By Jimmy Robertson
Not long after his team's painful three-point loss to No. 4-ranked and top seed Louisville in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament, Kenny Brooks sat down and pondered the Hokies' postseason future.
He knew Virginia Tech had a WNIT bid secured. He just debated within himself whether actually to accept it.
"I contemplated turning down the WNIT bid because we were so beat up," Brooks admitted. "Obviously, I'm glad we didn't."
Brooks and his staff accepted the bid, and what transpired turned out to be the stuff that defines programs, especially for a coach trying to build a foundation for a program without an NCAA Tournament appearance in more than a decade. The Hokies made big shots to win games, they beat an SEC team at home, they beat a Big 12 team on the road, and they played themselves into the WNIT championship game, where the run ended with a loss to Indiana in front of more than 13,000 rabid fans in Bloomington, Indiana.
Still, those five surprising wins validated two years worth of teaching and gave Brooks' program a jolt of confidence.
"We came together, grew as a team and learned a lot about each other," Brooks said. "We learned a lot about winning. We won 23 games, but to me, it doesn't do it justice because the way we grew and the valuable lessons we learned … that's going to pay dividends for our program more than an actual number of wins."
Now, because of that run, the Hokies look forward to the upcoming 2018-19 campaign, which starts Nov. 6 with a home game against USC Upstate. After two straight 20-win seasons – the Hokies' 23 wins last season were their most since 2003-04 – and three consecutive WNIT berths, Tech's coaches and players go into this season with loftier aspirations.
In fact, this bunch is thinking NCAA Tournament – and for good reason. Tech returns nearly its entire roster from a year ago and goes into this season with five seniors. Four of those seniors started in 2017-18.
"People ask me a lot, 'Are you going to be better than you were last year?'" Brooks said. "I think we are. I think we're going to be a better team with the experience that each and every player has and the experience that we developed together. We bring everyone back, and we're adding a couple of pieces, so yes, we're going to be better. The only problem is that we play in the best league in the country, and you don't know.
"We moved the needle as far as our talent and experience, but you never know how it's going to translate because each and every night is going to be fight. You have to go out and play – and play well. We have to develop that mentality. I thought last year helped us a lot. I thought last year teased us to where we know that, if we play a little bit harder and a little stronger a little bit earlier [in games], then we give ourselves a chance to win those big games and to be able to go out there and be successful and get your ultimate goal."
For the Hokies to get to the promised land, they probably need big seasons again from their two stars – guard Taylor Emery and forward Regan Magarity. The two of them anchored the squad a year ago, and Brooks expects more of the same this season.
Emery averaged 18.5 points per game in her first season since transferring from Gulf Coast State College, a junior college in Florida, and she set the Tech single-season scoring record with 667 points. Also, her 236 made field goals set a Tech single-season mark. She shot 49 percent from the floor, including 38 percent from beyond the 3-point arc, and 85 percent from the free-throw line.
Emery, a second-team All-ACC choice, also made big shots for the Hokies. Her jumper with 1.4 seconds left carried Tech past Navy in the first round of the WNIT. She also hit a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left to lift Tech past West Virginia in a WNIT semifinal game.
"Any time you throw someone into a situation and they're new to it, there is going to be some dissension among players as to who the go-to person is," Brooks said. "We let it happen organically [with Emery]. We didn't insert Taylor and say, 'Hey, everybody get the ball to Taylor.'
"What she had to do in the beginning was win her teammates over to the point that they started looking for her naturally instead of me having to call plays. That's the way we wanted it to happen. Doing it that way, I really felt like it was going to take longer for her to establish herself, but she established herself quickly, and they understood that when we needed a basket, then, 'Hey, let's go to Taylor.'"
Magarity – the only player to start all of the Hokies' school-record 37 games last season – nearly averaged a double-double, scoring 13.2 points and grabbing 9.6 rebounds per game. She shot 44 percent from the floor and 69.1 percent from the free-throw line, and she led Tech in games, minutes (34.4 mpg), rebounding and blocked shots (52).
The redshirt senior from Sweden scored her 1,000thpoint last season and finished with 16 double-doubles. She broke her own school record for rebounds with 357 and became Tech's all-time leading rebounder.
Brooks plans on using the versatile Magarity in a variety of ways this season, as he did last season when he played her some at point guard.
"Her skill set is very unique to where we can move her all around," Brooks said. "She's kind of like a slot receiver. We don't want to put her as just a tight end or a receiver. We want to move her all around because she's our best post player, and she's also one of our better ball handlers. She's so smart. She gets it."
Tech also returns productive seniors Alexis Jean and Rachel Camp, both of whom started 27 games last season. Jean averaged 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, and she possesses the ability to play both in the post and outside. Camp – an unsung hero last season because of her ability to play all three perimeter positions – averaged 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
Kendyl Brooks and Aisha Sheppard also started games a year ago, with Sheppard starting late in the year because of an injury to Brooks. The two sharpshooters know how to stretch a defense, as they combined for 132 3-pointers last season. Sheppard led Tech with 76 3's as a freshman, setting a freshman record at Tech and coming just one 3-pointer shy of the single-season mark.
