NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing top-6 teams for 2025 4-star PG Chance Mallory

Chance Mallory is one of the better pure point guards in the 2025 NCAA Basketball recruiting class, ranked in the top-100 overall and a consensus four-star prospect. Despite being listed at 5'9, Mallory is a gifted invididual scorer, averaging over 25 ppg this past season at St. Anne's Belfield High School in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Recently, Mallory has limited his options to six schools, including a couple of local options. Are those two the best potential fit? Here's a closer look at how he'd fit with each of them.

Clemson Tigers

The Tigers will have two of the better guards in the ACC next season in Chase Hunter and Jaeden Zackery, both of whom will be seniors with one year left. The team does have a pair of incoming freshmen guards (Ace Buckner and Del Jones) and they could block Mallory's path to starting, depending on how well they play next season.

Miami Hurricanes

There's a strong chance that Miami's two main ball-handlers will be gone next season, with starter Nijel Pack entering his last year, while 5-star freshman Jalil Bethea could very well be a "one and done" to the NBA. Outside of fellow incoming freshman Divine Ugochukwu, Miami will need another point guard in the 2025 class. They're coming off a rough past season but assuming they bounce back, should be an appealing option for him.

Tennessee Volunteers

The Vols backcourt next season would be largely seniors next season, led by star PG Zakai Zeigler, as well as Jordan Gainey and Jahmai Mashack. So even if the team lands a transfer ball-handler, Mallory could easily crack into the rotation as a freshman. Coach Barnes has done well with smaller guards like Zeigler so it would be a natural fit here for the target guard.

Villanova Wildcats

Replacing Mark Armstrong as the new starting PG is Jhamir Brickus, a transfer guard from La Salle. He's a senior and won't be around after next year, outside of incoming three-star international prospect, Aleksandar Gavalyugov. Mallory would have a sizeable role out the gate but the main question would be the status of HC Kyle Neptune, who is entering the hot seat this year.

Virginia Cavaliers

Like Tennessee, Virginia and Coach Tony Bennett has experience with smaller guards, having five years of former NCAA Basketball national champion, Kihei Clark. The team's projected starting guard (Jalen Warley) will be gone after next season, leaving Kansas State transfer Darrin Ames and redshirt freshman Christian Bliss as the possible future guards. On paper, Mallory could overcome them and like with Clark, Coach Bennett is willing to play young players if they're good enough on both ends.

Virginia Tech Hokies

Like with other teams on this list, Virginia Tech's starting point guard (Hysier Miller) is entering his final year of eligibility. He'll be gone, leaving incoming freshman Ben Hammond as the future potential options. Coach Mike Young has a great history at developing guards, including Sean Pedulla of the past few years.

Both Virginia schools will try to keep Mallory local, with Virginia having a winning history and the Hokies have a solid offense. But the four others also have a key pitch, since all of these senior guards will be gone anyways.