Mike Young and Virginia Tech have made their first addition of the transfer portal cycle, landing a commitment from starting West Virginia C/PF Amani Hansberry.
🙏🏽🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/mrsnXGkpoI
— Amani Hansberry🥀 (@igb_Amani) April 5, 2025
Hansberry heads to Virginia Tech after a strong sophomore season at West Virginia during which he averaged 9.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 23.6 minutes per game while shooting 42.9% from the field including 29.2% from three-point range plus 75.0% from the free-throw line. The 6'8'', 240-pound Hansberry spent his freshman season at Illinois where he held a small role averaging less than 10 minutes per game.
He will have two years of eligibility plus a redshirt if he needs it.
Hansberry is similar in many ways to Mylyjael Poteat as an undersized big who profiles somewhat as a center, but also has the versatility to stretch the floor unlike Poteat and averaged 3.1 offensive box score plus/minus last season. He also has been a better rebounder and defender when diving into the analytics with an impressive 1.6 defensive win shares and 2.1 defensive box score plus/minus this past season.
Hansberry is a proven power conference starter who immediately should be able to slide into the starting lineup and give the Hokies one of the ACC's better frontcourt duos with him and standout power forward Tobi Lawal.
This is obviously a massive addition for the Hokies and an encouraging sign that Mike Young and his program are being given the proper resources to build a more talented team for next season, as Young stated was needed after the Hokies' opening round elimination at the ACC Tournament. Chester Frazier also deserves tons of credit given the relationship that he clearly seems to have with Hansberry, who went with Fraizer to Illinois and WVU previously.
The Hokies could still use some more frontcourt depth to build around Lawal and Hansberry, and not have to force freshman Christian Gurdak into a significant rotation role if he isn't ready for it. However, help on the wing and in the backcourt likely will be a greater priority for now, as the Hokies look to build a more talented 2025-26 team.
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