[caption id="attachment_4400" align="aligncenter" width="700"]![Ahmed Hill shoots against Ole Miss [Credit: Harley Taylor]](//techlunchpail.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/ahmed-hill-shoots-against-ole-miss.jpg?w=700)
Ahmed Hill shoots against Ole Miss [Credit: Harley Taylor][/caption]When Buzz Williams was hired in 2014, he brought wo of his Marquette commits with him in Ahmed Hill and Satchel Pierce. Both players showed some promise as freshman with Hill being a regular starter and a quality two-way player while Pierce played limited minutes but had some good moments. However, last season didn't go so well for either player with Hill missing the whole season due to injury while Pierce played sporadically.
As a result, Pierce made the decision to transfer, but Hill knew that despite the injury, he had a big opportunity to still not only be a starter but a key player for the Hokies. This season, Hill has made his return and has stepped his game up to a level that most probably couldn't have imagined after missing all of last season due to injury.
The stats show how dangerous Hill has been offensively averaging 14.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while also shooting 46.4% from the field and an impressive 45.6% from beyond the arc. Hill has shot 75.7% from the free-throw line, and has made some big free throws when the Hokies have needed to him going 7-for-10 from the line against Ole Miss including making 4 important free throws in the final minute while also going 5-for-6 from the line against Nebraska.
Hill's three-point shooting has been one of the biggest parts of his breakout year that has helped give the Hokies more options than just Justin Bibbs from beyond the arc with Hill, Ty Outlaw, and Seth Allen all shooting over 40% from three. However, it has been Hill in particular who has consistently found ways to find space to get a relatively open three and take advantage of those chances.
Two of Hill's best three-point shooting performances have come against Virginia Tech's best opponents as Hill went 4-for-6 from deep against Ole Miss and 6-for-11 from deep against Texas A&M. The Hokies' offense started to slow down some when teams were able to focus more on containing Justin Bibbs on the outside last season, but the Hokies have gotten much better on the outside led by Hill who has been Virginia Tech's top three-point shooter this season making threes in important moments.
Hill is a typical Buzz Williams player that has a whole lot of toughness and isn't afraid of contact as shown by how he has the ability to attack from the outside to get in the paint and get himself some easier opportunities around the rim. Hill is more of a shooter than a slasher like Justin Robinson or Seth Allen, but Hill's offensive arsenal is the most versatile on the Hokies' roster and makes him quite difficult to guard.
Ahmed Hill has proven to be effective at getting out in transition whether it be getting out ahead of the defense for an easy layup or dunk, or taking advantage of 3-on-2 type situations to find space on the outside and get himself an open three in transition.
Hill isn't necessarily a primary ball handler for the Hokies, but has done a good job at protecting the basketball with only 1.1 turnovers per game which is tied for lowest on the team with Justin Bibbs among those averaging at least 12 minutes per game. Hill has also only had 6 turnovers in Virginia Tech's four games against major conference opposition this season.
At times, Hill has looked like the best player on the floor for the Hokies while being the player who can spark a rally with a big three along with continuing to show that he is a two-way player that can provide quality, tough defense that makes him someone the Hokies want to have in for all aspects of the game no matter the situation in the final minutes.
Outside of having 7 points and fouling out against Michigan, Hill has also stepped his game up against the toughest competition with 18 points against Texas A&M, 12 second half points against Nebraska after having none in the first half, and 20 points against Ole Miss. Hill has proven to be a guy that Virginia Tech can count on not only to be effective against weaker competition, but also to step up against the toughest opponents.
Ahmed Hill showed plenty of promise as a freshman, but after being missing last season due to injury, no one knew how good Hill would truly be. However, Hill has surpassed any reasonable expectation in emerging as one of the key players that has pushed Virginia Tech to the brink of being in the top 25 along with having the Hokies looking like a NCAA Tournament team that shouldn't have to worry about being on the bubble.
