Hokies Nab Another 4-Star Basketball Commit

For some reason, Buzz Williams has excelled at persuading talented, athletic guards to commit to the Hokies. Today, he added to his collection as Wabissa Bede announced he will pursue his collegiate career at Virginia Tech. The 4-star PG (per 24/7), hailing from Cushing Academy in Massachusetts, is just the latest addition to an already stacked backcourt, with Justin Robinson, Justin Bibbs, Ahmed Hill and co-commit Nickeil Alexander-Walker in place – not to mention Ty Outlaw and Chris Clarke who have that positional versatility.

Bede not only gives Virginia Tech it’s second guard commit for the 2017 class, but it also marks the second top-100 recruit. Two years ago, given the state of the basketball program in Blacksburg, it seemed impossible that Buzz Williams would have come this far in his turnaround, not only on the court but in recruiting. It really is a testament to his recruiting prowess as well as his ability to sell the Hokies as a brand that recruits want to be a part of. The trio of commits for 2019 Williams landed last Friday morning and Bede shows how far this program has progressed.

As a player, Bede can attack defenders in a variety of ways. My favorite part of his game is his range and ability as a deep threat.

Having a PG that can shoot the three can be a remarkable weapon, which adds another element to the Hokies that they have not had for years. Devin Wilson is a poor three-point shooter who defenses were more than content to leave open. Justin Robinson – who finished the year shooting the ball at a 35.1% clip from deep – was not that great of a threat last season, although the arrow for that percentage is trending upward. Bede has a chance to be better than either of them in that category, particularly since he is not gun-shy at all.

Williams loves quick point-guards that can attack the basket, and Bede consistently shows the ability to do that as well. His suddenness catches defenders off-guard, which creates the space Bede needs to pull up for a shot. His handles are solid meaning he has the ability to get by defenders off the bounce as well. Given his impressive athletic ability, he should add more juice to the Hokies’ transition game. Defensively, Bede possesses quick, strong hands which certainly fits with the Hokies’ focus on creating turnovers . You really have to like Williams’ ability to pick out recruits that fit his system and style even though they may not be the highest ranked guys on recruiting sites.

Bede visited Blacksburg this past weekend and had visits lined up for both Massachusetts and La Salle. The fact that he went ahead and knew that Virginia Tech was the right spot for him should make Hokie fans giddy. Welcome to Blacksburg, Wabissa.