Virginia Tech Basketball Recruiting Notes 6/15/20

Photo Credit: Liam Sment

Things are heating up on the recruiting trail for the Virginia Tech men's basketball program from the grad transfer market to the 2022 recruiting class. Here's the latest Virginia Tech basketball recruiting notes.

Delaware PF Justyn Mutts (Grad Transfer)

After recently announcing a top 3 of Virginia Tech, Houston, and Mississippi State; talented Delaware grad transfer Justyn Mutts revealed his plans to commit this evening (6/15) at 6pm on Twitter, a tweet that has since been taken down after a tweet from Stadium's Jeff Goodman regarding Mutts' decision.

If Mutts does announce his decision today as seemed previously likely, Virginia Tech appears to be the likely landing spot with Adam Zagoria predicting that Mutts will end up at Virginia Tech.

Once Mutts entered the transfer portal, he immediately became a top target for Virginia Tech especially given the decision of P.J. Horne to enter the transfer portal and eventually transfer closer to home to play his final season at Georgia.

While Mutts may not be nearly as good of a three-point shooter as Horne, Mutts brings plenty to the table at the power forward spot with more length at 6'7'' along with being a strong defensive player and rebounder, and solid offensive player.

Mutts averaged 12.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 31.8 minutes per game this past season while shooting 53.8% from the field and 73.5% from the free-throw line.

He is a unique grad transfer as well as he started his career at High Point, spent two years at Delaware (one sitting out due to transfer rules), and earned his degree in 3 years; giving himself 2 years of eligibility remaining.

Virginia Tech may be receiving some very good news today as they look to fill out their 2020-21 roster.

Update: Justyn Mutts committed to Virginia Tech this afternoon (June 15th).

C Sam Ayomide

Sam Ayomide has emerged as one of Virginia Tech's main big man targets for the 2021 class with Ayomide telling us that the Hokies stand "high" on his list "because it is a great school, and a great program with great coaches."

Ayomide also told us that he he hears "almost everyday" from the Hokies with head coach Mike Young being in contact with him the most. Ayomide added that him and Young have built a "really good" relationship so far which is a great sign for the Hokies viability in his recruitment.

The Pennsylvania big man has seen his recruitment take off in recent weeks with an offer list that, in addition to the Hokies, includes Memphis, Texas A&M, Illinois, Providence, TCU, Seton Hall, Wake Forest, VCU, and more.

Tech will definitely look to add a frontcourt player this recruiting cycle and Ayomide appears to be one of VT's top big man targets.

2022 4* PG/SG Rodney Rice

Midnight yesterday kicked off college basketball coaches being able to initiate contact first with recruits from the class of 2022 and that meant four-star PG/SG Rodney Rice hearing from several schools, among them being Virginia Tech.

Rice told us that he received a phone call from assistant Christian Webster while also hearing from Virginia, Miami, LSU, and more since midnight.

Rice told us that while it wasn't a long conversation, Webster made it clear that the Hokies are going to be "recruiting me hard", giving us a clear indication that the talented guard, who is transferring to powerhouse DeMatha Catholic, will be a priority in the 2022 class.

Rice has also gained offers from in-state Maryland and LSU since midnight, backing up his high ranking nationally and showing how his recruitment will have plenty of suitors from college basketball's best conferences, as you would expect.