According to Rivals' Corey Evans, Tifton County (Ga.) forward PJ Horne has committed to play hoops at Virginia Tech. 6'-6" and 230lbs, he is averaging 24 pts and 12 boards on the season. Currently unrated by 247 and Rivals, Horne picked the Hokies over interest from Florida, Arkansas, Middle Tennessee State and Murray State.
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Welcome to the Hokies!! Put your rebounding shoes on and get ready to work!
Good pick up we need some bigger bodies!
Welcome to the family, PJ. I wonder if this is a scholarship or walk on? Last I heard VT hadn't actually offered him...but that's been months ago.
I was wondering the same thing. Seems more a candidate for a walk on spot over a scholarship.
Looking at his 247Sports profile it says he does have a scholarship offer from us. A few other articles I read could make me believe it. Sounds like he has the work ethic to be a Buzz OKG. One thing that stands out is his ability to block and disrupt shots. Averaging almost 6 blocks per game in high school but even as that comes down the natural instincts are there for the college level. Is a better rebounder right now than most of the current roster as well.
Also, if you are looking for some additional info, do a search under Preston Horne.
He must have the heart buzz wants, but I can't help but wish he was 4"s taller. We need someone to play DeLay's role (short big guy) next year I guess. Really be nice to get a tournament run going, where we get traction with BIG big guys with heart, but so far Buzz has done well picking heart over height. I guess I'll keep waiting until I can have both, and stay grateful Horne is coming here.
If he were 4" taller he'd be a 5 star. I did read he is now 6'6 so hopefully still growing. Tech is still trying to pull the diamonds in the rough somewhat as they haven't even made the tourney yet so the blue chips haven't rolled in yet
Would expect for us to look at the grad transfer market for bigs unless scholly numbers get in the way.
Barring someone else leaving the program, Horne should max us out for next season by my count.
By my count: by years remaining, not going to put all the redshirt stuff in
Seniors
Bibbs
Outlaw
Wilson
Juniors
Clarke
Hill
Robinson
Leday
Sophomores
Blackshear
Sy
Freshman
Jackson
Bedell
Alexander Nickel
Horne
Walk on
Fullard
New person
Only space I see possible above would be if Wilson isn't on scholarship.
never mind...missed the last line
Wilson is currently on a football scholarship
Hot rumor is Wilson is going to grad transfer somewhere for Law School
Yeah, it's going to be tough replacing Chaz DeLay
Seth LeDay is 6-7 btw and has a great handle- he can play point. No where near Zach's weight however. As with Zach, has a not so textbook shooting stroke.
Article Here
Gets more I to his recruitment. For someone unranked, pretty amazing that he had 18 D1 offers, when most of the online profiles say one or two. Seems something is off kilter here.
Also of note because it didn't click until I read the article, he is a high school teammate of Tyrie "Pig" Jackson.
If he can develop any sort of shot maybe Buzz can get him some minutes at 3 as well. I like the idea of having guys that can switch between SF and PF positions.
A short while after I posted about Horne's commitment last night, KipTJam retweeted some of his impressions from watching Horne play around the holidays. I was on mobile at the time, so I thought I would embed his tweets for everyone once I woke up this morning:
For comparison, Duke commit Alex O'Connell is a 6'6" [beanpole] guard and consensus 4-star, Top-100 player in the 2017 class.
That sounds like an OKG.
A LeDay type performance(s).
I like that FG% but I like that FT% even more
This whole thing blows my mind! Wow any chance he decommits and goes anywhere else?
I doubt it. One thing I've noticed is that Buzz's players love him, past and present. They may like VT a lot, but I feel the main draw is to play for Buzz.
Kind of OT, but what's everyone's opinion on our chances of making the tournament right now?
Finish well, decent showing in the ACC championship, we're in.
But I'm not confident by any means right now.......
Great topic for a new thread rather than something unrelated in a recruiting thread.
8 games left.
5-3, in with a 6-8 seed
4-4, in with a 9+ seed
3-5, in the Last 4 In Or Last 4 Out discussion
2-6, deservedly NIT bound.
I think we have a shot to win any game but @ Louisville. I'm guessing 5-3.
HS Stats from Max Preps
Stepped up his 3 game dramatically this year. Shooting 40% from 3
http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/preston-horne/lZCcqU63EeOZXQAmVebBJg/gen...
HUDl
http://www.hudl.com/profile/4809181/preston-horne
Berman article- listing him at 6-7 210. Nice comments from his coach
http://www.roanoke.com/sports/blog-virginia-tech-adds-recruit-from-georg...
Missing the AAU circuit last season is probably why a guy with what seems like huge potential hasnt garnered the rankings of a top player.
Another article. 3.2 gpa, recruited by Cornell. Also a pic, he's got a mans physique.