With just seven days until the transfer portal officially opens for basketball, it was only a matter of time before news emerged about Virginia Tech players entering. On Monday, reports confirmed that wings Rodney Brown and Jaydon Young will be entering the portal.
Brown, a transfer from California, appeared in 18 games for the Hokies, averaging 4.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. He committed to Virginia Tech last spring over offers from Colorado State, San Diego, Richmond, Nevada, UNLV, and Arizona State.
However, Brown’s season didn’t unfold as he or the coaching staff had hoped. An illness and a toe injury limited his availability in the second half of the season. With two years of eligibility remaining, he contributed as an athletic wing off the bench, shooting 38% from the field. However, his ball handling, defense, and decision-making didn’t develop as expected. While he showed glimpses of his athleticism on both ends of the floor, inconsistency held him back. His season-high performance came in November when he scored 13 points against North Carolina A&T, followed by an 11-point game against Navy. He also posted 10 points against Georgia Tech in January and six in his return to Cal.
Young, meanwhile, averaged 8.1 points per game off the bench and hit his stride late in the season. He delivered a career-high 27 points against Miami and followed up with 26 in an overtime win over Syracuse a week later. In the ACC Tournament against Cal, he managed 10 points despite struggling from beyond the arc (0-for-11). The North Carolina native averaged over 22 minutes per game this season while shooting 35% from the field.