Marty Gordon
The Virginia Tech men’s basketball program is creating cohesion between returning players and as many as five transfers.
Head Coach Mike Young says his team is trying to wrap their arms around it.
“We’re a couple of years into this era of college sports. It makes you a better teacher. You’ve got guys coming from different programs. All good programs. Well-coached, but they do things differently. The terminology may be different, and you’re trying to make that a cohesive unit. That’s going to take a little time,” he said last week.
In preparation for the 2024-25 season, Virginia Tech men’s basketball hit the road to Charlotte for the league’s media, ACC Tipoff. Young, veteran forward Mylyjael Poteat and transfer Ben Burnham participated in various media opportunities on ACC Network, including a main stage press conference.
“All of us in my conversations with other coaches across the country, you know, it’s going to look differently in January and February than it does in November/December,” according to Young. “I think this team, this current Virginia Tech team, is on a good course, but there’s something every day that I’ll communicate, compared to a three-year, four-year person that has heard it, has experienced it, has done it on the floor. So, there are some challenges to it, but last time I checked, they call it coaching for a reason. That is to be a better teacher and give that person a better understanding of what you are trying to accomplish.”
In looking at his roster and what we could see on the floor in 2024-2025, Young says they have a long way to go on both ends.
“We’re going to get there. Both ends are hard. When you incorporate a ball into the offensive end, that requires timing, that requires spacing and execution. The same can be said without the ball on the defensive end. We have the makings of a very good defensive team. This is not a great defensive team yet, but we’ve got the right pieces. They’re smart people. I’m thankful we have several more practices before we throw it in the air for real on Nov. 4,” he said.
Poteat is the veteran of the team’s group and addressed his personal development from this summer as he met with reporters.
“I think a lot of the emphasis for me personally this summer was conditioning. You know, getting in shape to play more minutes, leaned out a little bit, got in better shape. I think that, along with the expansion game a little bit, try to score the ball in some different ways than I was able to last year or the year before that overall. I think all of that will come together to hopefully make me a little more effective on the court,” he said.
Poteat has lost 25-plus pounds and plenty of muscle during is prep for this season.
Forward Ben Burnham transferred from the College of Charleston, where averaged 11.9 points per game as a junior including a 19 point high against Alabama in the NCAA first round game.
He said coach Young’s personality was one reason he transferred to Blacksburg.
“I think, yeah, you nailed it. Coach Young, his personality. He’s a real likable guy, despite what some people say. The assistants who recruited me just built a good relationship. The sports fans in Blacksburg are crazy, so that’s eventually what led to me being here,” he said.
