On Wednesday evening, Virginia Tech men's basketball forward Jalen Haynes put his name in the transfer portal.
A 6'8" freshman from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Haynes appeared in nine games for the Hokies in 2021-22. He played 25 total minutes and scored seven points between two games (Saint Francis (PA) and St. Bonaventure). Haynes participated in just two of 20 ACC games: North Carolina (Jan. 24) and Pitt (Feb. 7), his last appearance.
Head coach Mike Young told reporters after the Louisville game on March 1 that Haynes was focusing on academics at that time and wasn't with the team. He did not appear in the final 11 contests of the season.
Out of high school, Haynes chose the Hokies over Mississippi State, Boston College and UCF. He played a year of prep ball at Monteverde Academy in Florida, the same school former Hokie Justin Bibbs attended.
The departure of Haynes opens up another scholarship for Young & Co. for the 2022-23 season. Previously, Tech had committed 12 of the 13 available scholarships, leaving just one open.
Thanks to the NCAA granting players a COVID year of eligibility, Justyn Mutts and Keve Aluma both have the option of returning 2022-23. However, unlike this past season, their scholarships would count against Virginia Tech's numbers.
Here are two breakdowns of the scholarship outlook. First, by academic year; Second, by projected position.
As far as 2022 targets go, the Hokies reached out to 6'7" SF Tyrell Ward out of DeMatha Catholic. Originally committed to Xavier, the four-star was released from his NLI over the past few days after the Musketeers changed head coaches. The connection with Mike Jones, the former DeMatha coach, and his current teammate, Tech commit Rodney Rice, could certainly play a factor in his decision.
Tech currently has a four-man signing class for 2022. Three have signed their NLI to the Hokies, while one is a commit. A breakdown by height:
Rodney Rice: 6'4" G, Hyattsville, Md. (Signee)
MJ Collins: 6'4" G, Rock Hill, S.C. (Signee)
Darren Buchanan Jr.: 6'7" F, Washington, D.C. (Commit)
Patrick Wessler: 7'0" C, Charlotte, N.C. (Signee)