:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65953058/usa_today_13780312.0.jpg)
College football had their early signing day this past week as the Virginia Tech Hokies picked up 14 commits. With the future on the mind, let’s take a look at the incoming class of basketball recruits expected to join Mike Young in Blacksburg next season.
In Division 1, basketball teams are allowed 13 scholarships. At the moment Branden Johnson, Wabissa Bede, P.J. Horne, Kevin Aluma (transfer sit out), Jonathan Kabongo (expected to red shirt this year), Isiah Wilkins, Landers Nolley, Jalen Cone, Hunter Cattoor, Nahiem Alleyne, John Ojiako, and Tyrece Radford make up the 12 spots for Mike Young. That leaves room for two new players next season with Branden Johnson graduating.
All of the remaining names should still be in Blacksburg next year baring an unforeseen event or Nolley having such a year that he declares for the NBA early. If Kabongo redshirts this year and sticks around he would retain his, while Aluma is sitting out this season after transferring from Wofford and is expected to remain a scholarship player next year.
Who is in the Class of 2020?
Tech has two commits to fill those open spots - Joe Bamisile and Darius Maddox. The program has offers out to 10 additional players pending any changes in the current roster or with those future recruits.
Bamisile is a 6’5” guard from the Richmond, VA area playing at Monacan High School. He is listed by 247sports as a 4-star player, ranked 66th nationally, the 12th shooting guard, and the 5th overall player in the state of Virginia. Here is a look at Joe during the NBPA Top 100 Camp this past summer.
Maddox comes from Oak Hill Academy, stands at 6’4” and also is listed as a 4-star recruit. He falls into the rankings just behind Bamisile as 84th nationally, 12th at the position, and 7th overall in the state of Virginia. Here is a highlight package from his time on Team Durant at the EYBL event earlier this year.
Both players look like great additions to the current Hokies roster and seem to fit Mike Young’s system perfectly. Tech fans can start dreaming about these two young guards lining up alongside seniors Bede and Horne and the slew of young talents currently making waves in Blacksburg.