LEXINGTON, Va. – Virginia Tech men's basketball players Keve Aluma and Justyn Mutts, along with head coach Mike Young, received Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) accolades on Wednesday. For the second season in a row, Aluma was named first-team all-state and Young earned Coach of the Year recognition, while Mutts earned second-team honors for the first time in his career.
The VaSID recognition only adds to Aluma's accolades in a season in which the fifth-year senior led to Hokies in scoring (15.8 points per game). A team-high eight double-doubles and nine 20-plus point performances carried Aluma to his second All-ACC second team nod. Furthermore, a pair of double-doubles, including one in the ACC Championship Game, led the Berlin, Md. native to the ACC All-Tournament first team, as Tech was crowned ACC champions for the first time in program history.
Mutts picked up his first All-State honor following a season in which he spent plenty of time above the rim – rejecting shots and finishing highlight-reel dunks. The graduate student showcased his versatility by leading the Hokies in assists and recording the second triple-double in program history on Feb. 12 against Syracuse (12 points, 14 points, 11 assists). Along with his on-court success, Mutts was named the recipient of the 2022 Skip Prosser Award (ACC Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year).
Young led Virginia Tech to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in his short tenure in Blacksburg, Va. this season, along with improving his conference championship game record to 6-0 when the Hokies defeated Duke in Brooklyn, N.Y. in March. On Nov. 15, 2021, Young took the floor for his 600th career game as head coach. Later in the year against Louisville, the 2021 ACC Coach of the Year won his 50th game at Virginia Tech.
Coach of the Year – Mike Young – Virginia Tech
Player of the Year – Darius McGhee – Liberty
Defensive Player of the Year – Jacob Gilyard – Richmond
Rookie of the Year – Honor Huff – VMI
First Team All-State
Darius McGhee – Liberty
Keve Aluma – Virginia Tech
Jake Stephens – VMI
Josh Oduro – George Mason
Joe Bryant, Jr – Norfolk State
Second Team All-State
Justin Hill – Longwood
Jayden Gardner – Virginia
Jacob Gilyard – Richmond
Vince Williams, Jr. – VCU
Tyler Burton – Richmond
Justyn Mutts – Virginia Tech