Virginia Tech men’s basketball is almost at the finish line before the 2026-27 season begins, with Coppin State set to open the schedule on Nov. 3. And even before the first tip, there’s already a fairly clear core taking shape - plus a few spots that look like they’ll stay in flux for a while.
Ben Hammond looks like a fixture. The junior guard is coming off a breakout sophomore year in which he averaged 13.2 points per game, and that number climbed to a team-best 14.9 in ACC play.
He had the kind of night that sticks in memory too, dropping 30 points against then-No. 21 Virginia on Dec.
31, 2025.
Amani Hansberry feels just as locked in. The senior forward led the Hokies with 14.7 points per game last season and became the first Virginia Tech player since Jeff Allen in 2011 to post four straight double-doubles.
Miles Heide also projects as a starter, and his previous time at San Diego State gives him an edge over Musa Sagnia and Solomon Davis. Sagnia put up 2.8 points per game in 12.4 minutes a night for NC State last season, while Davis redshirted under the old NCAA eligibility rules and didn’t see the floor.
The real uncertainty sits in the backcourt and around the final two opening-night jobs. The biggest battle appears to be who lines up next to Hammond, a decision that could also ripple into the third guard spot or even a small forward role depending on the grouping. Isaiah Elohim, who transferred in from Florida Atlantic, and Jaylen Curry are the two guards who jump out first, while Oklahoma transfer Kuol Atak brings another layer after showing promise in limited minutes there in 2025-26.
Elohim averaged 12.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game at Florida Atlantic. Curry produced 10.1 points and 3.5 assists per game at Oklahoma State. Atak, meanwhile, averaged 7.0 points in only 12.4 minutes per game and shot 41.3% from three.
There’s also a case to be made for Sagnia and Davis battling for the backup center minutes. Sagnia seems to have the edge there because of what he already showed in 2025-26, though Hansberry could slide to the 5 often enough to open the door to more 4-5 pairings. That could mean combinations like Atak and Hansberry or sophomore Sin'Cere Jones and Hansberry.
The exhibition against Wofford on Oct. 16 added another wrinkle. Tyler Johnson came off the bench in Virginia Tech’s 78-76 win in Spartanburg, S.C., and finished with four points and seven rebounds. Curry started that game and matched Hammond for the team scoring lead with 19 points.
Even so, that lineup should not be read as a finished product. Curry has a legitimate argument to start, but he also fits the profile of a high-impact sixth man who can change the game with offense off the bench.
Johnson brings a different kind of value. His rebounding, physical play and familiarity with Young’s system all work in his favor, especially if the Hokies want a steadier fit around the rest of the starters.
So while the outline is taking shape, there’s still room for movement. Mike Young has options, and the lineup could shift more than once before ACC play arrives.
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Virginia Tech's Offense May Hinge On One Crucial Scoring Race
Virginia Tech heads into the 2026-27 season with a clearer offensive picture than it had a year ago, and a lot of that starts with the return of Amani Hansberry and Ben Hammond. The Hokies expect both to be central pieces as they open the year, with Hansberry bringing back-end production and Hammond positioned to take on a much larger role after his rise last season. Around them, the staff also added transfer Elohim, giving the lineup another proven scorer to lean on.
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The next few games will say a lot about how much margin Virginia Tech really has, and the key figures on both sides of the ball will be under the microscope. Ethan Grunkemeyers growth at quarterback, the pressure coming from Stevens up front and the ground games ability to hold up against better defenses all loom large now, because the Hokies do not have much room for slip-ups if they want November to mean more than just making the postseason. [Read more 🡒]