Thorns Out, Chaney In

Virginia Tech has announced that rising junior point guard Hank Thorns has
requested a release from his scholarship so he can transfer to another school.
Seth Greenberg has granted the request. Thorns’ transfer destination is unknown
at this point. In more positive news, forward Allan Chaney has announced that he
will transfer from Florida to Virginia Tech.

Thorns played in 65 games during his two years at Virginia Tech, starting two
of them. For his career, he averaged 3.7 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists
per game. He had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.8 during ACC play last season,
the best ratio in the conference. His 113 assists as a freshman during the
2007-08 season broke Bimbo Coles’ freshman record at Virginia Tech.

Thorns scored a career high 15 points against Florida State as a freshman in
2008. His career high of eight assists came in Tech’s overtime win at Miami this
past January.

Allan Chaney played in 23 games as a freshman at Florida, starting two of
them. He averaged 3 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. He missed part of his
freshman season with an injury, and he was suspended for disciplinary reasons
following Florida’s opening NIT game.

Chaney told the Roanoke Times that Billy Donovan wanted him to be a
back-to-the-basket player. He is more of a face-up power forward who likes to
put the ball on the floor and create his own shot.

Chaney is originally from Baltimore, MD, where he became friends with current
Tech guard Malcolm Delaney. He played high school basketball at New London High
School in Connecticut. At New London, he averaged 26 points, 15 rebounds and
three blocks per game as a senior. His career-high in a single game is 55
points.

Rivals.com ranked Chaney the #96 player in the country in the 2008 recruiting
class. He was regarded as the #27 power forward prospect nationally. He was a
consensus Top 100 player.

Each of those major services/scouts ranked Chaney in the top 100 nationally,
with the exception of Hoop Scoop, whose rankings are compiled by Clark Francis.
Dave Telep does the rankings for The Insiders Hoops, while Hoopmasters is a list
made by Van Coleman and Bob Gibbons. All of those names are highly respected in
the scouting industry.

As a transfer, Chaney will sit out the upcoming season. He will be eligible
to play as a r-sophomore for the 2010-11 season and will have three years of
eligibility remaining.