Who’s The Biggest Sleeper for Virginia Tech Basketball This Season?

Virginia Tech men’s basketball enters the 2026-27 season with a revamped roster, featuring several transfers who could play significant roles in Mike Young’s seventh season at the helm.

With returning contributors such as Amani Hansberry, Ben Hammond, and Tyler Johnson, alongside newcomers Jaylen Curry (Oklahoma State), Isaiah Elohim (Florida Atlantic), and Miles Heide (San Diego State), the Hokies have several intriguing options entering the season. However, one player who could quickly emerge as a vital contributor is Oklahoma transfer Kuol Atak.

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Why Atak is a sleeper

The 6-foot-9 forward arrives in Blacksburg following two seasons with the Sooners, bringing an intriguing combination of size, perimeter shooting, and defensive versatility that could make him one of Virginia Tech’s more valuable additions. Atak averaged 7.0 points in just 12.4 minutes per game during the 2025-26 campaign, shooting 46.5% from the field and 41.3% from beyond the arc.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Atak’s game is his ability to stretch the floor. The Texas native connected on 43 of his 104 3-point attempts last season, with approximately 82% of his field-goal attempts coming from beyond the arc. For a Virginia Tech team that lost Jaden Schutt to the transfer portal – Schutt is now at Kansas State alongside former Hokies guard Brandon Rechsteiner – Atak could provide another reliable perimeter option, albeit with a considerably different physical profile.

Atak’s shooting ability was particularly evident during Oklahoma’s Dec. 29 matchup against Mississippi Valley State, when he connected on six three-pointers in a career-best scoring performance. That potential was also on display during Virginia Tech’s Oct. 19 open practice, where Atak knocked down several perimeter shots, including a contested three-pointer to conclude the team’s scrimmage.

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During the same practice, the Oklahoma transfer demonstrated his defensive capabilities, using his 6-foot-11 wingspan to…

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Publish date : 2026-10-30 20:00:00

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