If you didn't believe Mike Young when he said the Virginia Tech men's basketball team was going to be better next season than they were this past season, never doubt the veteran coach. When Young proclaimed at the ACC Tournament following a first-round overtime loss to California that his team would be better next season, he wasn't kidding.
Now, of course, it's June and you won't know the true outcome until the dust settles next March, but with a bigger NIL package than he has had than in year's past, it's safe to say that Young went on and through the portal and commitments from players overseas, Tech is going to have better outlook going next winter.
Last week, the best news from the offseason, other than Tobi Lawal withdrawing from the NBA Draft process, was Greek star Neoklis Avdalas doing the same thing, and after giving a verbal commitment to Young last month, he followed true on his word and signed earlier this week. Meeting with the media, Young touched on several topics, and he had an eye-opening one in terms of the point guard position for next season.
Virginia Tech coach Mike Young has eye-opening take for the month of June
Practices have begun for the Hokies, and Young has seen a lot of healthy battles that have been going on. One of them is at the point guard position when returning freshman Ben Hammond is battling with Delaware transfer Izaiah Pasha for the job and will in the fall, but don't count out Avdalas, according to Young.
"This is healthy competition,'' Young said about Hammond and Pasha. "We haven't had that in a while here."
Then there is Avdalas, who was projected to be a very late first-round pick in next week's NBA Draft, but playing a year in college can only help vault him into a potential lottery pick next June. He can do everything, he can shoot the ball, he can put it down on the floor and finish at the basket, and also run the point.
Mike Young mentioned Avdalas will play "a lot of point guard here." #Hokies have a very pro-style roster in terms of ball-handling versatility across the board.
— Tucker Terry (@TuckerTerry05) June 17, 2025
Interesting to see how Young staggers the minutes of his primary ball-handlers (Avdalas, Hammond, Bedford, Pasha).
You read that right, Avdalas will play a lot of point guard next season, and that may not be a bad thing. He could end up being one of the better players the Hokies have, and why not have the ball in his hands as much as possible? It only makes sense in certain situations. If you're not already getting excited for the 2025-26 Virginia Tech men's basketball season, then you should be.