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Virginia Tech Showing Interest in Big South Freshman of the Year SG/SF Anthony Dell'Orso

Student Section 1 VT Duke 2023 ES
Photo Credit: Erin Smith

Australian 6'6'' SG/SF Anthony Dell'Orso proved this past season that he is a high-major caliber player with an impressive freshman season at Campbell averaging 12.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 48.7% from the field including 32.2% from three-point range plus 83% at the free-throw line. His impressive season earned him Big South Freshman of the Year honors and led to him entering the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining.

Since then, Dell'Orso has received lots of interest from programs across the country including Virginia Tech.

Among the most notable schools on that list of interest are the Hokies, Clemson, Xavier, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Butler, Oregon State, and Stanford. Assistant Kevin Giltner has been in contact with Dell'Orso with the Australian wing adding this on his conversations with Giltner so far.

"It was cool, I’ve spoken to him a few times," Dell'Orso said. "We've been just getting to know each other and building the chemistry."

Now this may come as a surprise given that Virginia Tech currently doesn't have an open scholarship. However, Hunter Cattoor and Grant Basile still have not decided if they will return to Virginia Tech for another season or pursue their professional careers. While it seems very likely that both will be back, the Hokies do need to be ready in case that doesn't happen with Dell'Orso being a potential Cattoor replacement who could fit well at the 3 with his size at 6'6''. He also would likely be a top target if there was a surprise transfer portal entry though that seems very unlikely at this point.

He also is a promising young player who would boost the strong young core that the Hokies have built up with Rodney Rice, MJ Collins, and Tyler Nickel plus the freshman trio of Pat Wessler who redshirted this past season, and incoming freshmen Brandon Rechsteiner and Jaydon Young.

That shows not only with his solid overall stat line for a freshman, but he also improved as the season progressed averaging 17.9 points per game in his final 10 games while shooting 53.6% from the field including 39% from three-point range. He also hit a game-winning shot in the final seconds during the Big South Tournament to get Campbell to the championship game.

Dell'Orso would fit well at the 3 and give the Hokies a player who would be a solid three-point range with room to grow, but also can get to the rim and score inside the arc at a high level and is a good rebounder for a wing, an area where the Hokies have had some struggles over the years. His defensive game does have some work to do but the scoring ability would make him someone who could be a quality role player and offensive spark plug off the bench.

If a scholarship opens, Virginia Tech is keeping their options open with Big South Freshman of the Year Anthony Dell'Orso emerging as a name to keep an eye on.

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