Virginia Tech sophomore point guard Jon Kabongo announced on his Instagram today that he will be out for the 2019-20 season due to injury.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0y-8FLDOnu/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Kabongo played in 21 games as a freshman averaging 1.5 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.2 assists in 4.9 minutes per game while shooting 39.3% from the field and 31.8% from three-point range. He was able to give the Hokies' some quality minutes in a few ACC games off the bench while Justin Robinson was recovering from injury including 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in 13 minutes in the Hokies' 70-64 win at Pittsburgh.
This is third time in the past four seasons that the Hokies have had a returning contributor miss a whole season due to injury after Ahmed Hill missed the 2016-17 season and Kerry Blackshear missed the 2017-18 season. The Canadian point guard does have a redshirt year available and will have three years of eligibility remaining when he returns.
Jon Kabongo was one of only four returning players who played last season for the Hokies, making a young, inexperienced Virginia Tech team even more inexperienced and youthful. His departure will put a greater on-court leadership emphasis on fellow returning contributors Wabissa Bede, Isaiah Wilkins, and PJ Horne.
Kabongo's loss does take away some of the Hokies' backcourt depth with Virginia Tech only having two true point guards on the roster in Wabissa Bede and Jalen Cone, both of whom are projected to share play together a lot this upcoming season. Incoming freshman Hunter Cattoor could also be used as a third point guard as time though Cattoor more as a combo guard and a shoot first player rather than a more traditional or modern point guard.
Kabongo also was used at times off the ball at shooting guard with Isaiah Wilkins, Nahiem Alleyne, and Cattoor all among the players with the potential to take on some additional minutes due to Kabongo's injury.
Photo Credit: Bobby Murray
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