The Shadow
CHARLOTTE, Nc. (VR) – Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young enters his eighth season in Blacksburg with a roster that brings back much of its core, giving the Hokies optimism heading into the 2026-27 season.
Young spoke about the upcoming season during the ACC Basketball Tipoff in Charlotte, where he emphasized the importance of retaining key players in an era when roster turnover has become the norm. Virginia Tech returns Ben Hammond, Amani Hansberry and Tyler Johnson, along with Sin Jones and Solomon Davis.
“It’s a big, big deal to retain your core and guys that have done it and good players,” Young said. “To bring them back and, you know, to have that leadership, to have that voice in the locker room, they know what we expect.”
Young said the returning players understand the expectations within the Virginia Tech program and what it means to represent the Hokies both on and off the court.
“Above all that, as good of players as they are, they’re great people and the kind of young people we all want to coach,” Young said. “They all affect winning, and we were more than happy to welcome them back.”
The Hokies are coming off an 8-24 season in 2024-25, but Young believes the ACC took a major step forward last season after placing eight teams in the NCAA Tournament. He said he expects that level of success to become the standard for the conference. Young also said health will be a major factor for his team after injuries made last season particularly difficult.
“That was as frustrating and as debilitating as anything I’ve experienced in 25 years as a head coach, what we went through last year,” Young said. “We’re in good health now.” Virginia Tech has already practiced 35 times during the summer, although Young said those sessions were limited to roughly an hour to an hour and 15 minutes.
The Hokies also recently scrimmaged Liberty and will continue their preparation with an exhibition game at Wofford next week. For Young, the trip to Spartanburg carries added meaning. He spent 30 years in the community, met his wife at Wofford and his children were born there.
Wofford head coach Kevin Giltner, a former player who worked with Young for 17 years, helped bring the exhibition together. “It will be awesome to be back in the upstate of South Carolina, somewhere other than Clemson,” Young said. Virginia Tech will also have a closed scrimmage against Maryland before beginning ACC play.
Hammond enters his third season with the Hokies and said his role has changed considerably since arriving at Virginia Tech. As a freshman, Hammond did not expect to play a major role but was pushed into the lineup midway through the season in important games.
That experience helped accelerate his development. “I feel like I’m a big leader on the team now,” Hammond said. Hammond said communication and leadership have been major areas of focus during the offseason.
As a point guard, he wants to become more vocal while also improving his ability to score off the bounce and get his teammates involved. That includes finding Hansberry and Virginia Tech’s shooters in better positions to make plays.
“Amani Hansberry, last season, last year, he’s a great player,” Hammond said. “I think he needs to have the ball in his hands a lot of times.” Hammond has also taken on a larger role helping Virginia Tech’s newcomers adjust to Young’s system. “We have a lot of new guys coming in this year that need a lot of guidance,” Hammond said. “They just look at me as a player they can go to.”
Hansberry, who transferred to Virginia Tech last season, said he chose to remain with the Hokies because of the opportunity to continue developing under Young and the Virginia Tech staff.
“I just want to hear the truth,” Hansberry said. “Coach Young is definitely not a yes man.” Hansberry said he wants to get healthier, stronger and continue expanding his game. He enters the season ranked No. 40 among returning players nationally, a ranking he said provides additional motivation.
“To know that 39 people are better than me, that’s I guess good to know,” Hansberry said. “It’s definitely motivating.” Hansberry said he has become a player his teammates rely on during difficult stretches and someone expected to help establish the culture for the Hokies. On the court, he wants to become more effective against mismatches, improve his ability to read double teams and become a more consistent 3-point threat.
“Overall definitely being able to hit the three more and abuse double teams,” Hansberry said. Young said there is still plenty for the Hokies to improve before the season begins, but he likes the team’s willingness to learn and the camaraderie developing within the group.
“We’ve got a lot to get better with,” Young said. “But I love their willingness to learn. I love the camaraderie within the group.”
