Virginia Tech Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Hokies
Projected starting lineup
Point Guard – Storm Murphy, Grad. Tr.
Virginia Tech basketball shouldn’t see too much drop-off in their backcourt with the addition of graduate-transfer Storm Murphy. Murphy is yet another former Wofford prospect who’s decided to make the leap with Mike Young to the ACC. Murphy spent his first two seasons playing under Young while at Wofford and this past season, was an All-Southern Conference first-team selection while producing 17.8 points, 4.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per contest while shooting 40 percent from behind the arc.
His addition gives the Hokies another ball-handler and creator off the bounce at 6-foot, something they lacked offensively this past season. He’ll look to bring some electricity in the backcourt in 2021-22.
Guard – Nahiem Alleyne, Junior
Nahiem Alleyne returns as Virginia Tech basketball’s best perimeter shooter from 2020-21 after shooting 40.8 percent from 3-point land. The 6-foot-4 sharpshooter will look to improve on his scoring display from last season after he put up 11.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, and 1.7 apg.
Expanding his game in 2021-22 should allow him to turn a corner in the rotation as a junior. He’ll be looked upon to defend and rebound as a veteran in the lineup.
Wing/Forward – Justyn Mutts, Senior
Justyn Mutts made quite the debut in the Hokies rotation this past season, producing 9.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, and 2.2 apg as a starter. He returns after making 21 starts across 22 appearances for the Hokies and making quite the impression as a shooter on the perimeter and defensive presence.
Mutts finished the 2020-21 season shooting 33.3 percent (15-of-45) from 3-point land and with a bigger role on the horizon, he’ll look to do more in the rotation. He’ll just need to stay out of foul trouble.
Forward – David N’Guessan, Soph.
David N’Guessan will probably be the biggest surprise in the starting lineup and a candidate for the ACC Most Improved Player award when it’s all said and done. He’s a prospect with quite the motor that got a year of experience under his belt, seeing 21 appearances in 2020-21.
N’Guessan put up 2.6 ppg and 2.3 rpg across 9.7 minutes per contest as a freshman and will look to play a role at the stretch-forward option in a starting role. He’ll give the Hokies some size at 6-foot-9 and allow Mutts to slide over to the 3-spot.
Center – Keve Aluma, Senior
Keve Aluma returns after leading Virginia Tech basketball in scoring, rebounds, and blocks this past season. He was an All-ACC second-team performer by season’s end after posting 15.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.2 apg, and 1.3 bpg across 22 appearances, all starts for the Hokies.
He’ll look to pick up where he left off in 2021-22 as an inside-out threat while reuniting with former teammate, Storm Murphy. The duo should help the ball movement going forward and be quite the pick-and-roll threat when ACC basketball play arrives in January.