Virginia Tech Recruiting Update: Aug. 8-14

It was a relatively quiet week on the recruiting trail for Virginia Tech, but there are still some important updates to catch up on.

Holston visits on Saturday

Jalen Holston, a 3-star running back from Stockbridge, GA., visited on Saturday. The Virginia Tech staff was hoping to get a commitment, but Holston left without giving them one. It was Holston’s mother’s first visit to Blacksburg.

I had the chance to speak with Holston last week. Here’s a quote from him regarding where the Hokies stand.

“Yeah, I want to say they are right up there on my list,” Holston said.

That doesn’t exactly sound like Virginia Tech is his leader anymore, as they have been for quite some time. Not to say the Hokies won’t land Holston, but it certainly won’t be as easy as it might have looked just a month ago.

Holston has a great relationship with Virginia Tech Running Backs Coach Zohn Burden, which certainly helps in his recruitment.

Crossen to announce commitment

D.J. Crossen listed Virginia Tech in his top-5 last week and said he will announce his commitment on Aug. 19.

Jeremiah 29:11🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/UV5Fw2ky03

— Dj Crossen (@noCROSSENzone) August 9, 2016

Crossen, a Class of 2018 safety from Greensboro, NC., plays at Dudley High School, the same as Hendon Hooker, a Class of 2017 quarterback who has already committed to Virginia Tech.

Crossen is currently unranked by the 247Sports Composite, but four of the five schools in his top-5 are Power 5 programs. Virginia Tech is in the running, alongside North Carolina, NC State, Louisville and East Carolina.

Hokies make the cut for four basketball recruits

CJ Williamson, a point guard at Texas Tech, has narrowed down his list of schools to two, as he looks to transfer from the program.

https://twitter.com/TeamWill1/status/764494668348350464

Williamson, originally a 3-star recruit, chose Texas Tech over Virginia Tech in the Class of 2015. He played in 21 games last season, averaging just 6.6 minutes per game and 1.7 points per game. Williamson will have to sit out a season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Wabissa Bede, a 3-star point guard for the Class of 2017 listed Virginia Tech in his top-5.

Summer breakout star Wabissa Bede is down to 5 schools: Butler, LaSalle, UMass, Virginia Tech & Minnesota. Visits set for Butler & Va Tech

— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) August 9, 2016

Bede, from Lowell, MA., stands at 6-foot-1 and 180-pounds. His 247Sports Composite rating lists him as a 3-star, but 247Sports’ individual rating has Bede as a 4-star recruit.

Bede has 17 scholarship offers, including schools like Boston College, Dayton, East Carolina, Nebraska, Providence, Seton Hall and Temple.

Lindell Wigginton, a 4-star point guard from Oak Hill Academy, listed the Hokies in his top-7.

Top 7 😝 pic.twitter.com/wyZ0VR4vll

— Lindell Wigginton (@Lwigginton5) August 7, 2016

Wigginton only has 12 scholarship offers, but almost all of them are from notable programs. Outside of his top-7, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas A&M have all offered,

Another recruit Virginia Tech is still in the running for is Darryl Morsell, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound guard from Baltimore, MD.

https://twitter.com/410D_/status/763075590828072960

Morsell has 14 scholarship offers. Some of those schools that didn’t make the cut are Connecticut, Davidson, Kansas State, Pittsburgh, Temple, Villanova and West Virginia.

In other basketball news, Virginia Tech missed out on Raiquan Gray, a 2017 power forward from Fort Lauderdale, FL. The 3-star big man chose Florida State over some big name schools, including Baylor, Clemson, Florida, Illinois, Kansas State, Memphis, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh and Tennessee, as well as Tech.

New Virginia Tech football offers

Avery Jones, a 4-star offensive lineman from Havelock, NC., was offered by Virginia Tech, bringing his total number of scholarship offers to five. Duke, East Carolina, NC State and North Carolina are the other schools to offer Jones.

At 6-foot-4, 270-pounds, Jones is projected to play tackle at the next level. He’s currently ranked as the 15th-best offensive tackle in the country and 4th-best player in North Carolina for the Class of 2018.

Kwantel Raines also picked up an offer from Virginia Tech. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound safety is a 4-star recruit for the Class of 2018.

The Hokies join an impressive offer list, as Raines already has offers from Penn State, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Michigan State and NC State, among other schools. Raines is from Aliquippa, PA.

Isheem Young, a 4-star safety from Philadelphia, PA., reported an offer late Sunday night as well.

BeyondBlessed to receive my 16th offer from Virginia Tech! #GoHokies pic.twitter.com/FGh8MGgJmT

— uno (@Isheemyoung) August 15, 2016

Young is a big time recruit. He’s rated as the sixth-best safety in the Class of 2018, as well as the fourth-best player in Pennsylvania. Young now has offers from 16 schools, including Florida State, Penn State, Alabama, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, NC State, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Virginia Tech basketball offers two recruits

Thomas Allen, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Garner, NC. picked up an offer from Virginia Tech. Allen, a member of the Class of 2017, has 19 scholarship offers, including Cincinnati, George Mason, East Carolina, Illinois, James Madison, NC State, Nebraska, Old Dominion, Texas A&M, VCU and Xavier.

The other recruit to pick up an offer from the Hokies is Mezie Offurum, from Rockville, MD. Offurum is a small forward for the Class of 2018, with six scholarship offers. Virginia Tech, Indiana and Rutgers are the only Power 5 schools to offer at this point.