The final Scout.com 2015 basketball rankings have been released. Virginia Tech point guard signee Justin Robinson saw a big boost in his overall ranking.
This is a quick update on the final rankings for all of Tech's 2015 signees.
Justin Robinson, PG, 6-1, 175Scout: 4-stars, #59 player overall, #9 PG, #1 player in Maryland
Rivals: 4-stars, #107 player overall
247Sports: 3-stars, #153 player overall, #30 PG, #4 player in Virginia
ESPN: 4-stars, #20 PG, #6 player in Virginia
Note that Robinson is from Manassas, but he plays high school basketball in Maryland. Thus Scout considers him to be from Marlyand, while 247 and ESPN list him as being from Virginia.
Robinson had a big senior season at St. James, and his Scout.com ranking is actually higher than Chris Clarke's. He is just outside the top 100 per rivals, and he is also nearly in the ESPN top 100.
A left-handed point guard, Robinson is expected to compete for playing time immediately at Virginia Tech.
Chris Clarke, SF/PF, 6-5, 185Scout: 4-stars, #76 player overall, #13 SF, #3 player in Virginia
Rivals: 4-stars, #68 player overall
247Sports: 4-stars, #44 player overall, #8 SG, #1 player in Virginia
ESPN: 4-stars, #53 player overall, #10 SF, #1 player in Virginia
Clarke is the consensus top recruit of Virginia Tech's recruiting class. Most rankings list him as the top player in the state of Virginia. He is a very athletic player who is capable of playing small forward, as well as undersized power forward in a 4-guard lineup under Buzz Williams.
Clarke is expected to challenge for heavy playing time as soon as he enrolls, and perhaps even start right away.
Kerry Blackshear, PF/C, 6-9, 220Scout: 4-stars, #18 PF, #2 player in Florida
Rivals: 3-stars, #112 player overall
247Sports: 4-stars, #81 player overall, #22 power forward, #10 player in Florida
ESPN: 4-stars, #27 power forward, #13 player in Florida
Blackshear chose the Hokies over a big offer list. Buzz Williams said this past winter that Blackshear is between 6-10 and 6-11, though most recruiting sites list him at 6-9. He will bring some much-needed size to Virginia Tech's frontcourt.
Blackshear is expected to compete for playing time at power forward, and he could also see time at center in a smaller lineup.
JUCO center Johnny Hamilton signed with the Hokies in April, though JUCO rankings are incomplete at this time. At this point there has also been no official confirmation of Tyrone Outlaw's commitment to Virginia Tech. It's possible that things are in a holding pattern until his transcripts officially go through. He is a highly-touted JUCO wing.
Team Recruiting Rankings Update
Here's where Virginia Tech's 2015 recruiting class is ranked by the major services.
Scout.com: #25 nationally, #5 in the ACC behind Duke (#1), Louisville (#6), Syracuse (#12), and FSU (#13). Scout's ranking does not include Hamilton or Outlaw. Rivals.com: Not ranked. The Rivals link only includes the Top 30 classes, and VT is not listed. From the ACC, Duke (#1), Louisville (#8), Syracuse (#11), and FSU (#12) are included. Rivals' calculations include Hamilton, but not Outlaw. 247Sports Composite Rankings: #27 nationally, #5 in the ACC behind Duke (#1), Louisville (#7), FSU (#8), and Syracuse (#11). 247's composite rankings include both Hamilton and Outlaw. ESPN: #35 nationally, #6 in the ACC, behind Duke (#1), Syracuse (#7), FSU (#10), Louisville (#11), and UNC (#33). ESPN's ranking includes Hamilton, but not Outlaw.