On Saturday evening, Virginia Tech women’s basketball received a commitment from Amelia Hassett, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from Eastern Florida State.
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In her second year in the JUCO ranks, Hassett is averaging 19.4 points and 13.4 rebounds per game while shooting 56 percent from the floor and 43 percent from three (on 91 attempts). She’s an 82.7 percent free throw shooter, too.
The forward hails from Albury, New South Wales, Australia. Prior to her commitment on Saturday, she had 10 games this season with 20-plus points, including two 30-point performances in which she was a combined 23-of-31 (74%) from the field and 8-of-12 from 3-point range with 28 rebounds, 12 assists and nine blocks.
As a freshman in 2022-23, she averaged nine and eight while helping her team reach the NJCAA Final Four. She has experience in the NLB1, too, an Australian semi-pro league run by the National Basketball League. Hassett competed in 18 games in 2022 between April and August and averaged 12.8 points and 8.1 rebounds. On top that, she has experience with her country’s youth national teams.
Hassett adds experience and versatility for Virginia Tech at the four. Though the frontcourt will take a hit with the departures of Elizabeth Kitley and Olivia Summiel after the season, Rose Micheaux (Sr. in 2024-25) and Clara Strack (So.) will return. The latter has seen an uptick in minutes recently and has been especially good on the glass and on the defensive end.
Hassett joins two other bigs — Clara Silva (6-7, C, Meinedo Portugal,) and Myah Hazelton (6-3, F, Baltimore, Md.) — in the class, along with Lexi Blue (6-2, G, Orlando, Fla.), who ESPN lists as a top-40 prospect.
It’s not the first time Kenny Brooks has looked to the JUCO level for quality talent in his time in Blacksburg, though it hasn’t happened in a few years. D’asia Gregg, who transferred from Gulf Coast State in 2020, was the last to do so. Other talented players from that route included Trinity Baptiste and Taylor Emery.
Here’s a snapshot of what Tech’s roster looks like for 2024-25. Note that Georgia Amoore has an opportunity to return if she chooses. It’s the final season that will incorporate COVID years.
