Virginia Tech Basketball Faces Dubious Future

First came the news that JT Thompson—the bruising (in more ways than one), oft-injured Hokie forward—is leaving Virginia Tech and plans to request a sixth year of eligibility elsewhere. Thompson, who missed each of the last two seasons with knee ligament tears, is transferring to be closer to his young daughter.

Then, in late April, word leaked out of Blacksburg that Virginia Tech had fired head coach Seth Greenberg after nine seasons—and just one NCAA Tournament appearance—with the Hokies. The shady divorce caught even Greenberg by surprise, bringing more instability to a program looking to shore up its recruiting on the hardwood.

Virginia Tech Athletic Director Jim Weaver insisted that some of the biggest names in college basketball had inquired about the head coaching vacancy. Yet Weaver ultimately settled for former Tech assistant coach James Johnson, promoting as head coach the man who left the school in April to take the same position at Clemson. What Weaver calls a move in the best interest of continuity certainly comes off as a lateral move at best. And it certainly doesn’t support his assertion that marquee names were lining up to interview for the open position.

Earlier this month, the Hokies also lost one of the biggest recruiting coups in program history when Dorian Finney-Smith announced his decision to transfer schools. Already down a key sparkplug off the bench in Thompson, Virginia Tech will now be without an instant impact player at forward. Finney-Smith, who made the ACC’s all-freshman team after starting in 30 games last season, was arguably the team’s best athlete and offers more upside than anyone else on the current roster. Though he only shot 33% in his rookie season, Finney-Smith was a two-time Virginia player of the year, renowned for his explosive and diverse offensive game.

Joining Finney-Smith on the transfer trail is incoming recruit Montrezl Harrell, who last week was granted a release from his letter of intent. Harrell, a power forward lauded for his high motor, is now free to pursue any school. Because Harrell is transferring in light of the firing of Greenberg—the coach to whom he committed—Virginia Tech cannot block any schools from Harrell’s list of potential landing spots. Louisville and Kentucky are believed to be the two favorites for the Tarboro, North Carolina native, sparking the first Bluegrass battle since the two schools squared off in New Orleans at the Final Four.

So about that “continuity,” Jim…

On top of the transfers, Tech also loses departing seniors Victor Davila and Dorenzo Hudson, who combined for 18.4 points per game last season. That leaves Erick Green, the high-scoring, sharp shooting combo guard to handle the bulk of the scoring. Rising junior forward Jarell Eddie and sophomore guard Robert Brown will be focal points on the offensive end as well.

Marshall Wood, another power forward recruit bound for Blacksburg this fall, has said he will honor his commitment and remain at Virginia Tech. So at least there’s that for VPI.  Coach Johnson also collected his first player on Tuesday in the form of UNC Wilmington transfer Adam Smith, a shooting guard entering his sophomore year.

Wood and redshirt freshman Joey van Zegeren, who sat out last season, will be counted on to give relatively many minutes at the forward position next season. The Hokies expect to return forwards Cadarian Raines and C.J. Barksdale to next year’s team as well. That gives Coach Johnson added depth in the frontcourt needed given the departures of Thompson, Finney-Smith and Harrell.

But now Virginia Tech must again settle for middling talent, which is certainly not enough to compete with talent factories like Duke, North Carolina and future ACC member Syracuse. NC State is on the rise. Florida State has been the steadiest challenge to Duke and Carolina for ACC supremacy over the last half decade. And Pittsburgh, along with Syracuse, will bolster the top half of an ACC in dire need of more challengers for the Blue Devils, Tar Heels and Seminoles.

Where Virginia Tech fits into the picture both short and long-term is anyone’s best guess. But if Seth Greenberg’s tenure at Tech is any indication, “continuity” is not what James Johnson should be striving for. For the Hokies to be a viable player in the ACC over the next decade and beyond, the program will need a renaissance of sorts. And judging by the movement of key players and prized recruits away from Blacksburg, that rebirth will have to come fast. Otherwise, the new head coach himself may be the next one out the door.