Standout Akron transfer and 6'8'' forward Ali Ali is one of the best shooters available in the transfer portal with Ali receiving loads of interest from across the country including from Virginia Tech.
Ali told us that he has heard from Virginia Tech via assistant Kevin Giltner with Ali adding this on how those conversations have gone.
"They have been good. I'm planning on a zoom and or visit in the near future," Ali said.
Ali also confirmed that the Hokies have extended an offer at this point which shouldn't come as a surprise after he earned All-MAC Second Team honors averaging 13.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 34.2 minutes per game.
On top of that, Ali was a prolific shooter shooting 46% from the field including 40.7% from three-point range while also shooting 72.2% from the free-throw line on an average of 3.9 free throw attempts per game. That's what really drives up the appeal of Ali who has two years of eligibility remaining and is definitely an offensive playmaker.
Unsurprisingly, Ali has generated loads of interest with being the list of schools shared with us who he's received interest in him along with additional schools since then as reported by Stockrisers' Jake Weingarten on Twitter.
- ACC: Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, N.C. State, Pittsburgh, Virginia
- Big 10: Northwestern, Ohio State
- Big East: Butler, DePaul, Marquette
- Pac-12: USC
- SEC: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee
- AAC: Cincinnati, Memphis, SMU, Tulane
- Atlantic 10: Loyola-Chicago, Saint Louis
- Atlantic Sun: Liberty
Now there may be some surprise that the Hokies have already offered without knowing the decisions of Keve Aluma and Justyn Mutts, but Ali also may be a transfer target regardless of what Aluma and Mutts decide.
Ali profiles more as a big 3 who could play the 4 in smaller lineups and a plus offensive player. However, he's not as good of a rebounder or defensive player and probably doesn't project as a starting power forward at the major conference level next season.
Even with that, Ali is the type of guy that major conference teams would love to have play 15-20 minutes per night to add additional length on the wing along with prolific offensive and shooting skills that can stretch a defense. His 6'8'' frame also does allow for him to have some defensive development upside in the long term, but he fits well as an offensive sixth man who can give Tech some versatility as a 3 or 4 and more length as well on the wing or even at the 4.
Keep an eye on standout Akron transfer Ali Ali who looks like a target for the Hokies regardless of what Keve Aluma and Justyn Mutts decide.
