November 25, 2024

Virginia Tech basketball: College of Charleston forward Ben Burnham  transfers to Hokies - Gobbler Country

Virginia Tech basketball has added College of Charleston forward Ben Burnham to their roster, marking Mike Young’s second transfer acquisition this week.

Last week was challenging for Virginia Tech basketball coach Mike Young, following a disappointing season that concluded with a second-round NIT loss against Ohio State. Several key players, including leading scorer and third-team All-ACC guard Sean Pedulla, starting center Lynn Kidd, guard MJ Collins, top bench scorer Tyler Nickel, backup big man Mylyjael Poteat, and forward John Camden, entered the NCAA transfer portal. Although Kidd swiftly joined Miami, Poteat withdrew his name from the portal.

Players like Pedulla, Collins, Nickel, and Camden are still in the portal, with slim chances of returning. This situation opened up multiple scholarships for Young. Fortunately, this week brought positive developments as UTSA guard Jordan Ivy-Curry announced his decision to spend his final college season with the Hokies, projecting as Hunter Cattoor’s replacement after averaging over 17 points per game last season.

On Thursday, Young received further good news with College of Charleston forward Ben Burnham committing to Virginia Tech for the upcoming season. Standing at 6-foot-7 with one season of eligibility left, Burnham averaged 11.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season. His performance has steadily improved over three college seasons, making Young hopeful for a repeat of those numbers in 2024-25 with the Hokies.

Burnham’s versatility in defending multiple positions and a 38% career 3-point shooting percentage are qualities that impressed Young, likening Burnham to an upgraded version of Robbie Beran from last year’s team.

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