Ahmed Hill and Ty Outlaw Deepen Buzzketball's Talent Pool

The conclusion of Virginia Tech's surprisingly successful 2015-16 basketball campaign with a Seth Allen layup at the buzzer, and three-point NIT loss at altitude to BYU doesn't seem too long ago.

It was an anticlimactic way to end head coach Buzz Williams' second year at the helm of the Hokies, but the encouraging part is the returning roster. Williams' rotation consistently used 8.5 players (the half meaning the leftover minutes thrown to Shane Henry, Satchel Pierce, or Johnny Hamilton), and everyone outside of Henry was set to return.

However that was before everyone's favorite time in college basketball, transfer season! And with it came the departures of Pierce and Jalen Hudson, both leaving for larger roles on other Power Five teams (Penn State and Florida, respectively). Those losses, particularly Hudson's, felt like a problem. While he was inconsistent through his first two years, Tyrone single handedly won a few games. How much would his exit hurt?

It was a question I threw around for a couple weeks. In fact, another Hokie buddy of mine asked about Hudson's transfer a few days after it was initially announced. 'What's up with him leaving?' he asked, 'I thought he'd be big time next year.'

I instinctively answered with a word Tech basketball fans haven't heard in a half decade. Depth. The team's too deep for him to get consistent minutes, I said. And even as the statement came from my mouth, it was hard to believe. Is this team, one which is still looking for their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2007, really stacked with talent?

To be honest, it's still weird to see the words in writing.

But then, two reports trickled out to substantiate the thought.

Virginia Tech's Ahmed Hill (patella) has been fully cleared for all basketball related activities, Buzz Williams told @CBSSports.— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 6, 2016

Virginia Tech's Ty Outlaw (illness) has been fully cleared for all basketball activities, Buzz Williams told @CBSSports. DNP last year.— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 6, 2016

Two wings, both of whom missed an entire season, are fully cleared.

It's hard to underestimate what this means for a roster already built to a Buzz Williams T. Let's take a look at the team, broken down into the three key positions: point guards, wings, and bigs.

Point Guards:

Seth Allen
Tyrie Jackson
Justin Robinson
Devin Wilson (Unless Wilson doesn't return from his stint with the football team.)

Wings:

Justin Bibbs
Chris Clarke
Ahmed Hill
Ty Outlaw

Bigs:

Kerry Blackshear
Johnny Hamilton
Zach LeDay
Khadim Sy

Four deep at each? The look of a real college hoops squad could bring a tear to your eye. Even if you assume Sy and Jackson won't be ready, and Hamilton is still a disaster anywhere close to the ball, they can still supplement the other eight rotation players.

While it may be unfair to expect much out of either Hill or Outlaw, especially since the latter has been out of basketball for an entire year, their addition still strengthens the overall talent pool. And since there are still five months until they hit Cassell Coliseum again, fans can only dream of what these guys could look like.

In fact a fun game is to take the roster from above, and pick your favorite five to put on the court together. There are so many to chose from, you have a ton of intriguing options. Here are a few of mine.

The Traditional

Justin Robinson
Seth Allen
Justin Bibbs
Zach LeDay
Kerry Blackshear/Johnny Hamilton/Khadim Sy

Standard in many ways, including a "real" power forward in LeDay next to another big man, and two shooters flanking the post. This combination isn't exactly revolutionary, but it tosses three veterans with an explosive ball handler and one of three centers who protect the rim and could track down offensive boards.

While this limits what the coaching staff could do creatively in terms of producing mismatches, it's one of the better defensive groupings. With LeDay already at 6'7" he can handle an opposing big, but if Buzz went any smaller with a wing like Clarke or Hill, they may struggle. Is it the most dangerous five? No. But it's definitely the safest. This way Williams won't have to resort to zone (something he doesn't love despite last year's success), and still maintain an appropriate balance inside and outside.

The Run Club

Seth Allen/Justin Robinson
Justin Bibbs
Ahmed Hill
Chris Clarke
Zach LeDay

One of the biggest changes this roster's undergone over the last two years has been the kind of athlete on the bench. Gone are the plodding big men (Pierce, Trevor Thompson, Joey van Zegeren, Cadarian Raines), and most of the one dimensional defensive question marks (Adam Smith, Marshall Wood, Malik Mueller). Instead they've all been replaced with versatility and explosiveness.

