Twelve games into this Virginia Tech career, freshman guard Neoklis Avdalas has been turning heads. When the Hokies visited South Carolina earlier this month for their ACC/SEC Challenge game in Columbia, there were several scouts on hand to watch Avdalas.
He scored 13 points in the Hokies' 86-83 overtime win over the Gamecocks with eight rebounds and eight assists. He had his whole game on display that night. There have been games this season where he has scored the ball, and there have been games where he has been setting up teammates with his pinpoint passing. Regardless, he is opening eyes with the 2026 NBA Draft just six months away.
Virginia Tech guard Neoklis Avdalas predicted as a first-round pick
Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report released his latest 2026 NBA mock draft, and he has Avdalas going 24th to the Los Angeles Lakers.
"Neoklis Avdalas' shotmaking diversity popped again during his second 30-point game of the season. He's looked confident from outside with his three-point attempts and range all season, while the ability to separate into/convert two-point pull-up and fallaways creates more scoring versatility,'' wrote Wasserman. "Between the takeover performances and the 4.8 assists per game, which reflect perceived translatable playmaking based on his 6'9" size, ball-handling and passing skills, scouts can somewhat look past questions about his athleticism and whether the space creation will carry over.''
In 12 games this year, Avdalas has had two 30-point games, including a 33-point effort in the second game of the season, a 107-101 win over Providence. He also had 30 points against Western Carolina in a 96-74 victory. Virginia Tech plays Elon on Saturday afternoon before the Christmas break, then they will open ACC play against Virginia on New Year's Eve afternoon. The competition will take a step up and and scouts will certainly have an eye on Avdalas as ACC play gets into full swing.