I was browsing r/collegebasketball on reddit yesterday and saw the Scout 2015 Final Bball Rankings and decided to take a look just to see where they had Chris Clarke ranked but was pleasantly surprised to see how high they have Justin Robinson ranked.
VT Commits:
Justin Robinson - #59 overall - #9 Point Guard- 4 star
Chris Clarke - #76 overall -#13 Small Forward - 4 star
Kerry Blackshear - #105 overall - #18 Power Forward - 4 star
Chris Clark was also featured on an article "Five outside top 50 who could have big impact" which was published two days ago.
"There aren't many guys who fit a coach's personality better than Chris Clarke does with Buzz Williams. The 6-foot-6 and 195 pound Clarke is one of the highest motor players in the country and he checks in at No. 76 in the country.
Clarke is someone who probably starts from day one for Virginia Tech. His versatility is what will get him on the court given that he likely will be able to play on the wing as a small forward or as a matchup problem power forward. Clarke has an incredible ability to rebound the ball at his size, and with his athleticism and length, he plays taller than his listed height.
Williams absolutely loves tough and high energy kids to play his system of defense, and Clarke is just that. Even though Virginia Tech has some good young talent, especially wing Justin Bibbs, Clarke's toughness and versatility should get him on the court right away. Even in the meat grinder that is the ACC, it wouldn't surprise to see Clarke as one of the top newcomers in the league following the year.
Virginia Tech needs an infusion of talent, and Clarke is a big piece to the puzzle. It will likely be another re-building year for the Hokies, but a season after looking back with promise at a freshman like Bibbs, Virginia Tech fans will likely be doing the same with Clarke a year later."
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This is definitely a solid class. If Buzz keeps putting together top-20 classes we should be pretty good in the near future.
Basketball is returning to Virginia Tech......
I'm hoping that whatever is coming to VT is better than anything that's ever been here. Returning isn't the word that gets me excited. I don't want to get back to where we were at our peak, I want to get to a much higher peak.
Agree with that. Charlie Moir years were pretty special though. VT was darn good then. Some really great games in Cassell.
Thank you for bringing that up. I'm all for forging ahead into the future, ACC and all, but it still rankles me that people don't remember that we had a lot of good basketball in the Cassell "back in the day".
Exactly. I have brought up some specific games as examples in the past in other threads to help keep that fresh in peoples minds. I never missed a home game if I was in town while a student. Cassell was full more than it wasn't and it was one of the most feared places to play in the country back then. The very steep seating makes for some noise when full and the fans engaged (I think Whit is hearing this).
I do agree we need to get further into the ACC and NCAA tourneys more consistently than we did back then to build a new lasting legacy. I see a lot of "back in the day" remembering focusing on the mid '90s when Bill Foster was the coach. He was good for VT as well, but Moir was a coach here for 11 years vs Foster's 6.
Agree with you. I was around for both of those coaches and remember when the Cassell was really rockin' on a regular basis. Charlie was good people, too.
Charlie is still with us. His wife died a few months ago, but he's still around.
Yeah, I knew he was still with us, the "was" shoulda been "is", but I'm sloppy sometimes with my prose. Thanks for the update, though, I didn't know his wife had passed.
Real surprised Robinson is ahead of Clarke. Also not certain that either could start immediately with the depth we have in the backcourt.
I was surprised too. I did find this article from February that says Robinson outplayed a 5 star head to head so that may explain the boost in his rating.
"Evan Daniels: Virginia Tech signee Justin Robinson was particularly impressive when I saw him play in December. After a so-so spring and summer, Robinson has put together quite the senior campaign. The game I saw him he went toe-to-toe with five-star guard Antonio Blakeney and honestly out played him that go around.
Robinson is competitive and brings it on both ends of the floor. I think he'll get the ball in his hands early and often at Virginia Tech. He's quick, crafty, has good vision, is a playmaker and can make shots. There's a lot to like about the direction of Justin Robinson as a prospect and player."
Article
Robinson is a really impressive player, and exactly the type of point guard this program needs. He's a well rounded point — essentially the product if you were to take each of Devin Wilson's and Seth Allen's best traits and combine them. That's not to say he's without flaws, but he is a multi-dimensional player that shouldn't limit the team while he is on the floor.
You think Wilson becomes the 3rd point in the rotation now? Each of them has their own upsides (experience vs talent, etc). Kinda hope Allen takes the starting job though.
I'd be shocked if Allen didn't take the starting job. He has a chance to have an All-ACC type of season.
It's interesting that they selected Bibbs as the returner to highlight. It's a good problem to have, but it is difficult to figure out which of Hudson, Hill or Bibbs is the guy to build around from last years freshmen. Hudson was outstanding at times, then invisible others. Hill was steady all year and started 30 straight games to end the season. Buzz plays him. Bibbs was outstanding early but struggled some after his concussion.
Maybe the rotation looks like this:
1: Allen (25'), Robinson (15')
2: Hudson (20'), Hill (15'), Allen (5')
3: Bibbs (25'), Hill (10'), Clarke (5')
4: Clarke (15'), LeDay (15'), Blackshear (10')
5: Pearce (15'), Hamilton (10'), Blackshear (10'), LeDay (5')
In order of mpg: Allen (30'), Bibbs (25'), Hill (25'), Hudson (20'), Clarke (20'), LeDay (20'), Blackshear (20'), Pearce (15'), Robinson (15') and Hamilton (10').
With Wilson, Mueller and Henry as the bench players with occasional minutes.
The full extent of their research on returning players was probably glancing at the stat sheet - specifically at points per game...
I think pre-concussion Bibbs is the real The Bibbs, and that was the best player on the team. Hudson may have more potential, but I think, and have told people, that I think both have NBA potential. The Bibbs, Tyrone, and Seth Allen are all guys who could go for 30 pts any given night and when it all comes together with guys like that, this team is going to be nearly impossible to defend.
Oh please, please, PLEASE! be true. We got killed on the boards so badly last year. Even if he doesn't start, but can come of the bench for 15-20 high energy minutes a game, it will let Buzz play into his up tempo style more. The more guys we have that can come in and help push the ball up the court quickly, the better. There are minutes available simply because guys will need breathers.
With Clarke, Blackshear, Hamilton and LeDay all joining the playing rotation, rebounding should be much improved.
All aboard!!
If VT keeps getting press like this, I think our HypeTrain is going to be more like this
Oooooo...cool. Can I drive?
I am so aboard the hype train. Screw waiting for 2016-17, we got a chance to be good next year