Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech men’s basketball made a massive splash on the international stage Monday, officially announcing the signing of Neoklis Avdalas, one of Europe’s bright young stars. The 6-foot-8 guard from Athens, Greece — who withdrew his name from the 2025 NBA Draft over the weekend — brings elite talent, versatility and high basketball IQ to the Hokies’ 2025-26 roster.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Neo to the Virginia Tech family,” head coach Mike Young said. “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.”
Ranked as the No. 2 international newcomer in the 2025 class by 247Sports, Avdalas spent the past two seasons competing in Greece’s top-tier HEBA A1 league, first with AS Karditsas in 2023-24, and most recently with Peristeri BC. As an 18-year-old playing against seasoned professionals, he averaged 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 18.5 minutes per game across 26 contests. He recorded shooting splits of 43.6% from the field, 35.7% from deep and 70.3% at the line.
He was impressive at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, Illinois, where Avdalas competed in two scrimmages alongside top international and college prospects. On day one, he recorded eight points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal in 21 minutes. The following day, Avdalas produced 13 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two blocks in 23 minutes, showcasing his all-around impact.
Avdalas is currently in Poland for the second of Greece’s two international friendlies in preparation for next month’s FIBA U20 EuroBasket in Heraklion, Greece. The prestigious European championship is scheduled for July 12-20. Avdalas and Greece will compete in Group B for the group phase, alongside Lithuania, Czechia and Romania.
With the signing of Avdalas, Tech’s 2025-26 roster currently features four returners (Tobi Lawal, Ben Hammond, Tyler Johnson and Jaden Schutt), and nine newcomers (Amani Hansberry, Izaiah Pasha, Jailen Bedford, Antonio Dorn, Neoklis Avdalas, Christian Gurdak, Sin’Cere Jones, Brett Freeman and Solomon Davis).