Buzz Goes Bonkers: Emanuel Miller, Yavuz Gultekin, and Andre Gordon pledge to Hokies

Well, I haven’t been able to check in that frequently of late, but in the time that I’ve been able to, Buzz Williams has gone crazy. A very barren class of 2019 has suddenly exploded, and in the span of three days, three players have committed to Virginia Tech. Please welcome the verbal commitments of Emanuel Miller, Yavuz Gultekin, and Andre Gordon. I’m not going to belabor many points because I’m not much of the basketball guy, but all three of these guys are a mix of high three- low four star players that could really impact the team for years to come. Just an overall standing board right now so that you have an idea of where these guys are ranked:

Emanuel Miller: 247: 89 overall three star (144^th (inter)nationally, 25^th power forward, 12^th player overall from Canada), ESPN: 80 overall four star (34^th small forward, 2^nd overall from Canada), Rivals N/A four star (104^th (inter)nationally, 26^th power forward).

Other offers: Illinois, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, SMU, St. Bonaventure

Yavuz Gultekin: 247: 89 overall three star (181^st (inter)nationally, 32^nd power forward, 4^th player overall from Maryland), ESPN: 76 overall three star (53^rd small forward, 8^th overall from Maryland), Rivals N/A three star (149^th (inter)nationally, 33^rd small forward).

Other offers: DePaul, George Mason, George Washington, Georgetown, Kansas State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwester, Penn State, Rhode Island, TCU

Andre Gordon: 247: 89 overall three star (195^th (inter)nationally, 30^th combo guard, 1^st player overall from Ohio), ESPN: 79 overall three star (36^th overall point guard, 5^th overall from Ohio), Rivals: N/A three star (not ranked elsewise)

Other offers: Akron, Dayton, Illinois State, Boston College, DePaul

Let’s see what I can do in tape breakdown in spite of myself.

Emanuel Miller (Scarborough, Toronto, Canada via Napa, CA. 6’-6”, 210lbs. Combo Forward)

Miller is the very stereotypical Buzz Williams always playing hard guy. He’ll get back and defend just as easily as he will make soft layups or make good passes and take good shots. He’s been coming on strong for a while, being named the MVP of the Biosteel All-Canadian Futures game back in 2016. Not to get in too deep because the tape is limited, but he looks like a prototype Zach LeDay/Chris Clarke kind of grinder and no one would complain about that.

Yavuz Gultekin (Istanbul, Turkey via Cumberland, MD. 6’-8”, 190lbs. Combo Forward)

Gultekin is the epitome of not-great European YouTube low-def highlight videos, but in what you can see, he’s got a good set of handles and he’s a natural downhill offensive attacker. He can shoot some, too, which is great in how Buzz spreads out the floor. He also does plenty of ball-handling for a ‘forward’. I like his layup form, it’s just going to be interesting to see him play defense considering Buzz has made that a new point of emphasis and what I can see of his tape he hasn’t played a ton of defense. But he’s an athletic dunker and versatile offensive player that has a lot of potential.

Andre Gordon (Sidney, OH via Huntington, WV. 6’-2”, 185lbs. Combo Guard)

Gordon is another freewheeling athletic attacker who is both a prime driver and a solid defender and passer. I mean you can pretty much stamp ‘Buzz Williams Kid’ on his forehead- think Seth Allen with more defense. He’s even got a nifty crossover spin move that looks real impressive. Good shooting form, too.

Good to get more people onboard, and look forward to seeing more in the future. Go Hokies!