KHALEKE HUDSON HAS HOKIES IN TOP 10
McKeesport, Pennsylvania safety Khaleke Hudson has begun to narrow down his college choices, and so far, it’s been a challenge for the 5-11, 200-pound 3-star in the class of 2016. Hudson released a top 10, but, even though he claimed that the list was in no particular order, he has two teams tied for the tenth position. Virginia Tech is one of the schools to survive Hudson’s cut to a top 11, along with Pitt and UNC in the ACC. Outside the conference, he’s still considering Wisconsin, Michigan State, Maryland, UCLA, Penn State, West Virginia, Nebraska and Illinois. UNC and Illinois were the two teams tied at 10. Boston College, Syracuse and Wake Forest were ACC teams who offered Hudson but didn’t survive the cut.
JONATHAN SMITH HAS FIVE ACC SCHOOLS IN TOP SIX
Linebacker Jonathan Smith has narrowed down his list of schools to a top six, and the ACC is heavily represented. The 3-star from Laurinburg, North Carolina is a 6-1, 220-pound inside backer. He’s visited UNC and Duke in June, and both schools made the cut. Smith’s top six include Virginia Tech, the Blue Devils, the Tar Heels, Georgia Tech and Notre Dame. The only finalist not affiliated with the ACC is Michigan. The Hokies offered Smith in March. ACC schools that didn’t make the cut, despite offering Smith, are Louisville, NC State, Virginia and Wake Forest.
HOKIES MISS ON YULEE
Jaquan Yulee made his college decision on June 8, and the Chesapeake, Virginia product will not be playing for the Hokies or any of the other ACC teams that made his list of finalists. The 4-star linebacker had Virginia Tech, UNC, NC State, Florida State and Clemson in his top seven. However, Yulee will be playing for Alabama. Michigan was the other non-ACC school to make the cut.
HOKIES REACHING OUT TO HOOPS PROSPECTS
Several 2017 basketball recruits visited Virginia Tech in mid-June, as teams began extending offers to rising juniors. Among the visitors were Markelle Fultz, a 5-star shooting guard with offers from Louisville, Florida State, Virginia and Wake Forest. Aamir Simms, an unrated power forward with offers from mid-majors, also visited and got an offer from Buzz Williams. While they didn’t travel to Blacksburg, two other prospects received offers: Arkansas PF Daniel Gafford (6-9, 217) and Houston PF Royce Hamm (6-8, 205). The Hokies are among the first schools to offer either player.