The Hokies flashed serious firepower in two ways this season. The first was through getting into the middle of the defense with their ball handlers, causing chaos, open threes, and countless trips to the free throw line.

But the second was even more exciting. Using length and quickness to their advantage, players like Robinson, Allen, Clarke, and LeDay got in passing lanes and looked to run at every chance. There were times, like Tech's game in Blacksburg against Florida State, where this completely flipped momentum. When guys are flying around and getting out on the break, it can demoralize their opponents.

Hill improved drastically as a freshman, but one of the skills he had on day one was filling the wing in transition. Quite similarly, Clarke's best talent in his debut year was a non-stop will to outrun the other team. Though many of their possessions ended in disaster, both can wow in the open floor.

But think about this scenario: LeDay comes up with a loose ball or defensive rebound near the basket, shoots a quick pass to Robinson and before he can blink, the point guard is flanked by a sprinting Hill and Clarke. Even if a defense keeps up with the attacking trio, can they also handle the trailing Bibbs, who hits on nearly half his three pointers?

Excuse me, I think I need to go walk something off.

The Small-Ball Nightmare

Justin Robinson/Devin Wilson/Seth Allen
Justin Bibbs
Ahmed HIll
Ty Outlaw
Chris Clarke

This is an even faster and more reckless version of the run club. They wouldn't be able to play man-to-man, but a quick five minute burst of frenetic matchup zone each half from these five could be deadly. It won't always work, especially against established centers, but this is the kind of Golden State Warriors-esq lineup revolutionizing the NBA right now.

Let's say Allen is running with the other four. Not only would they play quickly, but the wealth of wings could take anyone to the rim. And outside of Clarke (whose current form looks more unnatural than a Bill Gates' dab), the group's also full of shooters. Allen runs hot and cold, but Bibbs, Outlaw (44 percent from deep as a JUCO), and Hill (an astounding 41 percent in ACC play) can all equally space the floor.

Add in Bibbs' underrated skills as a passer, and the ball would whiz around to the open man. Whether it lands in the hands of one of the four gunners or Clarke squirming his way around the hoop, this collection of players could light up the scoreboard. It also doubles as an interesting option for the inevitable game where LeDay and Blackshear struggle with fouls on the same night.

The "I Dare You To Fight Me"

Justin Robinson
Ahmed Hill
Ty Outlaw**
Chris Clarke
Zach LeDay

I don't know how impactful these guys would be together, but maaaaaaaaan if there's ever a brawl I hope they're out there. Each one of these dudes knows how to scrap. Between LeDay's scowl, Hill's intensity, Clarke's limitless energy, and Robinson's actual willingness to throw a punch (/cuts eyes to a cowering Dinos Mitoglou), these guys are all tough. They may not beat you, but they sure as hell would puff their chest after knocking you to the ground.

**To be honest, no clue how scrappy Outlaw is. This is really just the Shane Henry Award for Juco Toughness (SHAJT? We'll workshop it.)

The Marcolini

Justin Robinson
Justin Bibbs
Ty Outlaw/Chris Clarke
Ahmed Hill
Zach LeDay/Kerry Blackshear

All this selfishly does is put my favorite people on the court at once, while also centering around my infatuation with Hill at power forward. All anyone around the program could talk about during the offseason were the leaps he made over the summer, and that he'd be the most improved player between years one and two.

And while a torn patella tendon has a tendency to disrupt plans, Hill stayed in shape and should be ready day one. If his game improves the way his shot did as a freshman (again, 41 percent in conference after hitting a less-than-stellar 32 percent in November and December), Tech'll have themselves a stud.

Outside of Hill, Blackshear's growth will also be one to watch. He's been awkward at times, and committed more than his share of rookie lapses, but his skills are enticing. As a near-seven footer who can dribble, step out and hit a jumper, and also use touch around the rim to finish, he's the kind of offensive center coaches who play small dream about.

In a very real world Blackshear could provide rim protection alongside four guards (Allen, Robinson, Bibbs, and Hill?), while not subtracting from the unit's skill and versatility. It's a huge advantage.

The best part of all these lists, however? They're just a handful of options Buzz Williams has at his disposal. The Hokies are deep, talented, and diverse in their skill sets. While it seems odd to see Tech sneak into a bunch of too-early-Top 25s, they have every reason to be there. And if the Virginia Tech's improvement over the last two seasons is any indication, don't be surprised if the Hokies stay in those polls after the season gets started.