As of March 21, 2025, Virginia Tech’s men’s basketball team has experienced significant activity in the transfer portal, even ahead of its official opening on March 24. Four players have announced their intentions to transfer:
Rodney Brown Jr.: The sophomore guard transferred to Virginia Tech from Cal and played in 18 games this season, averaging 4.1 points in 15.2 minutes per game.
Jaydon Young: Another sophomore guard, Young participated in all 32 games, averaging 8.1 points per game. Despite some standout performances, he struggled with consistency, shooting 34.7% from the field and 29.6% from three-point range.
Patrick Wessler: The redshirt sophomore center appeared in 31 games, averaging 3.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in approximately 11 minutes per game.
Brandon Rechsteiner: A sophomore guard, Rechsteiner played in all 32 games this season, averaging 7.0 points and leading the team with 2.8 assists per game. Initially a starter, he faced challenges with turnovers, leading to a role change.
Head coach Mike Young has acknowledged the need to enhance the team’s talent and has expressed intentions to address this promptly. The program is also focusing on improving its Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) resources to better support and retain players.
As the transfer portal officially opens next week, further roster changes are anticipated. The coaching staff is expected to be proactive in both recruiting new talent and retaining key players to strengthen the team’s competitiveness for the upcoming season.
Mike Young’s comments from Tech Talk Live highlight the reality of modern college athletics, where player movement is increasingly dictated by external influences, including agents and NIL deals. His statement about receiving calls in late January—two months before the portal officially opens—shows how the transfer process is no longer confined to official dates.
For Virginia Tech, this reflects a broader trend in college basketball, where roster turnover is a constant concern. With multiple Hokies already entering the portal before it even officially opens, Young’s words prove true: navigating the portal is now an unavoidable part of coaching at the collegiate level.