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![Ahmed Hill shoots against Ole Miss [Credit: Harley Taylor]](http://techlunchpail.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/ahmed-hill-shoots-against-ole-miss.jpg)
Ahmed Hill shoots against Ole Miss [Credit: Harley Taylor][/caption]When Buzz Williams was hired in 2014, he brought wo of his Marquette commits with him in Ahmed Hill and Satchel Pierce. Both players showed some promise as freshman with Hill being a regular starter and a quality two-way player while Pierce played limited minutes but had some good moments. However, last season didn't go so well for either player with Hill missing the whole season due to injury while Pierce played sporadically.
As a result, Pierce made the decision to transfer, but Hill knew that despite the injury, he had a big opportunity to still not only be a starter but a key player for the Hokies. This season, Hill has made his return and has stepped his game up to a level that most probably couldn't have imagined after missing all of last season due to injury.
The stats show how dangerous Hill has been offensively averaging 14.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while also shooting 46.4% from the field and an impressive 45.6% from beyond the arc. Hill has shot 75.7% from the free-throw line, and has made some big free throws when the Hokies have needed to him going 7-for-10 from the line against Ole Miss including making 4 important free throws in the final minute while also going 5-for-6 from the line against Nebraska.
Hill's three-point shooting has been one of the biggest parts of his breakout year that has helped give the Hokies more options than just Justin Bibbs from beyond the arc with Hill, Ty Outlaw, and Seth Allen all shooting over 40% from three. However, it has been Hill in particular who has consistently found ways to find space to get a relatively open three and take advantage of those chances.
Two of Hill's best three-point shooting performances have come against Virginia Tech's best opponents as Hill went 4-for-6 from deep against Ole Miss and 6-for-11 from deep against Texas A&M. The Hokies' offense started to slow down some when teams were able to focus more on containing Justin Bibbs on the outside last season, but the Hokies have gotten much better on the outside led by Hill who has been Virginia Tech's top three-point shooter this season making threes in important moments.
Hill is a typical Buzz Williams player that has a whole lot of toughness and isn't afraid of contact as shown by how he has the ability to attack from the outside to get in the paint and get himself some easier opportunities around the rim. Hill is more of a shooter than a slasher like Justin Robinson or Seth Allen, but Hill's offensive arsenal is the most versatile on the Hokies' roster and makes him quite difficult to guard.
Ahmed Hill has proven to be effective at getting out in transition whether it be getting out ahead of the defense for an easy layup or dunk, or taking advantage of 3-on-2 type situations to find space on the outside and get himself an open three in transition.
Hill isn't necessarily a primary ball handler for the Hokies, but has done a good job at protecting the basketball with only 1.1 turnovers per game which is tied for lowest on the team with Justin Bibbs among those averaging at least 12 minutes per game. Hill has also only had 6 turnovers in Virginia Tech's four games against major conference opposition this season.
At times, Hill has looked like the best player on the floor for the Hokies while being the player who can spark a rally with a big three along with continuing to show that he is a two-way player that can provide quality, tough defense that makes him someone the Hokies want to have in for all aspects of the game no matter the situation in the final minutes.
Outside of having 7 points and fouling out against Michigan, Hill has also stepped his game up against the toughest competition with 18 points against Texas A&M, 12 second half points against Nebraska after having none in the first half, and 20 points against Ole Miss. Hill has proven to be a guy that Virginia Tech can count on not only to be effective against weaker competition, but also to step up against the toughest opponents.
Ahmed Hill showed plenty of promise as a freshman, but after being missing last season due to injury, no one knew how good Hill would truly be. However, Hill has surpassed any reasonable expectation in emerging as one of the key players that has pushed Virginia Tech to the brink of being in the top 25 along with having the Hokies looking like a NCAA Tournament team that shouldn't have to worry about being on the bubble.
Stay up with The Tech Lunch Pail for the latest on the Hokies via Facebook and Twitter plus subscribe to our email updates.
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