Earlier this week, class of 2017 guard Brandon Rachal announced that he received a scholarship offer from Virginia Tech. The 6’5″, 190-pound combo guard, a product of Natchitoches Central (Natchitoches, LA), also claims offers from Creighton, Kansas State, Louisiana Tech, Miami, New Orleans, Southern Cal, Tulane and Wake Forest.
Andrew Lopez of NOLA.com described Rachal in this article back in March.
Rachal is a shade under 6-5 but is developing into a player that could be either a point or shooting guard at the next level. He’s picked up a reputation as a defensive stopper and after a slow start to the season, has picked up his play in district and in the playoffs.
Rachal’s sophomore season highlights are below.
Fresh off his first season as Virginia Tech head coach, Buzz Williams has been active on the recruiting trail this summer. With only one scholarship projected to be available in class of 2016 recruiting, the focus has been on the classes of 2017 and 2018. In addition to Rachal, the Hokies’ head coach extended offers to the following class of 2017 prospects in July and August…
– Myles Douglas, Wing, Friends of School Baltimore (Baltimore, MD)
Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, West Virginia and Xavier are among the other schools that have offered this 6’6″ prospect.
– Jericho Sims, Forward, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Minneapolis, MN)
The 6’8″ junior has also received scholarship offers from Auburn, Nevada and Texas Tech, among others. His father played college basketball at the University of Minnesota.
– Aaron Thompson, Point Guard, Paul VI (Fairfax, VA)
The 6’1″ junior was in Blacksburg on August 3 and returned home with a scholarship offer. “Good day in Blacksburg at Virginia Tech!” – Thompson tweeted.
Georgia Tech, Miami, Rice, SMU, Temple and VCU are among the other offers he is considering. In addition to Tech, Thompson also visited SMU in the month of August.
Thanks to the Coaching staff at Virginia Tech for offering me a scholarship! #GoHokies
— Aaron Thompson (@_Aaron2_) August 3, 2015
CLASS OF 2018 STAR KELDON JOHNSON TO VISIT VT
Corey Evans reports that Park View (South Hill, VA) guard Keldon Johnson, who is already a prized prospect in the class of 2018, will be in Blacksburg on Monday for the Ohio State/Virginia Tech football game.
Cincinnati, Georgetown, East Carolina, NC State, Old Dominion, Penn State, Texas, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest have extended scholarship offers to the 6’5.5”, 192-pound recruit, while Florida, Louisville and North Carolina have expressed interest.
For Johnson, his breakout year — at Park View he broke the VHSL freshman single season scoring record, and he followed up with a successful stint on the Adidas AAU circuit — and subsequent recruiting success “has just been a blessing.”
“I hope everything just keeps going up,” Johnson said in an interview following Virginia’s Elite Camp on August 22. “Just got to keep working hard, staying in the gym.”
Johnson’s brother, Kaleb, is a true freshman at Georgetown on a basketball scholarship. Keldon discussed possibly joining his brother in college.
“It’s always a possibility. It just comes down to being a great fit. If it’s a great fit for me to come in and help the program, then it would be great,” said Johnson, who grew up rooting for Georgia Tech, Duke and UNC.
Park View’s star sophomore named no current favorites following Virginia’s Camp, but he did reveal what some of the more important factors will be when decision time does come.
“Me just fitting in, great relationship with the coaches, and just the coaches being honest and keeping it real with me all the time,” Johnson said.
Virginia Tech offered Johnson and a number of other prospects in the class of 2018 this summer, including…
Rechon Black, Combo Guard, Concord (N.C.)
Black, who also has an offer from Wake Forest, has grown three inches in a year and now stands at 6’6″. The Charlotte Observer recently wrote a piece on this promising sophomore, and you can read it by clicking here.
Rasir Bolton, Point Guard, Benedictine (Richmond, VA)
Bolton, who has 6’1″ has good quickness and athleticism, also has an offer from East Carolina.
Drue Drinnon, Point Guard, East Jackson (Smyrna, GA)
Drinnon reportedly also has offers from Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Missouri.
Jarren McAllister, Wing, Garner Road (Wake Forest, N.C.)
Phenom Hoop Report has a good write-up on McAllister, Rechon Black and David McCormack you can read by clicking here.
David McCormack, Center, Norfolk Academy (Norfolk, VA)
McCormack is a load at 6’8″, 285 pounds, but he is very active for his size. Also a football prospect. NC State and Penn State have come through with offers as well.
CLASS OF 2016 UPDATE
Tech is still recruiting the class of 2016 despite the limited scholarships. Top targets such as combo guard Markelle Fultz (Washington commit) and Andrew Jones (eliminated VT) are off the board, but the Hokies did extend an offer to senior post Romello White in August. The 6’8.5″ standout recently received an offer from Kansas as well.
Tennessee, where he committed to before Donnie Tyndall was ousted as head coach, reportedly remains in the running along with Alabama, Auburn, Kansas, Kansas State and SMU, among others.
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