#11 Erick Green
Class: Senior | Position: Guard | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 185 | Hometown: Winchester, Va.
Inside the numbers: Played in 31 of the team’s 33 games, making 30 starts … Led or tied for the team lead in scoring on 18 occasions … Averaged a team-best 15.6 points per game, while shooting 43.8 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from beyond the 3-point arc … Connected on 82.8 percent of his free-throw attempts … Averaged 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game … Led the team in assists (88) and steals (41).
Analyzing Green’s game: Green earned second-team All-ACC honors a year ago after finishing fifth in the ACC in free-throw percentage, seventh in scoring, seventh in steals, eighth in field-goal percentage and tied for eighth in assists. He’s a very good passer, but last year, became more of a scorer. His shooting has continued to improve each year, and Tech’s staff hopes he becomes even better from beyond the 3-point arc. He’ll be relied upon to be the Hokies’ leader this season.
Coach Johnson’s take: “He’s a scoring point guard and is one of the best in the league right now. He has to have a good year for us to be competitive and do the things we want to do.”
#24 Joey Racer
Class: Senior | Position: Guard | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185 | Hometown: Berryville, Va.
Inside the numbers: Played in six games a year ago, starting one of those – on Senior Day … Scored two points last season, hitting 1-of-8 from the floor, and he went 0-of-3 from beyond the 3-point arc … Had four rebounds … Played a total of 17 minutes.
Analyzing Racer’s game: Racer, who played last year as a walk-on, had a year of eligibility remaining and was invited back to the program by Johnson to give the Hokies an extra guard and another body for practice. He received a scholarship from Johnson because of his willingness to do anything for the betterment of the program. Though he’s not very big, he’s quick and is a good ball handler. But he helps the program best by making the other perimeter players work hard in practice each day.
Coach Johnson’s take: “Joey’s a team guy, and he knows his role. He knows what we’re doing and how we like to do certain things around here. At some point, he might be a guy who could help us in the backcourt at the guard position.”
#4 Cadarian Raines
Class: R-junior | Position: Forward | Height: 6-9 | Weight: 238 | Hometown: Petersburg, Va.
Inside the numbers: Played in all 33 games last season, starting nine of those … Averaged 5.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game … Shot 51.6 percent from the floor and 51.8 percent from the free-throw line … Led the team with 25 blocked shots … Also added 23 steals … Scored in double figures in four of the final eight games of the season after Victor Davila went down with a groin injury.
Analyzing Raines’ game: Raines finally showed toward the end of last season what he could do on the basketball floor after two injury-plagued seasons. He averaged 10.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in the final eight games, shooting 54 percent from the floor. He possesses size and strength and showed an ability to be effective in the post. His size enabled him to be a presence on the defensive end as well. He still needs to polish his offensive skills, and he needs to improve his free-throw shooting. Getting solid play from him is critical this season for Tech.
Coach Johnson’s take: “He’s a big part of what we want to do this year. He came on last year, and we expect him to carry that momentum from last year on into this year, which he has been doing. He’s got to be a post scorer and rebounder for us.”
#31 Jarell Eddie
Class: Junior | Position: Forward | Height: 6-7 | Weight: 218 | Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Inside the numbers: Started 32 of 33 games a year ago … Averaged 9.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game … Also averaged 1.4 assists per game … Shot 42.5 percent from the floor and 86.8 percent from the free-throw line … Connected on a team-best 44.3 percent of his 3-point attempts, which would have led the ACC, but he didn’t have enough attempts to qualify.
Analyzing Eddie’s game: Eddie got stuck playing out of position a year ago, as Seth Greenberg used him a lot at power forward because of a lack of depth inside. Also, because of Green’s emergence and Dorenzo Hudson’s skill, Eddie didn’t get a ton of shot attempts, but he can really shoot the ball. He needs to rebound better and be a little tougher on the defensive end, but his value to this team is as a shooter and scorer, and the staff wants to take advantage of that.
Coach Johnson’s take: “He’s playing his natural position now, the position where he’s the most comfortable. We’re asking him to score the basketball for us. He’s one of the best shooters on the team, and we’re asking him to make shots for us, and he also has to rebound for us. We’ve got to rebound the ball by committee this year, and he’s one of the guys who has to help us rebound.”
