Hokies Make a Splash in the Transfer Portal: Where Virginia Tech Stands After Landing Amani Hansberry
After a relatively quiet start to the transfer portal season, Virginia Tech men’s basketball just sent a clear message: they’re not staying on the sidelines anymore.
Over the weekend, head coach Mike Young and the Hokies secured a major commitment from one of the top forwards in the portal — Amani Hansberry, a former West Virginia standout. The 6’8″, 240-pound forward is set to bring his physical presence and scoring ability to the ACC after averaging 9.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the Mountaineers last season. He appeared in 31 games, starting 23, and shot 43% from the field.
Hansberry is no stranger to movement — Virginia Tech will be his third stop after beginning his college career at Illinois. But his arrival in Blacksburg may be as much about who’s coaching as where he’s playing. Earlier this week, Virginia Tech also announced the hiring of former West Virginia assistant Chester Frazier, and it’s no coincidence that one of Frazier’s former players is now headed to join him.
Rated as the No. 72 overall player in the transfer portal and a four-star transfer prospect by 247Sports, Hansberry was once ranked as the No. 61 overall high school recruit in the nation. Now, he’s expected to play a key role for a Hokies team looking to climb the ACC ladder next season.
But how does this big addition impact Virginia Tech’s standing in the ACC transfer portal rankings?
Despite the splash, the Hokies currently sit tied for 11th in the updated rankings (as of April 9), alongside SMU and Wake Forest. Still, it’s worth noting that only three teams ahead of them boast a higher average player rating, signaling the quality-over-quantity approach Virginia Tech is taking.
Louisville leads the pack after a transfer portal haul that could make them a preseason ACC favorite, with Clemson, Syracuse, Miami, and North Carolina rounding out the top five. Meanwhile, Florida State has the most commitments (five), but a slightly lower average rating per player.
With several ACC programs still without a single portal addition — including Duke, Georgia Tech, and Notre Dame — there’s still plenty of movement left this offseason.
As for the Hokies, if Hansberry is any indication, Mike Young isn’t done yet.