Following one of the more frustrating Virginia Tech men's basketball seasons in 2024-25, VCU transfer Tobi Lawal tested the NBA Draft waters by attending the NBA Draft Combine. He left the door open to return to Virginia Tech if he didn't get the feedback he was hoping for.
In the end, he returned for his senior season in Blacksburg, and it ended up being a frustrating one. He dealt with an injury after the Battle 4 Atlantis and was out until after the New Year and well into ACC play. However, when he returned, he proved that he was more than willing to make the jump to the next level and be a late second-round draft pick in June's draft.
Read More: 3 most painful Virginia Tech men's basketball portal losses under Mike Young
He ended up getting picked by the Dallas Mavericks with the 48th pick and made his NBA Summer League debut in Las Vegas in July. Lawal had his up-and-down moments in the Summer League, and if he's going to stick with the Mavericks out of camp, he's going to need to improve on both ends of the floor. However, it was a good way for Lawal to get his feet wet in the NBA.
Virginia Tech gets mixed predictions in July
Silly season is in full effect. Joe Lunardi dropped his latest ESPN bracketology last month, and really, to nobody's surprise, he had the Hokies still out of the field next March, despite the field being expanded to 76 teams. If the Hokies can't get in then, well, that would be concerning.
As for the media, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports dropped his ACC Preseason Power Rankings, and he had Virginia Tech at No. 8. That is surprising; however, if they just happen to end up finishing eighth in the conference next winter, then they would be close to a lock for the NCAA Tournament.
Former Hokies standout tabbed one of the NBA's underrated players
This past season, former Virginia Tech standout Nickel Alexander-Walker was named the NBA's Most Improved Player Award in late April during the Atlanta Hawks' first-round series against the New York Knicks. Last month, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report listed the top 10 most underrated players in the NBA. Alexander-Walker came in at No. 2, right behind Neemias Queta of the Boston Celtics. It's safe to say that his stock is rising in the NBA, and a big 2026-27 season could be on tap for him in Atlanta.
Add us as a preferred source on Google