Following the conclusion of college basketball’s regular season, several Virginia Tech men’s basketball players entered the NCAA transfer portal, with some being encouraged to explore opportunities elsewhere — a growing trend in college sports, especially basketball.
Up until now, the Hokies hadn’t added any new players, but that changed on Saturday when four-star forward Amani Hansberry announced his commitment to Virginia Tech. This is a significant acquisition for Mike Young and his program, as Hansberry’s decision was influenced by his strong relationship with top assistant Chester Frazier. Frazier, who recently returned to Blacksburg after stints at Illinois and West Virginia, had previously worked on Young’s staff from 2019 to 2021.
Hansberry, a 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward from Silver Spring, Maryland, played high school basketball at Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore. After initially committing to Illinois out of high school, Hansberry played one season for the Fighting Illini, averaging 2.4 points over 19 games. He then followed Frazier to West Virginia, where he had a breakout season, appearing in 31 games and averaging 9.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
Hansberry is a four-star recruit both out of high school and from the transfer portal, with two years of eligibility remaining. He is expected to join Tobi Lawal in the Hokies’ frontcourt, providing a strong complement to Lawal as a traditional post player who can also run the floor and shoot from the outside. Additionally, Hansberry is known for his solid defense.
Virginia Tech continues to pursue players from the transfer portal as it works to strengthen its roster for the upcoming season. This week, freshmen Ben Hammond and Tyler Johnson also announced they would return for another season.
Saturday marked a positive day for Mike Young and the Hokies, and fans will be hoping for more good news to come.
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