Three Players Who Will Likely Swing Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball’s 2026-27 Season

Virginia Tech men’s basketball came off a 2025-26 season in which it went 18-13 (8-10 ACC) and missed out on the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight campaign. Now, the Hokies reload – bolstered by junior guards Tyler Johnson and Ben Hammond, plus senior forward Amani Hansberry, returning from last year’s unit, Virginia Tech added several quality pieces from the portal, including guards Isaiah Elohim (Florida Atlantic).

But who are the three players whom I think Virginia Tech’s season hinges upon the most? Before tackling that topic, I think it’s important to note that the question is irrespective of who the best players are. Rather than it being a strict look at the three best players, it’s a look at the three players who serve the most benefit if they exceedtheir roles.

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No. 3: Tyler Johnson, Guard

Hammond’s emergence grabbed most of the headlines last season, but Johnson’s development may ultimately determine how dangerous Virginia Tech’s backcourt becomes. The Hokies already know they can rely on Hammond for efficient perimeter scoring and ball security after he averaged 13.2 points, 3.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 43.1 percent from three-point range.

Johnson flashed that potential throughout the 2025-26 campaign, but consistency remains the next step. His season was abbreviated by an ankle injury that cost him 15 games; before that, he was a fixture in Virginia Tech’s starting lineup. If Johnson can increase his scoring efficiency, improve his catch-and-shoot numbers and become a more reliable secondary playmaker, the Hokies become far more difficult to defend.

Virginia Tech finished outside the NCAA Tournament largely because it lacked offensive creation against the ACC’s upper tier. Johnson’s ability to close that gap could be one of the biggest swing factors on the roster.

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No. 2: Isaiah Elohim, Guard

Portal additions increasingly define modern college basketball, and the Hokies are counting on Elohim to fill a critical role…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/three-players-likely-swing-virginia-000527769.html

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Publish date : 2026-06-20 00:05:00

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