It’s important to note that “interest” can mean many different things, and there’s no clear indication of the level of interest from either party. However, Virginia Tech is being mentioned as a potential destination for one of the top available players in the transfer portal, which could signal their intent to pursue some of the best talent in this year’s pool. Other schools reportedly showing interest include Miami, St. John’s, USC, Texas, and Georgia, among others. If these schools are serious, it could lead to a competitive NIL battle. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Zarique Nutter is an experienced player who could make an immediate impact at Virginia Tech. After transferring from Northern Illinois, he played one season at Georgia State, where he averaged 14.2 points per game on 50% shooting from the field and 33% from beyond the arc. The 6’7″ forward from Newark, NJ, has proven himself as a key player.

Recently, Virginia Tech has seen four players enter the transfer portal. Guards Brandon Rechsteiner, Jaydon Young, Rodney Brown Jr., and center Patrick Wessler all announced their departures from the program.

Rechsteiner played two seasons at Virginia Tech, including 32 games this year with 15 starts. He averaged 7.0 points per game on 37% shooting and 30% from three-point range. Rechsteiner led the Hokies in assists this season with 2.8 and was a former four-star recruit who chose Virginia Tech over LSU, Xavier, and Tennessee.

Jaydon Young had some standout performances this season, including a 26-point game in a win over Syracuse and a 27-point effort in a victory against Miami. However, those were the only two games in which he scored more than 14 points.

Rodney Brown Jr. is leaving after spending just one season with the program following his transfer from Cal. Brown played 18 games this season, averaging 4.1 points per game in 15.2 minutes per contest. During his single season at Cal in 2023-2024, he played 32 games, averaging 3.5 points in 14 minutes per game.

There was always expected to be movement in the portal for Virginia Tech, and it’s possible there will be more to come.

Patrick Wessler appeared in 31 games for Virginia Tech this season, averaging 3.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11 minutes per game.

This offseason is set to be a critical one for head coach Mike Young and the program. Following their ACC Tournament loss to Cal, Young addressed the need for more talent, stressing the importance of making quick improvements:

“A lot was missing. A lot was missing, just call it what it is. They are great kids and a pleasure to work with. We have to get more talented, and we are going to quick, all right?”

There’s no doubt that this wasn’t one of the more talented teams in the ACC, but credit should be given to Young for guiding them to a 10th-place finish, which was better than many expected at the start of the season.