On Tuesday morning, Stadium's Jeff Goodman reported Virginia Tech wing Nahiem Alleyne has entered the transfer portal.
Editor's Note: As of 10:45 a.m., Tech Sideline can confirm Goodman's report that Nahiem Alleyne has entered the transfer portal. David Cunningham reported Tech center John Ojiako entering the portal at that time as well. That story can be found here.
A 6'4" junior from Buford, Ga., Alleyne was a three-year starter for the Hokies. One of Mike Young's first-ever commits at Virginia Tech in June 2019, he started 84 games in 90 appearances over three seasons, including all 36 of Tech's games in 2021-22. He started 50 straight games over the last two years.
Alleyne averaged 9.7 points per game in his career and scored 11.1 per game back in 2020-21. He shot 38.6% from the floor, 38.7% from beyond the arc and 80.7% from the free throw line, and he averaged 2.6 rebounds per game.
One of the highlights of his career was the 2021 NCAA Tournament vs. Florida. Alleyne carried the Hokies in the game, dropping 28 points, and hit a clutch 3-pointer at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime.
His playing time increased each season he was with the Hokies, peaking at 31.1 minutes per game in 2021-22. However, there were questions about how Young would split playing time in the upcoming year on the wing.Darius Maddox emerged as a solid option throughout the season, while Rodney Rice and MJ Collins are incoming recruits. Three-year starter and ACC Tournament MVP Hunter Cattoor also remains. There was going to be a logjam at those two wing positions, but Alleyne's departure opens up a spot for Maddox to start. It also creates an open scholarship spot.
On Monday night, Tech forward Justyn Mutts announced he is entering the NBA Draft while maintaining his extra year of college eligibility. He has until June 1 to decide if he'll commit to the draft or return from school, and Keve Aluma has to make the same decision.
His departure, combined with that of Ojiako, means Virginia Tech has two open scholarships heading into 2022-23. Essentially, two other scholarships are behind held for the duo of Mutts and Aluma in case they choose to come back. If the two decide not to return, the Hokies will have four open roster spots. If one stays and the other goes, there will be three spots. Both have to make a decision by June 1.
With the departure of Ojiako and Alleyne, only Cattoor remains from Young's 2019 recruiting class. Former guard Jalen Cone transferred to Northern Arizona last offseason.