According to this Roanoke Times article, Jeff Allen has been granted approval to enroll at Virginia Tech for this coming season.  This was a MUST in terms of filling at least a portion of the big hole in the Hokies’ low post created by the graduation of Coleman Collins and Chris Tucker, and by the departure of Robert Krabbendam. 

Now the Hokies are just waiting for Dorenzo Hudson (guard) and J.T. Thompson (forward) to get approval.  Thompson requires an appeal because of his academic situation (he was a fourth-year junior that is now trying to graduate in the summer).  Hudson was on Hargrave’s postgraduate team with Allen this past season.

The Hokies have five signees approved to enroll at Tech for this coming year, with five scholarship players returning.

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August 2, 2007
Greenberg recalls Prosser fondly | Roanoke Times

August 1, 2007
Coach Greenberg on the Recruiting Season | ESPN.com

July 30, 2007
Hokies hoping 2 players get clearance | Roanoke Times

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ACC Nation Special Feature
Column by Chris Graham

Not a lot of people knew that Skip Prosser got his start in coaching the proverbial hard way – teaching history and coaching the JV team at a West Virginia high school.

Prosser himself never forgot his roots.

“Skip was a guy who understood that one of the things that you do as a basketball coach when you’re first starting out is you mop the gym floor – that the PE classes are over for the day, and you’ve got to go over there, and you get out the mop, and you run the mop over the floor before practice,” said Dan Bonner, a ACC basketball broadcast analyst who got to know Prosser well during the coach’s time at wake forest.

Prosser, 56, died on Thursday after suffering a heart attack. Prosser was found unresponsive in his office at around 12:45 p.m. yesterday. He had gone back to his office after having gone out for a jog on the track at Kentner Stadium on the campus of wake forest.

He was transported to the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center – where he was later pronounced dead at 1:41 p.m.

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Skip Prosser, head coach of the Wake Forest basketball team, passed away this morning. According to reports, Prosser died of a heart attack while jogging.

For more info, read Chris Graham’s column from ACC Nation.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Coach Prosser’s family, friends, and the Wake Forest community.

**********Niemo’s 2 Cents***********

I am stunned and saddened to hear this news. Skip Prosser was a guy with a personality very similar to our own Seth Greenberg. Outgoing, sarcastic, a real character that wore his emotions on his sleeve. He was able to make the NCAA’s in each of his first four seasons at Wake after a successful stint at xavier, the breeding ground for acc basketball coaches. In the last two seasons, however, the team really struggled since the loss of chris paul and struggled to hit the .500 mark. There were quite loud rumblings for his departure after last season (and even the one before) from Wake fans. But Skip kept his optimistic attitude and continued to push on. So far this offseason, he had gotten verbals from the #1, #3, and #13 recruits in the country (according to scout.com)!!! The future looked bright for him and Wake Forest.

He will be greatly missed as a coach and a man in the acc circles.

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TechHoops: What is the purpose of the Roundball Club?

Steve: I will give you two answers to this one… the official one, and the one that I use to answer that question.

Official – The Mission of the Roundball Club is to:
1. Promote public awareness of our Virginia Tech Men’s Basketball Program
2. Foster the goals and policies of the Virginia Tech Athletic Department
3. Provide the level of spirited support and resources required for our program to achieve national prominence

Now, my answer… The Roundball Club was created at a time when the Men’s Basketball program was not doing so well (2000), and Football reigned king on campus. This group was created to show the Men’s team that there were people out there who cared about basketball and not just football. Over the years, this relatively small group of people has been able to create a family atmosphere with the Men’s team that shows them the support the football team receives from 65,000+ at each game. Now, with the team doing better and better in the ACC and on the national stage, it gives the team a chance to visit with that same group of people who were there during the “not-so-good” times and enjoy the successful moments.

Also, we are in existence to “pull” in some funds specifically for Men’s basketball. When people make their donations to the Hokie Club… most times they do not specify where those funds should be directed. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with that… at a football school, you can “assume” where a majority of funds might go. When a person becomes a member of the Roundball Club, they designate their money to go to men’s basketball. Membership benefits you because of access to the players, while using part of your Hokie Club contributions for membership.

