On Wednesday, Hokies guard MJ Collins entered the transfer portal. Jamie Shaw of On3 first reported the news.
A 6-foot-4, 195-pound guard from Clover, S.C., Collins played in 66 games over two seasons at Virginia Tech, starting 44. He averaged 27 minutes per game and was thrust into the fire in 2022-23 when Hunter Cattoor suffered an injury and Darius Maddox took a leave of absence from the team.
Collins averaged 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game this year as a full-time starter as a sophomore. Though he struggled early in the season, he hit his stride down the stretch. In the month of March, he averaged 12.3 points, four rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 45 percent from the field (25-of-55) and 44 percent from 3-point range (11-of-25). That included a 15-point, eight-board performance in the final regular-season game vs. Notre Dame.
He's the fourth player from this year's Tech roster to enter the portal, joining Lynn Kidd, John Camden and Sean Pedulla. It also means that all five of Tech's starters are either in the portal (Pedulla, Collins, Kidd) or are out of eligibility (Cattoor, Robbie Beran).
The Hokies currently have six scholarship players on their roster. Mylyjael Poteat still has the option to return for another season.
If Poteat does not return, the most veteran player on the roster is junior Tyler Nickel, who has played in 58 games with seven starts. Mike Young & Co. have targeted a number of players in the transfer portal, however.
