period from 2011-12 through 2025-2026, the Hoos produced a winning record in every season but one. They won 30 or more games five times, including last season. The total record in that time: 378-128.
From 1996-2012 when Virginia slipped from an NCAA Tournament regular to an afterthought, the Cavaliers finished with five losing records and at .500 two other times. The total record from the 1995-1996 season through 2010-2011: 253-231. During that span, only two Hoos heard their name called in the NBA Draft with Roger Mason Jr. in 2002 and Sean Singletary in 2008 being that duo. UVA had the fewest NBA Draft picks of any of the ACC’s nine long-time members from 1996-2005 prior to conference expansion.
That talent infusion has made being a Virginia fan a lot more fun in basketball season. Check out some UVA fans in the weekly picks below.
Fan(s) Of The Week
Wahoowa from the upperdeck.
Student Fan(s) Of The Week
Thumbs up if you love the Hoos!
Feature Photo Of The Week
Ugonna Onyenso turns for a hook shot against Pittsburgh this past season.
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