The Hokies hope to improve after going 19-15 in 2023-24. Here is a Virginia Tech basketball preview, as we take a look at Mike Young’s new team. In 2022, Virginia Tech was able to win the ACC Tournament for the first time in program history. Since then, the Hokies have struggled to be any better than middle of the pack in the ACC. Now, with last season’s top five scoring options all gone, Young has some decisions to make. So, who will step into the starting lineup for the 2024-25 season?
Virginia Tech Basketball Preview: Hokies Have A New Look
Back-to-Back Mediocre Seasons
After winning the ACC Tournament in just his third year coaching in the conference, Young’s honeymoon phase with Virginia Tech is over. Fans aren’t calling for his job, but he’ll need to make something shake here if he doesn’t want to be in the hot seat. Obviously, Blacksburg isn’t a glamorous destination, and it’s hard to recruit with nearby blue-bloods like UNC and Kentucky. However, Young has managed to bring in the ninth-ranked freshmen class in the ACC. The Hokies 2024 transfer class isn’t a hot topic, yet their head coach has found a few hidden gems who just need an opportunity to showcase what they can do.
Virginia Tech Incoming Transfers
Jaden Schutt, Toibu Lawal, Hysier Miller, Ben Burnham, and Rodney Brown have all transferred to Virginia Tech. Schutt comes to Young’s team after two seasons at Duke. A four-star prospect out of high school, he’ll be excited to get some real playing time as a Hokie after redshirting. Lawal is transferring in from nearby VCU, where the London native produced some crazy highlights. Miller has arrived after three years at Temple. During the Owls conference tournament run, Miller led the team averaging 19.2 points per game. Burnham has transferred from Charleston where he was coached by Pat Kelsey, now the head coach at Louisville. The sharpshooter shot 37% from deep last season, and Burnham’s long-range scoring capability will help space the floor. Brown spent his first year with ACC newcomer California. As a freshman, Brown averaged just 14 minutes per game, but impressively shot 39% on three-point attempts.
Hokies 2024 Freshmen Class
Ryan Jones, Tyler Johnson, and Ben Hammond will join Virginia Tech as freshman for the 2024-25 season. Jones is ranked 89th nationally and 12th in the state of Florida. Originally from Gainesville, the big man adds some much-needed size to the roster as a six-foot-eight center. Johnson, ranked 189th nationally and 38th among small forwards, also hails from the Sunshine State, as he comes from Orlando. The Oak Ridge Graduate had a fantastic performance against Brewster Academy, where he outplayed BYU commit Elijah Crawford. Hammond is the only in-state recruit to join Tech for the upcoming season. Hammond played at Paul VI in Fairfax, VA and led the team to a 35-3 record as a senior.
Virginia Tech Schedule Preview
Virginia Tech will begin their season by hosting Delaware State, USC Upstate, and Winthrop. Then, they’ll take on Penn State in Baltimore for a Hall of Fame Series clash. VT has been invited to the 2024 Fort Myers Tip-Off, in which they’ll first face Jacksonville, followed by a game against Michigan, and ending with either South Carolina or Xavier. Afterwards, they’ll head back to Blacksburg for the SEC/ACC Challenge where they’ve been paired up with Vanderbilt. Mike Young and his crew will stay in town to battle North Carolina A&T and Navy. Finally, they’ll conclude their non-conference schedule by traveling to Philly for the 2024 Holiday Hoop Fest against St. Joseph’s, a homecoming for senior Hysier Miller.
