Virginia Tech fans and maybe those around the men's basketball program received some surprising news this afternoon as forward David N'Guessan entered the transfer portal as confirmed to us by Virginia Tech and first reported by Verbal Commits.
Virginia Tech F David N’Guessan has entered the transfer portal. https://t.co/yi341AgxSE
— Verbal Commits (@VerbalCommits) April 28, 2022
This comes as N'Guessan was the Hokies' main backup big man this past season averaging 3.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 13.5 minutes per game while shooting 48.6% from the field. He was expected to at least be a rotational piece with likely a larger role this upcoming season for the Hokies or the same role at minimum.
N'Guessan is the fourth Hokie to enter the transfer portal this offseason with Nahiem Alleyne transferring to UCONN, Jalen Haynes transferring to East Tennessee State, and John Ojiako currently searching for his next destination. His decision to enter now before May 1st ensures that he will be immediately eligible next season per the current NCAA transfer rules.
While a return to Virginia Tech for N'Guessan can't be ruled out given the timing just before May 1st, it certainly seems unlikely at this time. N'Guessan also seems likely to receive lots of high mid-major and some high major interest given the flashes of potential he's shown in Blacksburg.
N'Guessan's decision to enter the transfer portal puts the Hokies back at four open scholarships after that number had dropped to three with the commitment of Memphis transfer F John Camden earlier this week. One of those scholarships is certainly being saved for Justyn Mutts should he return while the one tied up for Keve Aluma is no longer after Aluma formally chose to leave Tech in a recent follow up to his initial announcement.
This will undoubtedly increase Tech's push to try to bring back Justyn Mutts next season with NIL likely to be a factor in trying to keep Mutts in Blacksburg for his sixth year of college basketball. This also increases the focus on landing multiple forwards and big men beyond Camden with LSU's Efton Reid, four-star F Tyrell Ward, Wright State's Grant Basile, and Division II All-American Jamari Smith among the numerous names to watch.
We will have more as this story develops.
