Virginia Tech Basketball Hit Hard as Transfer Target Chooses Rival Virginia
Virginia Tech men’s basketball suffered a significant setback in the transfer portal when highly sought-after guard Jacari White committed to in-state rival Virginia, dealing a tough blow to head coach Mike Young and his staff.
Just a day after the Hokies celebrated a major portal addition in West Virginia transfer Amani Hansberry, hopes were high for a second big win. Virginia Tech had recently hosted North Dakota State guard Jacari White, who was considered one of their top transfer targets this offseason. Many believed the Hokies were in a strong position to land him, but Sunday’s announcement brought surprising and disappointing news for the program.
White, who had previously listed Virginia Tech among his final five choices along with Houston, West Virginia, Ole Miss, and Texas, unexpectedly chose Virginia. Head coach Ryan Odom and the Cavaliers made a late push that resulted in a successful commitment, catching many observers off guard. The late addition of Virginia to White’s list—and his ultimate decision to go there—was unexpected and stings even more given the long-standing rivalry between the two schools.
This development represents a major recruiting loss for Virginia Tech. White was not only a high-priority player for the Hokies in this transfer cycle, but he also filled a major positional need as they look to rebuild their backcourt for the 2025–26 season. Losing a player of his caliber to a rival makes it an even tougher pill to swallow.
A native of Orlando, Florida, White averaged an impressive 17.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last season at North Dakota State. The 6-foot-3 guard was rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports coming out of high school and quickly became one of the more attractive names in the portal due to his scoring ability and overall athleticism.
Virginia Tech had invested time and energy into recruiting White, and his commitment to Virginia now forces the Hokies to pivot quickly and find new options. With several needs remaining on the roster, Mike Young and his staff will have to go back to the drawing board to identify and land new impact players from the portal.
While the addition of Hansberry was a promising start to their offseason, the loss of White—especially to a rival program—takes some of the shine off. The Hokies will now look to regroup as they continue to retool their roster in hopes of competing in a tough ACC landscape next season.
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