Following a first-round loss in the ACC Tournament in March against California, Virginia Tech men's basketball coach Mike Young said that the 2025-26 Hokies will be better than they were with the 13-19 2024-25 Hokies. You can't say that the veteran coach hasn't made the effort.
Another offseason of turnover with the transfer portal and bringing in some talented freshmen, on paper, Virginia Tech appears to be a better team already. Again, paper doesn't win games on the court from November through March.
Young has some talented incoming portal players, but he also has some key retention players returning as well. One player who is coming back is Tobi Lawal, who entered the NBA Draft process this spring but left the door open for a return to Blacksburg, which is what happened. Then, Greek star Neoklis Avdalas verbally committed to the Hokies if he too was going to withdraw from the NBA Draft process. He did too and kept his word by signing with Virginia Tech.
He projected out as a second-round pick in this week's draft, but some believe that a year of college basketball could vault him into the first round next June. James Fletcher of On3 agrees.
Way-too-early 2026 NBA mock draft has Neoklis Avdalas as a first-round selection next June
Avdalas could end up being one of the top recruits to play in Blacksburg when all is said and done. He comes with an incredible upside, and he can score in multiple ways, as well as handle the ball and create his own shot. Young even stated last week that he sees Avdalas running the point during next winter. Fletcher has him as the 30th pick in next season's mock draft.
We have seen prospects withdraw from the NBA Draft to play a year in college, and it has worked out well. Avdalas has the chance to do that at Virginia Tech and become a first-round pick next June.