Virginia Tech Basketball: 2019-20 season review of the Hokies

Early 2020-21 Season Preview

Things will certainly look a lot different for the Virginia Tech Hokies in 2020-21 with the departure of Landers Nolley II but the addition of Joe Bamisile and Darius Maddox should cancel out the loss. The Hokies return four of their five starters from 2019-20 and will get Jonathan Kabongo back as well. He’s another player that will fight for minutes in the rotation in 2020-21.

Maddox is a 6-foot-4 guard that can shoot it on the wing and versatile enough to defend in the paint and rebound. Bamisile is a two-way threat with his ability to defend with pressure and attack the rim with authority.

Add to the mix the recent commitment of 6-foot-8 forward David N’Guessan as well to the 2020 recruiting class. N’Guessan is a forward who blossomed this season at Mount Zion Prep (MD) in the frontcourt as a rim runner and rim protector. The Hokies have to be feeling pretty good with the No. 19th ranked recruiting class, according to 247Sports, heading into next season.

With Nolley’s departure, the Hokies have one more scholarship left to offer in the 2020 recruiting class. They could go the grad transfer route, as they’re rumored to be one of the favorites for former Yale forward Jordan Bruner. Bruner averaged 10.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game this past season as an All-Ivy First-Team performer.

If they don’t go the grad transfer route, they’ve still got offers out there for a few members of the 2020 class. One name to keep an eye on is De’Andre Pinckney, a 6-foot-8 JUCO prospect that put up 18.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game at Broward College (FL) in 2019-20.

With some time to finalize things before next season, look for the Virginia Tech Hokies to be a much more competitive and prepared bunch in 2020-21.