On Wednesday afternoon, it was announced that transfer portal addition Hysier Miller was no longer with the Virginia Tech Basketball program. This raises the question: What’s going on in Blacksburg?!
What’s happening in Blacksburg with the Virginia Tech Hokies?! The Virginia Cavaliers aren’t the only team facing an early storyline following Tony Bennett’s retirement announcement. David Cunningham of TechSideline recently reported that Hysier Miller, a recent addition for the Hokies from the transfer portal, is no longer part of the Virginia Tech basketball program.
This serves as a significant setback to the potential offensive outlook for the Hokies and head coach Mike Young. Miller was expected to be a primary option in the rotation after a breakout season with the Temple Owls in 2023-24.
Statement from #Hokies men's basketball: Hysier Miller, a point guard transfer from Temple, is no longer with the program. pic.twitter.com/brr4O5g70d
— David Cunningham (@therealdcunna) October 23, 2024
The 6-foot-1 guard seemed poised for a promising future in the ACC after establishing his credentials in the AAC. During the 2023-24 season, he averaged a career-high 15.9 points, 4.0 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game, hitting 2.1 three-pointers per contest with the Owls.
Now, amid a gambling inquiry that began last year, Miller is gone abruptly. Reports from Pat Forde and Sports Illustrated indicated that a game between UAB and Temple was flagged by the gambling watchdog, U.S. Integrity.
In this age of NIL and daily sports betting, it appears Miller has found himself entangled in a scandal. Sources indicated that the betting line changed unusually, which raised suspicions about the game.
With less than two weeks before the season starts, Miller’s exit leaves the Hokies with only two point guards going into the year: Brandon Rechsteiner (6-foot-1 sophomore) and Ben Hammond (5-foot-11 freshman).
This marks the second instance of a player from the Virginia Tech program leaving just weeks before the season; last year, Rodney Rice entered the transfer portal after learning he would come off the bench.
Rechsteiner appeared in 26 games, including two starts, averaging 1.8 points and 1.3 assists per game in 2023-24. He’ll need to step up significantly in his sophomore season following Miller’s departure.
Hammond is expected to be integrated early into Coach Young’s system. His background from Paul VI, the same school as former Hokies guard Erick Green, may bode well for him.
The Hokies will also look to bolster their roster through the transfer portal. Ben Burnham (from Charleston) and Toibu Lawal (from VCU) are two players with something to prove as they join the ACC. Burnham is capable of ball-handling and creating plays, which will be valuable in Virginia Tech’s perimeter-oriented offense.
Jaden Schutt, formerly of Duke, is another name to watch as he recovers from knee surgery while using a redshirt year in 2023-24.
Expectations for the Hokies were modest heading into 2024-25, but with the recent loss of a potential top scorer and playmaker, the outlook in Blacksburg has become increasingly bleak as another season approaches.
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