Virginia Tech Basketball News: Penn State, Toibu Lawal update

It has been a very busy offseason for Virginia Tech men’s basketball coach Mike Young and his staff. The Hokies saw a mass exodus from Blacksburg following their elimination from the second round of the NIT Tournament in March at Ohio State.

Since then several players have entered the transfer portal and committed to other schools, while Young has got commitments from players whom Hokies’ fans will like. There was also the drama with UTSA guard Jordan Ivy-Curry who committed to Virginia Tech, then de-committed and committed to Central Florida.

As the long summer months lay ahead for the Hokies, here is some of the latest news surrounding Virginia Tech and it’s all promising.

Virginia Tech to play Penn State in Baltimore

The Hokies will play Penn State in the Hall of Fame Series Baltimore on Nov. 15 as part of a doubleheader at CFG Bank Arena. It will be th 12th all-time game between the two schools with Tech holding a 7-4 series lead.

"We are thrilled to have our team compete in the Hall of Fame series in Baltimore versus Virginia Tech on November 15. It will be a high-level event with two great college basketball games. We're excited to connect not only with our Penn State alumni in the DMV area but the very passionate basketball fan base in Baltimore. We'll see you in November."

- Mike Young

This is a good early-season test for Young’s team who will be trying to put all the new pieces together for a better 2024-25 season.

Toibu Lawal withdraws from NBA Draft

VCU transfer Toibu Lawal is going to quickly become a Virginia Tech fan favorite next season with his athletic ability at both ends of the floor. Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reported that Lawal withdrew from the 2024 NBA Draft and played the 2024-25 season in Blacksburg.

The 6-foot-8 Lawal from London, England, averaged 19 minutes a game last season for the Rams, while also averaging 7.7 points, and 6 rebounds a night.