Virginia Tech Center Patrick Wessler Enters Transfer Portal
Virginia Tech men’s basketball center Patrick Wessler has officially entered the transfer portal, becoming the third Hokies player to do so on Monday. Wessler, who has two years of eligibility left, now joins guards Jaydon Young and Rodney Brown Jr. in exploring options outside of Blacksburg.
Wessler spent three seasons with the Hokies, redshirting his freshman year in 2022-23. He appeared in 13 games last season but saw a larger role this year, playing in 31 of Virginia Tech’s 32 games and earning one start against Louisville. The 7-foot, 250-pound center averaged 3.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 62.5% from the field (50-of-80).
His impact grew late in the season, especially after forward Mylyjael Poteat went down with an injury during the February 22nd game at Miami. Wessler stepped up and logged significant minutes in crucial matchups against Miami, Louisville, Syracuse, North Carolina, and Clemson. During that stretch, he delivered strong performances, averaging 7.4 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while making 18 of 22 shots from the floor — an outstanding 81.8% shooting percentage. He also recorded four blocked shots during that span.
One of his standout moments came in the season finale against Clemson. Wessler, a left-handed player, showcased his versatility by hitting a right-handed hook shot over Clemson’s 6-foot-11 All-ACC Honorable Mention center Viktor Lakhin. He finished that game a perfect 3-for-3 from the field with five rebounds and two blocks.
A native of Matthews, North Carolina, Wessler led the team with a 63.1% effective field goal percentage this season, according to Ken Pomeroy’s analytics. Teammate Tobi Lawal followed closely at 60.9%, a mark ranked 70th nationally, though Lawal saw fewer minutes on the court.
Following the Hokies’ season-ending loss to Cal in the ACC Tournament, head coach Mike Young didn’t hold back about his disappointment. “A lot was missing this year,” Young admitted. “We’ve got to get more talented, and we’re going to — fast. I’m not living through that again.”
Monday’s departures of Wessler, Young, and Brown Jr. might just be the beginning of more roster changes for Virginia Tech. As the transfer portal officially opens on March 24, the Hokies will rely on redshirt freshman Ryan Jones Jr. and incoming four-star recruit Christian Gurdak as their primary big men heading into the 2025-26 season.
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