Neoklis Avdalas
6-8, 198, F
Peristeri, on loan from Panathinaikos (Greece)
Greek star Neoklis Avdalas (NEO-cliss av-DAL-as) signed with Virginia Tech and Mike Young on Monday.
"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Neo to the Virginia Tech family," Young said in the school's release. "This is a huge addition for our program. Neo is a highly sought-after talent with tremendous upside. His versatility is off the charts; he can impact the game in a variety of ways and is a three-level scorer.
"Hokie Nation is going to love watching him compete, and I can't wait to have the opportunity to coach him. Neo has the chance to be a difference-maker in college basketball, and we're thrilled he chose to pursue that at Virginia Tech."
The international prospect, who hails from Athens, Greece, is one of the best prospects to ever come through the Hokies' program and completely alters Tech's trajectory for the 2025-26 season.
Avdalas declared for the NBA Draft while maintaining his NCAA eligibility. After impressing with his athleticism and playmaking at the NBA Combine in May — he had a 13-point, nine-rebound, five-assist outing in Chicago — he opted to pull his name out of the NBA Draft, as ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported Sunday, and instead chose the college route, ultimately picking Virginia Tech. He visited Blacksburg in early May, along with Baylor.
Avdalas was the No. 51 prospect on ESPN's big board rankings on May 30. It appeared to be a situation where he was waiting to see if a franchise would promise him he'd be a first-round pick in the NBA Draft. However, there's so much variation in second-round contracts that going to college for a year and improving his game and draft stock for 2026 is a better option, and the Hokies can make him the focal point of their offense and offer him 30-plus minutes per game.
For context, only three Hokies have ever been a first-round pick: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (2019), Dell Curry (1986) and Allan Bristow (1973, ABA). In terms of talent and experience upon arriving on campus, Avdalas is up there in Tech history.
The 19-year-old spent the last two seasons in the Greek Basketball League. In 2024-25 with Peristeri BC at the age of 18, he averaged 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 18.5 minutes per game across 26 outings while shooting 39.3 percent from 3-point range.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HzDDPd-jbE&t=6s
Avdalas is a point-forward who loves attacking downhill in transition, thrives in ball-screen actions — particularly the pick-and-roll — and excels as a cutter. He's comfortable as a spot-up shooter, too, and isn't afraid to step back and pull a 3-pointer.
He began his pro career with Panathinaikos in 2021, became the youngest player to ever score in the EuroLeague at 15 years old and won the Greek Super Cup. A Greek All-Star in 2023 and the Greek League's Best Young Player in 2024, he spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan with Karditsa and the 2024-25 season on loan at Peristeri. He was teammates with two former Hokies — Jarell Eddie and Ahmed Hill — at Peristeri.
Avdalas has represented his country on a number of occasions. He won the Greek U18 League title in 2023 and averaged 11.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game at the FIBA U18 European Championships in 2024. He's going to represent Greece at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket in July, too.
He is the son of former professional basketball player Dimitrios Avdalas, who suited up for Greece on multiple occasions in the 1990s.
With the commitment of Avdalas, the Hokies have 13 scholarship players for the 2025-26 season and should be expected to contend for a spot in the NCAA Tournament — a stark difference from last season. The young Greek player has a legitimate chance of being an All-ACC performer the second he steps on campus, and Tech has talent and depth around him after revamping its roster.
Programs are allowed to carry up to 15 scholarship players now after NCAA rules changed. Here's a breakdown of the Hokies' roster with its newest addition:
For more information on Virginia Tech's roster, click here for Tech Sideline's roster management page.