Wofford big man Keve Aluma (6-9, 230), who entered the transfer portal recently, announced on Twitter that he will transfer to Virginia Tech. Aluma, who just finished his sophomore season at Wofford, will have to sit out and redshirt in 2019-2020, then will have two years of eligibility remaining.
I would like to thank Wofford and my teammates for two of the best years of my life. After talking with my family and considering all the options, I have decided to attend Virginia Tech. At VT I have found the best academic opportunities and an outstanding coaching staff. pic.twitter.com/XsWpCIlFha
— Keve Aluma (@AlumaKeve) May 5, 2019
Aluma started 34 of 35 games for Wofford last year, averaging 26.6 minutes, 6.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
Though he won’t be eligible to play next year, Aluma will add quality depth for practice purposes and will have a redshirt year to develop. He’s the second Wofford player to follow new head coach Mike Young to Virginia Tech, joining signee Hunter Cattoor, a high school recruit who switched from Wofford to VT and will be an eligible freshman in 2019-2020.
Jalen Cone to Announce Thursday
Top target Jalen Cone has announced that he will reclassify from the 2020 class to the 2019 class and will announce his decision at his high school on Thursday, May 9, at 3:45 PM.
I will announce my decision Thursday (May 9th) at 3:45pm @ Walkertown High School and it is open to the public! My decision will also be televised on Spectrum Sports, WXII News 12, and Fox8 News! #MyDecision full video here https://t.co/BdcjeFzfc8 @GameofInchesHS pic.twitter.com/7vkXgw2mw9
— Jalen Cone (@J15Cone) May 5, 2019
Cone, a point guard and thus a critical need for Virginia Tech, is a 4-star recruit and a top-100 player by Rivals and ESPN. His recent class of 2020 rankings were:
- Rivals: No. 60 nationally
- 247: No. 122 nationally
- ESPN: No. 53 nationally
In the 247Sports 2020 Composite Rankings, Cone is No. 81 nationally. He is currently considered the top target of the Hokies’ 2019 recruiting efforts. Cone’s announced top six are Virginia Tech, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Wake Forest, NC State, and Boston College.
What’s encouraging for Virginia Tech is that Cone’s only official visit has been to Blacksburg, from Monday, April 29 to Wednesday, May 1. Cone is scheduled to take a visit to Tennessee this weekend (May 10), but if he announces for a school other than Tennessee, clearly that visit will not occur.
Virginia Tech’s 2019-2020 Roster
The Hokies’ roster for next year currently looks like this:
- SR: Kerry Blackshear (currently in transfer portal)
- JR: Wabissa Bede (transfer portal), PJ Horne
- SO: Isaiah Wilkins, Jonathan Kabongo, Keve Aluma (redshirting)
- FR: Landers Nolley (rFr), Hunter Cattoor
With Blackshear (who has graduated and has many options) unlikely to return, the Hokies are still facing a height issue, even with Keve Aluma on the roster. As we have detailed in recent TSL Pass articles, Mike Young is working hard on the recruiting trail to bring in more players for the 2019 and 2020 classes to shore up depth.
The spring signing period runs through May 15, but players can sign or make decisions at any time.
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Hate Blackshear’s loss the most. Arguably our MVP last year, will next year.most likely. We won’t stoop to beg but be great for Hokie nation to rally around this man we’ve come to love. It’s not too late, stay home, VT for KB!
On Monday’s show, Roanoke radio host, Greg Roberts said that VT would make a big Basketball announcement on Thursday, and something to the affect that he could make an announcement now, but didn’t feel like he had his person’s permission to do so, and that he wanted someone to have their time in the sun, or something to that affect. I am hoping that we get Cone. IMHO, that would be huge for VT.
Fun Fact: Aluma is the son of former Sacarmento Kings and Harlem Globetrotter, Peter Aluma…. perhaps a first for a Hokie?
Looks like Coach Young is off to a great start. I’m really excited about what he will build here. Good times are ahead in The Cassell!
Why does he have to sit out a year? Can’t he get a waiver because of a coaching change? I kind of thought that’s what the whole idea of following your coach was
You know…good point. I wonder the same.
Uh oh…they let him don KB’s 24 in his pictures? I guess if he can’t play next year, it doesn’t matter. Do we have any comparison on this kid’s game? Am I looking at Satchel Pierce 2.0? Stats are better I know, but that’s also at Wofford, not the ACC. Do you think it’s fair to compare Wofford stats to say JC players?
He had 11 rebounds in NCAA tourney vs Kentucky, so I’d say that’s good
Dang, still have 7 schollies to give (Bede kinda needs to make up his mind)