Things are about to pick up recruiting-wise when it comes to college basketball with the Dead Period ending. As far as Virginia Tech and men's basketball coach Mike Young goes, with the fall semester beginning, visits are being lined up this fall for Class of 2027 recruits.
Some visit dates have been revealed, and the Hokies are going to host a very interesting recruit, four-star center Nick Welch Jr., from California. He is scheduled to make an October visit to Blacksburg and is someone who The Hokies would love to land on the East Coast.
Virginia Tech men's basketball to host No. 13 big in Class of 2027
Welch is a fast-rising big who is the 135th-ranked player in the Class of 2027 and plays at Rolling Hills Prep in California. He has lined up seven visits, according to Brandon Jenkins of 247Sports, with Virginia Tech and Young having a visit scheduled for Oct. 1. The 6-foot-9, 220-pound bruiser will also visit New Mexico, Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount, TCU, and California before Virginia Tech. After he visits Blacksburg, he will visit UC Santa Barbara a week after Tech.
𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦: Nick Welch Jr., the No. 135 overall recruit in the national 2027 class, tells @247Sports he has scheduled seven official visits.
— Brandon Jenkins (@BJenkins247) August 20, 2026
Welch is a physical bruiser on the block who is fundamentally sound and reliably impactful.
𝐕𝐈𝐏 https://t.co/Cghh9t5nJi pic.twitter.com/hx0sLwAAGY
Here is a scouting report from Adam Finkelstein of 247Sports on Welch, Jr.
"Welch is a strong, physical, and fundamentally sound big man with some developing inside-out skills. He loves to turn and face in the mid-post, can put the ball on the floor a bit, has good footwork, and utilizes multiple pivots and step-throughs. While he can sometimes be reliant on bigger or longer defenders biting on those fakes, he is capable of finishing with both hands around the basket and is athletic enough to finish hard above the rim if he can load up with a step or two,'' Finkelstein wrote.
That sounds like someone who would fit perfectly into Virginia Tech's system. Someone who can finish around the basket, is athletic, and can affect both ends. After the upcoming season, there are questions surrounding what the Hokies' roster will look like, but Welch Jr. would be a nice addition for Young.
Virginia Tech will also host Class of 2027 recruit Malik Olajuwon for a visit this fall as things pick up. Landing either will be tough with other programs in the mix, but hopefully Young and Chester Frazier can work some magic.
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