Ricky LaBlue's personal blog
How often does a player on a national championship-winning team, who’s one season removed a 1,000-yard season, decide to leave the program?
It feels like it’s happening more and more, and that former Clemson running back Tavien Feaster is just another example of an accomplished player looking for greener pastures.
Continue reading “Tavien Feaster Could Be Virginia Tech’s Golden Ticket”
Dell Curry (15th in 1986) was the highest-drafted Virginia Tech basketball player in the lottery era. Nickeil Alexander-Walker had a chance to top that and though he fell short, his selection was history-making nonetheless.
The Hokies’ star guard wound up being taken at No. 17 by the New Orleans Pelicans. It’s not as high as he could have been selected — although it was within the range that most mock drafts had him — but it is among the more intriguing destinations.
Continue reading “Alexander-Walker Provides Pelicans With Two-Way Versatility”
This hits home for me. I can honestly say that I’ve never felt a closer connection to a star college athlete than with Virginia Tech’s Justin Robinson. We were one class apart, but he went to middle school right up the road and I was one of those guys that went to games. Then we overlapped for three years of college, during which I claimed to already be all-knowing about him. There was also never a player I felt more comfortable talking to following a game than Robinson — I even wrote a feature of sorts on him during his breakout junior season.
Continue reading “Justin Robinson Gets Opportunity of a Lifetime With Washington Wizards”
Few Virginia Tech basketball players have generated such high draft prospects as guard/forward Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The sophomore star showed drastic improvements this year, and his work is going to pay off on Thurs., June 20.
Here’s a look at where Alexander-Walker is projected to go in the 2019 NBA Draft, using some reputable publications’ mock drafts.
Continue reading “Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s Possible Landing Spots in 2019 NBA Draft”
Bryce Watts was never a highly successful player at Virginia Tech. That much is undisputed. But Watts still had time and room to grow, and there was still a chance that Watts would develop into a solid and consistent contributor.
That certainly won’t happen at Virginia Tech, now that Watts has decided to rival North Carolina. Watts entered the transfer portal on May 31 and announced his decision to transfer to Chapel Hill just nine days later.
Continue reading “Bryce Watts’ Absence Highlights Virginia Tech’s Cornerback Problem”
Since being hired this offseason, Mike Young has worked quickly to reconstruct the Virginia Tech men’s basketball roster. Tech might’ve made the NCAA Tournament each of the last three seasons, but the Hokies’ roster looks vastly different than it did just a few months ago.
Young has added four players since taking over in Blacksburg — Keve Aluma, Hunter Cattoor, Jalen Cone and Branden Johnson. Of that group, all are currently eligible to play right away other than Aluma, who could seek a waiver from the NCAA. Young “retained” Landers Nolley, a former four-star recruit who was ineligible to play for Virginia Tech last season. Wabissa Bede is also returning to the Hokies, withdrawing from the transfer portal.
Virginia Tech’s 2019-2020 roster is beginning to take shape. With these young men on the roster, it’s fair to start figuring out what the Hokies’ rotation will look like next season.
Continue reading “Sifting Through Recent Additions to the Virginia Tech Basketball Roster”
Howdy Hokies, and welcome back to another edition of Monday Mail. We’re hitting the point of the year where there is little news to talk about, but if you dig deep enough you can find some potential nuggets that are actually pivotal moments.
I don’t want to spoil the questions for this week, so let’s get to it.
Continue reading “Monday Mail: Football Culture Turning the Corner, Basketball Recruits and More”
Every solid building and every magnificent structure begins with a foundation. And every foundation begins with a single block.
That’s how Virginia Tech basketball fans need to view this offseason. Rome certainly wasn’t built in a single day, and the new version of Hokies hoops won’t be built that way either. But head coach Mike Young has his first two building blocks in place — forward Landers Nolley and guard Hunter Cattoor.
Welcome back, Hokies. Thank you for patiently waiting on this week’s Monday Mail, which is a day late. I apologize for the delay.
This week’s Monday Mail comes directly after Saturday’s “Spring Game” for the Hokies, which was nothing more than a glorified practice. I was fortunate enough to be in attendance and boy, was I disappointed. It was hard for the crowd to get excited on Saturday, thanks to the choppiness of the practice format and lack of exciting plays.
Nonetheless, Tech’s spring practice schedule is nearing its close, so it’s time to take stock of what we’ve got right now. Let’s get into your questions this week.
Continue reading “Monday Mail: A Not-So-Exciting Spring ‘Game’ for Virginia Tech”
When Whit Babcock settled on hiring Buzz Williams in 2014, Babcock was fulfilling two main objectives — ignite a lackadaisical basketball fanbase and bring in a mercenary head coach who could get the program to a competitive level.
This time around, things are different. Babcock’s two main objectives in this year’s coaching search, as I see them, were finding a coach who can build upon Williams’ recent success and a coach who could maintain the fanbase’s current level of excitement.
Continue reading “Mike Young Represents Whit Babcock’s Biggest Gamble at Virginia Tech Thus Far”