Virginia Tech Basketball: Expert says Hokies have two Top 25 ACC players

The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team opens the 2023-24 season Monday night at Cassell Coliseum at 8 p.m. when they host Coppin State. The Hokies are looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament after finishing 19-15 last season overall and 9-11 in the ACC. They had to settle for an NIT bid and lost at the University of Cincinnati in the first round.

Head coach Mike Young returns some good players, as well as getting some players in the transfer portal. Two of his top returners recently ranked as part of a list of the Top 25 players in the ACC for 2023-24.

Virginia Tech has two players ranked in the Top 25 by expert

Joey Loose, who writes for FanSided’s Busting Brackets website, recently ranked the returning Top 25 ACC players and Virginia Tech had two players make the cut.

Ranked No. 20 was Hunter Cattoor, who returns for his final season in Blacksburg. Last season he averaged 10.8 points a game, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists. This season, Young will be counting on Cattoor to average more points and be a big contributor from behind the 3-point line. Along with his offense, his defense will also be a big key for a Virginia Tech team that needs to improve on the defensive end.

At No. 11 is Hokies guard Sean Pedulla, who is entering his junior season for Young in Blacksburg. In 2022-23, he averaged 15 points a game, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, playing nearly 35 minutes a night. Like Cattoor, Pedulla is a player that Young is counting on to score more this season and play better defense.

As usual, the ACC is loaded with talent from top to bottom in 2023-24. Cattoor and Pedulla certainly belong on the list entering the new season and both have a chance to collect ACC honors at the end of the season if they stay healthy. Both are centerpieces for the Hokies beginning Monday night against Coppin State. Both players will need to be better than last season after Rodney Rice made the decision two weeks ago to leave the program.