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ACC Nation Special Feature
Posted by Patrick Hite

Members of the media covering the 2007 ACC Football Kickoff in Pinehurst, N.C. over the weekend have cast their pre-season ballots. The results of the 83 ballots follow, with first-place votes in parentheses:

Atlantic Division

1. florida state (37)
2. boston college (25)
3. clemson (8)
4. wake forest (13)
5. maryland
6. north carolina state

Coastal Division

1. Virginia Tech (77)
2. georgia tech (4)
3. miami (2)
4. virginia
5. north carolina
6. duke

ACC Championship Game Winner: Virginia Tech (69)

For the most ACC coverage, visit ACCNation.com.
ACCNation.com is a collaborative partner with TechHoops.com.

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ACC Nation Special Feature
Posted by Patrick Hite

ACC Nation’s special podcast from the ACC Football Kickoff in Pinehurst, N.C. is now available.

Just click here and play the latest episode or click view all shows and play ACC Nation – Special ACC Football Kickoff Edition.

Patrick and Chris talked to players from all 12 schools and a sample of those interviews – including players from Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and Miami – is available on the special podcast.

Also, be sure to check out ACC Nation Tuesday. We will have interviews with all 12 coaches available by early Tuesday afternoon.

More coach and player interviews will be available on ACC Nation’s weekly show (available at ACCNation.com late Thursday nights) this week through the start of the season.

For the most ACC coverage, visit ACCNation.com.
ACCNation.com is a collaborative partner with TechHoops.com.

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July 25, 2007
Munson to transfer from Virginia Tech | AP

Tech point guard Munson to transfer | Richmond Times-Dispatch

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OK kids, let’s play trivia: Name five current Hokie men’s basketball players that have played more than 40 total minutes (ie: one game’s worth) of college basketball for Virginia Tech. [Jeopardy theme..........] Give up? That’s because it is a trick question. Next season, when the Hokies take to the hardwood they will only have only four players (Deron Washington, A.D. Vassallo, Cheick Diakite, and Lewis Witcher) that have played more than 40 total minutes of basketball for Tech. One game’s worth! Only four guys! Not even a full lineup’s worth! For most fans this coming season, it will be Deron and A.D. and, “Who the heck is that?” Program sales should go up 500%.

The number of main returnees dropped to four with the news that nigel munson (yes, I’m giving him the lower case moniker now) was moving to be closer to me (ie: the DC area), joining wynton witherspoon in the VT-to-DC pipeline (wynton is at g-dub-u). I do wish nigel the best, though. I’ve heard through the grapevine, as many of you have, that nigel had some things to take care of closer to home. I wish he could have done those things at VT, but at least he is being a man about it. All the best… just expect to be in lower case from now on.

So… let’s look at potential lineups for next year, ASSUMING everyone else makes it to campus. This assumes all recruits from this class make it to the ‘burg, which is no guarantee. My projected starter by mid-season is in BOLD.

GUARDS

Point: Malcolm Delaney (Fr) or Hank Thorns (Fr) – Personally, I like Delaney. I have seen him play and read a ton about him. The guy is magic, you want the ball in his hands — extremely clutch. The thing is, though, Thorns is ONLY a PG, while Delaney can also play 2. So if both are on the court, expect Delaney to move to SG.

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It’s been in the rumor mill for a while now, but the Roanoke Times reported today that PG Nigel Munson has been released from his Tech scholarship. It appears that Munson wants to play closer to his Washington D.C. home.

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July 19, 2007
Gordon hopes to build on lessons learned at Virginia Tech | Collegiate Times

July 18, 2007
Munson leaves Virginia Tech | Roanoke Times

July 16, 2007
Scouting Report: Zabian Dowdell | Supersonicsoul

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The “Real World” has not been an easy transition for the three recent VT grads taking a shot at the NBA. Coleman Collins is playing with the Denver Nuggets, Zabian Dowdell with the Seattle Sonics (they aren’t super anymore), and Jamon Gordon with the Dallas Mavericks. So far, none of them have made any team look bad for passing over them in the draft. Let’s break down how they have been doing.

Of the three, Zabe has had the most opportunities, which was to be expected. After three games Dowdell is averaging over 13 minutes and started the first game. But a 1/7 shooting performance cost him his starting gig. Since then he has come off the bench and did have a nice game with seven points last time out. However, he is just 4/14 from the floor and has attempted only two three-pointers. One of the Hokies’ all-time steal and assist leaders, he has no steals and just two assists in those three games. Z is the only Hokie that has played in every one of his team’s games and has had the chance to play with NCAA Player of the Year, Kevin Durant.

