Virginia Tech suffers transfer portal blow when guard shuns Hokies for Virginia

On Saturday night, the Virginia Tech men’s basketball team secured its first transfer portal addition when Amani Hansberry from West Virginia decided to join the Hokies. This is a significant acquisition for Mike Young, who was hoping for another highly sought-after player.

Virginia Tech had hosted Jacari White, a transfer from North Dakota State, last week and was among his final options. The Hokies were considered strong contenders, but on Sunday, White made his commitment—to a school that surprised everyone.

Last Wednesday, Joe Tipton of On3 reported that White’s final five choices were Virginia Tech, Houston, West Virginia, Ole Miss, and Texas. However, out of the blue, Ryan Odom and Virginia made a late push and secured White’s commitment, which was a tough blow for Young and the Hokies.

Losing White to another school is one thing, but for Virginia Tech to lose him to Odom and Virginia is a major setback. White was a highly coveted player for the Hokies in this transfer portal cycle, making his decision a significant blow for Mike Young and his staff.

The Orlando, Florida native averaged 17.3 points per game and pulled down 4.3 rebounds per night at North Dakota State. The 6-foot-3 guard was a four-star recruit, according to 247Sports, coming out of high school.

Now, Young and the Hokies will need to regroup and reassess their transfer portal strategy to strengthen the roster for the 2025-26 season. Virginia Tech still has numerous needs, which is why White was such a priority as one of the top targets in this cycle.