Therein lies arguably the strength of this season's Tech squad – its ability to shoot the ball. Emery, Magarity, Brooks, Sheppard, Jean and freshman Dara Mabrey all can drain the 3-pointer.
"It's actually the best shooting team that I've ever had," Brooks said. "Kendyl broke the freshman record for most 3-pointers two years ago, and then Aisha Sheppard broke it last year. I told Aisha to hang on to it and enjoy it for a year because Dara is probably going to break it this year.
"When you continue to recruit kids of that nature and that fit your system, you're going to be a good basketball team. It gives us the ability to spread it out. We'll put five people on the floor that are 3-point capable. That's really going to be hard to guard."
For sure, the Hokies know how to score. A year ago, they set program records for points (2,673), field goals (946), and 3-pointers (295).
But can they defend? That question remains to be answered. In ACC play last season – when Tech went 6-10 – the Hokies' opponents shot nearly 44 percent and averaged five more points per game than Tech.
"I think we have more of an offensive-minded team," Brooks said. "We'll have to scheme defensively to throw people off and do some things. I think our typical win will be in the high 70s, maybe creep into the 80s. But if we have to play a game that's going to be in the 50s or low 60s, that's where we're really going to have to improve."
The other question with the Hokies centers on the point guard spot. Brooks played Magarity and Camp a lot at the point guard position when Chanette Hicks took a leave of absence – she subsequently left the program – but neither is a true point guard. This season, Brooks hopes one of his freshmen, Mabrey or Shaniya Jones, emerges.
Both arrive with impressive credentials. Mabrey was the New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year on two occasions, while Jones, from High Point, North Carolina, scored 2,000 points in her prep career. Jones probably fits in more naturally as a shooting guard, but will be worked some at point guard.
"Dara brings a skill set that we needed, especially in my system where we get up and down the floor," Brooks said. "She's a tremendous shooter – one of the best shooters I've recruited. But just her demeanor, her ability to lead … she's fearless, and she's going to go out there and play with a chip on her shoulder.
"Shaniya is well decorated and is learning how to be more of a distributor than she ever has been. She adds depth to that position. She can do things with a basketball that I haven't seen a player be able to do in the last 20 years. She's very, very talented. … But I think both of those kids are going to add some depth and give us some things that we need for my system, and I'm very excited about that."
The rest of the roster includes role players Michelle Berry, a post player who started five games last season, Kaela Kinder, and Erinn Brooks, along with sophomore Trinity Baptiste, a 6-0 forward who spent a season at Northwest Florida State College before signing with Tech. Brooks expects Baptiste to help the Hokies in the post.
The 2018-19 season marked Brooks' 13thstraight of guiding a team to at least 20 wins dating back to his time at James Madison. His first two seasons in Blacksburg haven't been easy, especially when considering he dealt with attrition, injuries and family situations in that span, while learning the complexities within a different university.
But with his family settled with him in Blacksburg and a talented, experienced team returning, Brooks enjoyed his summer and looks forward to leading this group into the rigors of play this season.
"This is a special place, and I want to do my part," he said. "I want to make everyone here proud and happy to be associated with Virginia Tech, and in particular, Virginia Tech women's basketball. It's neat. … I'm excited with where we can go. I'm excited to watch this group develop and grow into a team, and I'm excited to watch them achieve their goals, both as an individual and as a team.
"I think we have something special here. I really do. I think we can go out and be one of those special teams in the gauntlet that they call the ACC. When people start talking about the Syracuses, the Dukes, the Louisvilles, I want them to be able to say, 'Oh dang, we've got to play Virginia Tech, too.'"
INTRODUCING THE NEWCOMERS
Dara Mabrey
5-7, Guard
Belmar, New Jersey
• Chose the Hokies over NC State and Miami
• Averaged 22.9 points, 4.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game as a senior
• Led Manasquan to three consecutive state titles
• Averaged 19.8 points per game as a junior and 13.8 as a sophomore
• Scored more than 2,000 points in her career
Shaniya Jones
5-7, Guard
High Point, North Carolina
• Chose the Hokies over NC State, Georgia, UNC Wilmington and High Point
• A four-star recruit by ESPNU HoopGurlz
• A Class 3A all-state selection
• Averaged 21.4 points and 4.5 assists per game as a senior
• Scored more than 2,000 points in her career
Trinity Baptiste
6-0, Forward
Tampa, Florida
• Chose Tech over St. John's
• Averaged 13 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a redshirt freshman at Northwest Florida State College
• Earned first-team all-conference honors at Northwest Florida State
• Missed her senior season of high school because of a torn ACL and took a redshirt year during her one season at Sam Houston State while recovering before transferring to the Florida junior college
• Will have three years of eligibility remaining
Chloe Brooks
5-10, Guard
Harrisonburg, Virginia
• Chose Tech over JMU
• Averaged 7.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game during an injury-shortened senior season
• Shot 48 percent from beyond the 3-point arc as a senior
• A two-time All-Valley District choice
• Started at point guard as a sophomore in 2016 and led Spotswood High to the state title
The Hokies will get the 2018-19 season underway on Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum on Tuesday, Nov. 6 against USC Upstate. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. with coverage available on ACC Network Extra.
Tech begins the season receiving votes in the AP Poll.
