P.J. Horne becomes the third Hokie to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal

Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but a player from the Virginia Tech basketball team has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. First, Landers Nolley - last season’s leading scorer - made the jump and eventually landed at Memphis. Then Isaiah Wilkins who saw his contributions significantly reduced this past year declared his intentions to leave the program as well. Wilkins has decided to move on to ACC foe Wake Forest. Now a second one of the Hokies’ primary starters from last season is leaving.

As was rumored towards the end of last week, P.J. Horne has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal as confirmed by multiple outlets including the Roanoke Times and Sports Illustrated. Horne is expected to graduate from Virginia Tech this summer, which would allow him to play immediately next season to close out his college eligibility.

Horne started 30 of Tech’s 32 games last season, averaging 7.6 points per game and shooting 47% on the year. He had an up and down season, fading away for several games at a time, while also coming up with big shots and hot moments in a few key games. But the junior failed to lead the Hokies in any key stat despite being third in total minutes and with 30 starts. Case in point, the very raw John Ojiako, with far less than half the time on the court than Horne had, produced more blocks.

2019-20 was P.J.’s first year as a regular starter. The role shift and the new system under Mike Young had an impact on his effectiveness. His overall shooting percentage and free throw percentage were down despite a career high in average points per game. Mostly due to the fact that he played more this past season than the prior two years combined - as the Hokies adjusted to a very young roster.

Mike Young spoke to The Roanoke Times about Horne’s exit and the Hokies’ front court next season,

“He’s a great kid, a valuable member of our team. We’ve got plenty up front [next season]. We’re certainly bigger than we were a year ago, and we’ll try to add another piece if it makes it sense.”

Up next we finally get around and looking at the Virginia Tech basketball roster based on year and position. That is pending the team doesn’t have another surprise exit or addition in the next few days.