USF power forward Zach LeDay announced on Twitter last night that he is transferring to Virginia Tech.
LeDay is a 6-7, 245-pound power forward, a position of need for the Hokies. He just finished his sophomore year and will have to sit out a year, then will be eligible in 2015-2016. He’ll have two years of eligibility remaining.
In two seasons at USF, LeDay started 23 out of 63 games played. He averaged 4.1 points per game and 2.5 rebounds per game, with 24 blocks, 21 steals, and 21 assists. He shot 39.6% (78-197) from the floor, 28.6% (10-35) from three-point range, and 74% (94-127) from the free throw line.
LeDay’s transfer means the Hokies will have 12 players on scholarship for 2014-15, barring attrition and assuming Will Johnston’s scholarship is not renewed:
Virginia Tech 2014-15 roster:
PG: Devin Wilson (So.), Malik Mueller (r-Fr.), Seth Allen (So., will sit out)
WG: Ahmed Hill (Fr.), Adam Smith (r-Jr.), Jalen Hudson (Fr.)
WF: Ben Emelogu (So.), Justin Bibbs (Fr.)
PF: C.J. Barksdale (Sr.), Zach LeDay (So., will sit out)
C: Joey van Zegeren (r-Jr.), Satchel Pierce (Fr.)
That leaves room for one more, hopefully at the power forward position, where the Hokies are still involved with JUCO transfer Shane Henry, who is scheduled to visit Virginia Tech this weekend (June 6).
Here are the notes from LeDay’s USF bio page:
2013-14: Played in all 32 games while starting 16 … Averaged 3.5 points and 2.6 rebounds … Scored a season-high 12 points and six rebounds at SMU (1/15/14) near his hometown of The Colony, Texas … Also scored in double figures at Rutgers (3/1/14) with 10 points … Was 3-of-11 from three-point range.
2012-13: Pulled down a team-leading and career-high 15 rebounds and had a team-high 15 points vs. Seton Hall (March 12)… also posted a career-high with five blocks in a career-high of 44 minutes … Scored his most points since Feb. 6 with 11 against UConn (March 6)… went 4-of-10 from the field and added six rebounds and a career-high two blocks in 30 minutes … Registered eight points, two rebounds, two assists and one block in 13 minutes of action against DePaul (March 3) … Notched double-figures for the second-straight game with 10 points at Marquette (Jan. 28) … Posted a team-leading and career-high 17 points against Notre Dame (Jan. 26) … went 5-of-10 from the field, including a 6-of-6 mark from the charity stripe … also had a career-high two steals … Was assigned to guard Notre Dame’s Jack Cooley and held the senior to just six points … Scored seven points of 3-of-4 shooting from the field and hit his second career 3-pointer at Rutgers (Jan. 17) … Played in a 26 minutes at No. 3/4 Louisville (Jan. 12) … Notched five boards and four points in 18 minutes against Villanova (Jan. 9) … Recorded career-high seven rebounds and added then-career-high eight points against UMES (Nov. 16) … Started the first game of the season against UCF and posted three points in 11 minutes (Nov. 10)
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Solid defensive player, can develop offensively and defensively. Seems like a project, but perhaps a good one with his size. Let’s hope he gets a fire in his belly to play for the Hokies!!
I hope he & Shane, if he commits, are both successful. I’ll just be happy to have a full roster of scholarship players that hopefully stay healthy. The way we have had injured our off court tragedy’s hurting our team it seems like the NCAA needs to allowed at least another scholarship or two.
If he can play defense, that’s already a plus.
Totally forgot to mention … new VT assistant Steve Roccaforte was an assistant at USF last year, under (the now-fired) Stan Heath.
If Will Johnston’s scholarship isn’t renewed, does anything think he ends up not being part of the team next yr? I know he may not play much but just curious if he or Beyer/Donlon for that matter stay as walk-ons.
Chris or Will, in the coming weeks, could you possibly summarize all of the additions and subtractions of players over the last 3 months, and also compare what our 2014 recruiting was, to what is now?
Thanks!
Go here:
http://virginiatech.sportswar.com/category/article/basketball/
And you’ll see a nice collection of articles — some of them pay, but I know you’re a subscriber — that summarize all the comings and goings, future rosters, options at each spot, etc.
Thanks. I couldn’t access the ESPN team recruiting rankings, but it looked like we were 24 on the 247 sports recruiting rankings, up from where I think we were 29 back with the original 3 incoming recruits.
for only averaging 4.1 pts/gm and 2.5 rbs/gm he sure looks like he was given the green light by the USF coaches on the offensive end. Granted it is a highlight reel and you don’t see screens set by the player who is being highlighted, but he seems to be given the ball alot in a position to score and looks to score. He certainly has some decent offensive ability and shoots well out to about 15 feet, and has a nice like baby hook in the lane.
We will need his rebounding and defense at the PF spot, 15 against ND is a pretty strong performance. My guess is that he will help this team quite a bit on the practice court next year forcing Barksdale to get better.
He can put the ball on the floor better than any of our post players already. Looks as though he’s more comfortable from 12-15ft away from the basket than he is in the post. Certainly doesn’t seem like he’s 245 either. I expected a little more sluggish for 6’7″ 245.
Looks like Buzz is adding solid depth. Looks like a much better defensive addition vs. Wood. If Buzz can add Shane Henry this weekend, this looks like a team with depth for the next few years.