The Transfer Portal is open, and the craziness is about to begin. When it comes to Virginia Tech and men's basketball coach Mike Young, there are needs, and there are also players who are key to retaining for next season and beyond. Well, for next season anyway, with college basketball becoming a year-to-year sport.
Young has already lost Antonio Dorn, Christian Gurdak, Jaden Schutt, Neoklis Avdalas, and Izaiah Pasha to the portal. On Monday night, it was announced that Amani Hansberry was returning for his senior year, which was huge. There are a couple of other players fans are waiting for, Ben Hammond and Tyler Johnson.
On Tuesday afternoon, just hours after the portal officially opened, Virginia Tech announced that Johnson will be returning for next season. That is huge news for one of the key players for Young and his staff.
Virginia Tech announces forward Tyler Johnson is returning for the 2026-27 season
Johnson was off to a good start at the beginning of the season for the Hokies, and right before ACC play was to begin against Virginia on New Year's Eve afternoon in Blacksburg, it was announced he was going to miss the game because of an injury. That turned into almost a two-month absence for Johnson, and he was sorely missed.
unchecked boxes 🤫 @ty1erj0hnson
— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) April 7, 2026
➡️ https://t.co/czHDZhG6zn pic.twitter.com/WBekTGr46u
In 17 games this season, the Florida native averaged 26 minutes, 8 points, and 4.5 rebounds a game. In the Battle 4 Atlantis in November, the 6-foot-5 Johnson had 16 points against VCU before tallying 13 points each against George Mason and Western Carolina. He had 12 points in Virginia Tech's overtime win over Providence in November. He had nine points and 12 rebounds in November against Colorado State.
At the time this article is being written, there has been no announcement made on Hammond's future, which is the last big one looking ahead to next season before rebuilding through the portal begins.