BLACKSBURG — Head coach Mike Young announced Tuesday that former West Virginia forward Amani Hansberry will join the Virginia Tech men’s basketball program. He brings two years of college eligibility to Blacksburg.
Hansberry, originally from Silver Spring, Maryland, has strong ties to newly named associate head coach Chester Frazier. He began his college career at Illinois when Frazier was on staff, then followed him to West Virginia in 2024, and now to Virginia Tech.
“Amani is relentless and always around the ball,” Young said. “He brings a rare combination of skills that will give us valuable versatility on both ends of the floor. Amani is a fierce competitor and someone who knows how to win. I look forward to coaching him.”
The 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward averaged 9.8 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game last season for the Mountaineers (19–13, 10–10 Big 12). He shot 42.9% (114-266) from the field, 29.2% (35-120) from 3-point range and 75% (42-56) from the free-throw line. Hansberry played in 31 games, starting 24, and posted a team-best four double-doubles. He scored in double figures 13 times and recorded seven games with double-digit rebounds.
His sophomore season highlights included back-to-back 19-point outings against Gonzaga and Louisville in the Bad Boys Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis, and a 17-point, 13-rebound performance versus Cincinnati in February.
Hansberry spent his freshman season at Illinois, averaging 2.5 points and 2.1 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game. He shot 45.2% (19-42) from the floor and had a standout game in the Elite Eight against eventual national champion UConn, scoring eight points.
In high school, Hansberry starred at Mount Saint Joseph in Baltimore. He was named the 2023 Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year after leading the team to a 38–4 record and back-to-back MIAA conference titles. A two-time Baltimore Sun All-Metro Player of the Year, Hansberry was ranked the No. 1 prospect in Maryland and No. 67 overall nationally by the 247Sports composite rankings.
Hansberry becomes the latest Maryland native to play for the Hokies during Young’s tenure, joining the likes of Keve Aluma (Berlin), Darius Maddox (Bowie), Rodney Rice (Clinton) and Mekhi Long (Bryans Road).
His basketball roots run deep — his mother, Angela, played collegiately at Howard University.
Hansberry chose Virginia Tech over NC State and USC.
Virginia Tech lands transfer forward Amani Hansberry
Former Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year becomes Hokies’ first spring portal addition