Freshman Neoklis Avdalas is poised to impress once again as Virginia Tech prepares to host Saint Joseph’s in Blacksburg on Wednesday. The 19-year-old from Greece has made a significant impact, scoring 33 points, along with six assists and five rebounds in the Hokies’ thrilling 107-101 overtime win against Providence on Saturday. His standout performance has earned him the Atlantic Coast Conference’s co-player and co-rookie of the week honors, shared with North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson.
Since committing to Virginia Tech in June, the 6-foot-9 guard has quickly established himself as a key player for the Hokies (2-0). Avdalas expressed the challenges he faced adjusting to the speed of the game in the U.S., but praised his teammates and coaches for their support during his transition. He currently leads Virginia Tech with averages of 20.5 points and 7.5 assists per game, while West Virginia transfer Amani Hansberry contributes an impressive 18 points and 12 rebounds per game.
As the Hokies prepare to face their former Atlantic 10 rival, a relationship that lasted from 1995 to 2000, head coach Mike Young is eager to witness Avdalas’s ongoing development. Young highlighted Avdalas’s immense talent and playmaking ability, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to coach such a promising player.
On the other side, Saint Joseph’s (2-0) is under the new leadership of head coach Steve Donahue, who has kicked off his tenure positively with victories over Lafayette and Drexel. Having taken over the program just over two months ago after Billy Lange departed for an assistant position with the New York Knicks, Donahue commented on the need to better align his offensive strategies with the strengths of his team.
Deuce Jones II, a transfer from La Salle, is leading the Hawks with an average of 15.5 points per game, followed closely by Dasear Haskins with 14.5 points. Senior guard Derek Simpson is making his mark by averaging 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Both teams are looking to capitalize on their early-season momentum, and this matchup promises to be an exciting showcase of developing talent and coaching strategies.