#10 Marquis Rankin
Class: Sophomore | Position: Guard | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 170 | Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Inside the numbers: Played in 24 games a year ago, starting six of them … Did not play in the first seven games because of a knee injury … Averaged 2.5 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game … Shot 33.8 percent from the floor, including 39.1 percent from beyond the 3-point arc … Connected on 61.5 percent of his free-throw attempts … Scored a season-best eight points in the Hokies’ overtime win over Georgia Tech on Feb. 18.
Analyzing Rankin’s game: Rankin averaged nearly 14 minutes of playing time per game a year ago, as he adjusted to college basketball. At times, he played tentatively, maybe because of his injured knee, and at other times, he played fast, which made the Hokies, as a team, play fast. He’s quick as a defender and quick with the ball in his hands. He pushes the ball, which the staff wants because they want this team to run more and get easier baskets. Rankin’s also a better shooter than his percentages indicate.
Johnson’s take: “He’s got to be our junkyard dog. He’s our best on-ball defender. He’s got to push the ball in transition. He’s improved his shot a lot. He’s worked extremely hard on that. He can make open shots when he has them, but we need for him to push the tempo. We’re counting on him to do that.”
#1 Robert Brown
Class: Sophomore | Position: Guard | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 190 | Hometown: Clermont, Fla.
Inside the numbers: Played in all 33 games, starting four of them … Averaged 6.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game … Also averaged 1.9 assists per game … Shot 36.2 percent from the floor, including 31.9 percent from beyond the 3-point arc … Connected on 62.2 percent of his free-throw attempts … Blocked 11 shots and had 25 steals … Scored in double figures on eight occasions.
Analyzing Brown’s game: Brown was up and down as a freshman, but the young man has undeniable talent. He scored 16 points against No. 6 Duke in the ACC Tournament to give folks a glimpse of what he could become. He’s long and quick, with the ability to get to the basket or hit jumpers. He also could become a great defender with a little more effort and focus. He suffered a broken foot during the summer, but should be ready when practice starts. He’s the top candidate on this team for a breakout season.
Coach Johnson’s take: “Robert is a guy who has to put up baskets for us. He has to help with the scoring load. He’s capable of getting hot from 3-point range, and he’s capable of putting the ball on the floor and creating his own shot.”
#42 C.J. Barksdale
Class: Sophomore | Position: Forward | Height: 6-8 | Weight: 232 | Hometown: Danville, Va.
Inside the numbers: Started one game and played in 32, missing a game because of an ankle injury … Averaged 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game … Shot 41.7 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the free-throw line … Blocked eight shots and had eight steals.
Analyzing Barksdale’s game: Barksdale averaged around 10 minutes per game a year ago in getting acclimated to college basketball. He was a little undersized in the post, but he is now stronger and needs to play there because of Tech’s lack of depth. He has some offensive skills, and he plays hard. He just needs to be a little more consistent. Tech’s staff hopes he develops into a force inside to compliment Cadarian Raines.
Coach Johnson’s take: “C.J. is a guy who has to play with a lot of confidence. He’s a different player right now. He’s playing with a lot of confidence. He’s got to rebound the ball for us and post defend. He gives us an ACC body at the four position [power forward]. He’s 6-foot-8, 230 pounds, so he gives us that ACC body.”
#2 Joey van Zegeren
Class: R-freshman | Position: Forward | Height: 6-10 | Weight: 225 | Hometown: Hoogeveen, The Netherlands
Inside the numbers: Played in just three games last season … Received a medical hardship waiver after last season because of a head injury … Averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds per game for the Canarias Basketball Academy in the Canary Islands his final year there.
Analyzing van Zegeren’s game: Getting the hardship waiver might have been the best thing to happen to van Zegeren, who needed time to get bigger and stronger. He is the perfect sleeper type of prospect. He’s tall, with a long wingspan, and he loves to block shots. Offensively, he attacks the glass, and he shows some potential as a face-up shooter. He needs to play with a more physical nature on both ends of the court. He could be a perfect contributor off the bench for this team, provided he develops a little more.
Johnson’s take: “Joey gives us a defensive presence. He’s a shot blocker for us. He’s got to run the floor and play hard. He’s got to rebound and block shots for us. I’m looking for him to get to the offensive glass. He could help us.”
#3 Adam Smith
Class: Sophomore | Position: Guard | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 170 | Hometown: Jonesboro, Ga.
