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Guys, I haven't touched much on VT basketball, but there's lots going on right now with the Hokies.
First off, I know I've mentioned these guys on the INsider chats, but a lot of recruits were in attendance Sept. 7 for the Ohio State game. A big chunk of Oak Hill Academy (Va.) was there, most notably four-star forward
Mario Kegler and 2017 four-star guards
Ty-Shon Alexander,
Matt Coleman and
Lindell Wiggington. Also there were 2017 four-star forwards
Aamir Simms and
Dajour Dickens, as well as 2018 four-star guard
Keldon Johnson and 2018 three-star guard
Rasir Bolton.
Of that group, only Kegler appears to be out. I had thought maybe that Kegler was giving VT a look, but our Eric Bossi spoke to Kegler and his handler last week and the Hokies are not an option. So Kegler was there for support of his younger teammates, it appears. Still worth keeping an eye on.
I spoke with Simms earlier and will have a full story tomorrow, but it sounds like VT might be the favorite here. Simms is up to 12 offers, most recently from Clemson. He didn't want to name favorites, but said he has a few coaching staffs he has better relationships. He listed VT, Providence, Xavier, Cincinnati and Clemson as the ones he's closest with. Simms said he wants to see Clemson, Penn State and Xavier next, though he has no plans right now for any definites. This would be a huge get, though, for the Hokies and a guy they're working hard for.
As far as the 2016 class, the odds are slim, but coach Buzz Williams hasn't given up on four-star forward
Javin DeLaurier, from up in Charlottesville (Va.). DeLaurier named a top six a few weeks ago of Arizona, Duke, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Stanford and Texas. But Williams visited DeLaurier early last week. Doesn't seem to have changed anything, but it's worth noting Williams hasn't given up.
Williams was also in Richmond last week. I'm told he paid a visit to George Wythe (Va.) three-star point guard
Maliek White, No. 126 in the Rivals150. Another guy who doesn't have an offer yet, but it sounds like that could happen soon. I don't believe White has visited yet, so that would be a guy to look for in visiting, where he could also workout with the team and VT could get a better sense of if it wants to offer.
One guy to keep an eye on is Hamilton Heights Christian (Tenn.) four-star forward
Abdul Ado, No. 74 in the Rivals150. Williams visited him last week. I've been told by my VT staff sources that the Hokies haven't offered, but the way the Hokies sit with DeLaurier and not a ton of big-time guys available for VT, Ado is certainly an attainable guy. My guess is an offer could come his way soon, as well as a visit.
Finally, another guy to keep tabs on is Marshall (TX) forward
Tiadre Jackson-Young. I'd gotten word that Williams went to see Jackson-Young last week and honestly, even Bossi didn't know anything about him. I'm working to get more on Jackson-Young, to see what the interest level really is and what VT thinks about him, but for right now, I want to at least make you all aware of him.
I'm still told that VT has only one certain scholarship. But the Hokies are still approaching the 2016 class as if it would take a guard and a big if that was possible. If not, they'll take the best available. So they're being very selective with who they want to use that definite scholarship on, while looking at possibly taking two.