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According to KTUU in Alaska, the University of Alaska Anchorage has confirmed that the Hokies will be playing in the 2007 edition of the Great Alaska Shootout. Tech will be joined by Butler, Gonzaga, Liberty, Michigan, Texas Tech, Western Kentucky, and host school Alaska Anchorage. The tournament runs over the Thanksgiving holiday from November 20 through the 24th (Turkey Day falls on the 22nd).

For more info, check out the KTUU.com story.

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In huge news for the Hokies, J.T. Thompson has reportedly finished the one course he needed to attend Virginia Tech for the 2007-08, and this news comes ”just in time”. Had he not finished this class this Summer, J.T. would likely have had to go to a junior college to make it to a four-year college, and that would have taken him an additional two years.

If true, J.T. can help fill some of the big holes the Hokies had in the low post with the graduation of Coleman Collins and Chris Tucker, with the news that Robert Krabbendam would be leaving VT to play pro ball for the Amsterdam Astronauts (didn’t know Amstel had a space program), and with “Gus Gilchrist’s decision not to come to VT this year. The only true* forwards or centers that are returning for the Hokies next year that have played in more than 10 games in their career are junior Cheick Diakite and sophomore Lewis Witcher. Terrance Vinson will be a sophomore next year, but he has yet to show he is an ACC caliber player.

Along with Thompson, VT welcomes Jeff Allen and Terrell Bell to the forward positions next season. None of them have the height Gus Gilchrist has, but at least the Hokies have some talented and ACC-size bodies to throw out there (excluding Bell, he has more of a Deron-type build).

J.T. is a talented forward who is highly regarded (#58 in the 2008 Scout.com Class and #71 in the 2008 Rivals.com Class), but he is not the imposing type of player Gilchrist is. I had the chance to see Gus at the Capital Classic in April (where he took home the MVP), and he is both taller and heavier than the 6’9″ and 230 pounds he’s listed at. Gus would have been, and still could be, a shot-blocking force in the low post for the Hokies. This is something VT has not had since the Jimmy Carruth days.

* I consider Deron Washington and A.D. Vassallo more wing players (a 3, guard/forward hybrid) than a true forward, although we all know Deron has had to play a lot of power forward due to lack of inside depth.

Shamarr Bowden

Although I’m sad to see we won’t be getting a Bowden on our side in a year, it does seem like the right move. It seems like both parties agreed he would not see much playing time as a Hokie guard, even if Nigel Munson heads elsewhere.

In hindsight, is this something VT should have done with Terrance Vinson?  Don’t mean to bad-mouth Vinson (a rising r-Sophomore), but from what I read even before Vinson arrived on campus, I think most scouts felt like he was a “project” and not necessarily ACC-talent.  Maybe he’ll prove me wrong in his last three seasons but that is to be seen.

Good to see that Greenberg is recruiting, and able to get, top talent that is ACC-ready instead of projects.

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First the good news.
Recruit J.T. Thompson is reportedly coming to Blacksburg this fall, and will play for the Hokies. Take that Andy Katz. The story of J.T. Thompson’s eligibility received national attention from the ESPN college basketball guru last month.

Now the we’ll have to wait several years to determine if this is good or bad news.
2008-09 recruit Shamarr Bowden have “amicably parted ways” according to the Newport News Daily Press. Bowden plays for Miller High School in Charlottesville, right down the road from where I live. It appears that Bowden would not have received much PT. “I think Tech’s doing the right thing by the kid,” Miller coach Fred Wawner said Thursday. “He’s a good player, but Tech has signed some really good guards. … I think he saw himself, and they saw him, as someone who would have to claw and fight to (just) get on the court.”

Finally the old news.
It’s official. Robert Krabbendam is not returning, but we already told you that a couple months ago. Best of luck to Mr. Krabbendam!

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66,233 Hokies
598 Hotel Rooms

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*Ownership may include rental program opportunities.

TechHoops.com is proud to welcome the Collegiate Inn of Blacksburg as a Corporate Sponsor for the 2007-08 season.

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