Inside the numbers: Averaged 13.7 points per game as a freshman at UNC Wilmington last season before transferring to Tech, where he’ll sit out this season and have three seasons left to play … Started in 29 of 31 games at UNCW … Scored in double figures in 20 games and scored 20 or more points six times … Shot 37.9 percent from the floor, including 33.1 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.
Analyzing Smith’s game: It’s unfortunate that Smith must sit out the season because he could help the Hokies. He’s a big-time scorer from the guard spot. He wasn’t much of a distributor for the Seahawks, averaging just 1.6 assists per game, and he’ll need to work on his defense to play for Johnson, who prides himself as a defensive coach. But in a year, Smith should be ready to be a major contributor for the Hokies.
Coach Johnson’s take: “This year is going to be big for him to learn our system and the way we want to do things, and also to use this year to get better. He needs to get stronger and work on his ball skills, and I want him to push the guys in practice. But he can shoot the basketball and score. He’ll be an excellent guy for us to have to defend in practice.”
#25 Will Johnston
Class: Sophomore | Position: Guard | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 190 | Hometown: Midlothian, Va.
Inside the numbers: Played in four games a year ago and scored three points – on a 3-pointer in Tech’s win over Eastern Michigan … Made one of his three shot attempts – all 3-pointers … Played a total of eight minutes.
Analyzing Johnston’s game: Johnston is a walk-on who joined Tech’s roster last year. He’s a solid shooter, especially from beyond the 3-point arc, and a decent ball handler. He needs to rebound better from the guard spot, but that figures to come with more work. Like with Joey Racer, Tech’s staff may need to rely on him to play some minutes in the backcourt in the event of injury or foul trouble.
Coach Johnson’s take: “Will is a 3-point shooter. He’s a guy who can get hot and make shots. We’ve got to continue to work with Will on putting the ball on the floor and guarding his position. But he can make shots. He could come in and make shots against zones. He might be the guy who has to help us in the backcourt.”
#22 Christian Beyer
Class: Sophomore | Position: Forward | Height: 6-7 | Weight: 200 | Hometown: New Bern, N.C.
Inside the numbers: Is an invited walk-on who joined the program … Did not play for the Hokies last season … Averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds as a senior at New Bern High School.
Analyzing Beyer’s game: Beyer is a solid walk-on with the skills to give the Hokies some minutes in the post. He possesses good range as a shooter and works hard on the defensive end. He’s another one who figures to make the Hokies a better team by making others work hard in practice.
Johnson’s take: “Christian’s an athletic guy who can make shots. He’s probably a 4. He’ll be competing up front with C.J. and Marshall [Wood].”
#33 Marshall Wood
Class: Freshman | Position: Forward | Height: 6-8 | Weight: 210 | Hometown: Rustburg, Va.
Inside the numbers: Averaged 24.1 points and 12 rebounds per game as a senior at Rustburg High School … Scored 579 points as a senior and 1,402 points for his career, breaking the school record in both categories … Made 42 3-pointers as a senior … Averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game as a junior.
Analyzing Wood’s game: Wood fits the mold of most of Tech’s players – he’s long and quick and can get up off the floor, though he needs to put on weight and get stronger. Wood’s best attribute may be his shooting ability, as he possesses deep range. He resembles Jarell Eddie in that sense, though he may be a tad taller. Wood will compete for time at power forward, so he’ll need to get used to how physical things are at the college level.
Coach Johnson’s take: “Marshall is a guy who is a long athletic forward, and we’re expecting him to develop into one of the best 3-point shooters on the team. We’re expecting him to make shots and stretch the defense for us and open the defense for driving and post-ups for Cadarian [Raines]. He, too, has to rebound the ball for us. We expect him to see extensive playing time.”
#5 Marcus Patrick
Class: Freshman | Position: Guard | Height: 5-9 | Weight: 165 | Hometown: Rustburg, Va.
Inside the numbers: Is an invited walk-on to the program … Averaged 10.5 points per game his senior season as a teammate of Marshall Wood’s at Rustburg High School.
Analyzing Patrick’s game: Patrick received an invitation to walk on because of the Hokies’ lack depth on the perimeter. He lacks size, but he’s quick, and he doesn’t back down. He’s going to make Erick Green and Marquis Rankin work hard in practice every single day.
Coach Johnson’s take: “Marcus is an energetic guy, and we’re excited to have him on the team. He brings a lot of energy and excitement and fun to the game.”
