28
Thijs De Ridder
Forward
Position
6'8''
Height
231 lbs.
Weight
Freshman
Class
Brasschaat, Belgium
Hometown
Gitok Kalmthout
High School
Instagram

Before Virginia
• Graduated from Gitok Kalmthout in Belgium in 2021
• Played for Bilbao Basket of the Liga ACB from 2023-25
• Appeared in 33 of 34 games in 2024-25, averaging 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game on 50.2 percent shooting from the field and 39.1 percent from 3-point range
• Logged season-highs in points (19) and rebounds (9) off 6 of 7 shooting with two triples vs. Granada (3/23/25)
• Tied a season-high with 19 points off 8 of 9 shooting vs. Unicaja (4/19/25)
• Scored in doubles figures in 16 games and made multiple triples in seven contests
• Appeared in all 34 games in 2023-24, averaging 6.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on 51.5 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent from three
• Recorded two double-doubles, one with 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds vs. Baxi Manresa (1/7/24) and the second with a career-high 21 points and 11 rebounds vs. Palencia Baloncesto (5/4/24)
• Also tallied a career-high three triples vs. Baxi Manresa (1/7/24)
• Competed for Belgium in the 2025 European Championship Qualifiers, appearing in six games
• Participated in the FIBA U20 European Championship for Belgium in 2022 and 2023
• Led Belgium to a fourth-place finish in 2023, averaging 16.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in seven contests
• Named Belgian Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, and Big Man of the Year in 2023
• Named as one of Liga ACB’s Top 5 Young Guys in 2025
• Played for Bilbao Basket of the Liga ACB from 2023-25
• Appeared in 33 of 34 games in 2024-25, averaging 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game on 50.2 percent shooting from the field and 39.1 percent from 3-point range
• Logged season-highs in points (19) and rebounds (9) off 6 of 7 shooting with two triples vs. Granada (3/23/25)
• Tied a season-high with 19 points off 8 of 9 shooting vs. Unicaja (4/19/25)
• Scored in doubles figures in 16 games and made multiple triples in seven contests
• Appeared in all 34 games in 2023-24, averaging 6.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on 51.5 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent from three
• Recorded two double-doubles, one with 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds vs. Baxi Manresa (1/7/24) and the second with a career-high 21 points and 11 rebounds vs. Palencia Baloncesto (5/4/24)
• Also tallied a career-high three triples vs. Baxi Manresa (1/7/24)
• Competed for Belgium in the 2025 European Championship Qualifiers, appearing in six games
• Participated in the FIBA U20 European Championship for Belgium in 2022 and 2023
• Led Belgium to a fourth-place finish in 2023, averaging 16.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in seven contests
• Named Belgian Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, and Big Man of the Year in 2023
• Named as one of Liga ACB’s Top 5 Young Guys in 2025
Personal
• Born in Brasschaat, Antwerp, Belgium
• Son of Luk De Ridder & Annick Vanhaele
• Has two brothers, Niels (24) and Lukas (18)
• Enjoys playing tennis and driving cars
• Chose UVA for the elite atmosphere and fanbase
• Has two brothers, Niels (24) and Lukas (18)
• Enjoys playing tennis and driving cars
• Chose UVA for the elite atmosphere and fanbase
• Goal is to play professional basketball at the highest level
• Undecided major