One week before the Virginia Tech men’s basketball team had their season come to an end at the hands of California in the first round of the ACC Tournament, it was reported that coach Mike Young was going to have a bigger NIL package this off-season. On Thursday, Young released a message on the Hokies’ men’s basketball X account that he is committed to turning things around in Blacksburg.
He said that more talent is needed, and that’s what he is going to try to add this off-season through the transfer portal. Between players entering the portal and two players exhausting all of their eligibility, the roster will look a lot different when the 2025-26 season starts in November. Here is a breakdown of the current roster and what is needed through the transfer portal.
Virginia Tech has few players returning in 2025-26
Scholarship players eligible to return: 4
G: Ben Hammond, Sophomore
W: Jaden Schutt, Junior
W/F: Tyler Johnson, Sophomore
F: Tobi Lawal, Senior
Incoming Freshman
W/F: Sin’Cere Jones
C: Christian Gurdak
Players out of eligibility
Ben Burnham
Mylyjael Poteat
Players who entered the transfer portal
W: Rodney Brown, Jr.
W: Jaydon Young
C: Patrick Wessler
G: Brandon Rechsteiner
C/F: Ryan Jones
Virginia Tech has plenty of needs
Let’s not sugarcoat things, there are a number of needs the Hokies have. Anyone and everyone should be considered. Virginia Tech needs some portal additions in the front court with just Lawal and incoming freshman Gurdak currently there. More guards are needed as Hammond is the lone ball handler left on the roster and there are a number of options available in the portal.
The problem with the portal is that Young and his staff need to do a better job of finding the right fit for the program and without baggage. Before playing a game this past season, the Hokies dismissed Temple transfer Hysier Miller because of an issue at his previous school. That can’t happen again, especially with Rechsteiner gone in the portal. Multiple frontcourt additions are needed, and Virginia Tech got lucky last season when Poteat entered the portal but withdrew three days later to return to Blacksburg.
To say this is a vital off-season in terms of roster building is a major understatement for Young. Another 13-19 season isn’t going to cut it. The ACC was not what it was like in the past this season and that allowed the Hokies to win eight games somehow and qualify for the ACC Tournament. Another season like this one is not one fans or even Young want to go through again.