Virginia Tech women’s basketball ink a top-10 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle at the start of the signing period (November 8-15), an ESPN trio ranked sixth in the country.
All three previously committed prospects signed with the Hokies: Lexi Blue, Myah Hazelton and Clara Silva.
Fresh off an ACC championship and Final Four appearance, the 2024 class is arguably Tech’s best yet under head coach Kenny Brooks. This follows a 2023 group that included four top-100 recruits, all of whom are true freshmen for the Hokies: Carys Baker (No. 58 in ESPN’s HoopGurlz rankings), Mackenzie Nelson (No. 65 ), Samyha Suffren (n° 65). 93) and Clara Strack (no. 95).
Here’s a look at Tech’s Class of 2024:
Lexi Blue
6-2, G
Orlando, Florida.
Commitment date: July 20, 2023
High school: Highland Lake Preparation
Stars: 4
Fast facts: The No. 38 prospect in the class of 2024 chose the Hokies over Arizona, Boston College, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Ohio State and Tennessee , among others. She is a highly touted wing and the third highest-rated recruit for Tech under Brooks, just behind Elizabeth Kitley (No. 33) and Aisha Sheppard (No. 34).
As a junior, Blue averaged 12 points and five rebounds per game and helped the Highlanders win a state title. While Cayla King graduated after this season, she replenishes the depth at that spot alongside Michigan State transfer Matilda Ekh.
Myah Hazelton
6-4, F
Baltimore, Maryland.
Commitment date: June 28, 2022
High school: Mercy
Stars: 3
Fast facts: The class’ first commit in June 2022, Hazelton chose the Hokies over offers from Boston College, Ole Miss, Syracuse, Virginia and others. She transferred high schools before her junior year, moving from Sparrows Point (southeast of Baltimore on the Chesapeake Bay) to Mercy (north side of Baltimore), and went 28-7-3 early of the season.
At 6-4, she’s part of the next wave in the frontcourt for the Hokies along with Silva (more on her below). With Wake Forest transfer Olivia Summiel moving on after this year, Hazelton will fill that gap, joining Minnesota transfer Rose Micheaux (who will be a senior next season) as part of the four.
Clara Silva
6-7,C
Faro, Portugal
Commitment date: September 3, 2023
Club: Baloncesto Unique
Stars: 5
Fast facts: Although she’s not listed in ESPN’s recruiting rankings because she’s from overseas, Silva is arguably the biggest commit in the 2024 class for Virginia Tech. She was highly sought after and chose the Hokies over a number of blue bloods, including UConn, Tennessee, Louisville and Maryland. She’s part of the reason Tech’s class is sixth in the country: If she lived in the United States, she’d be a top-10 prospect.
With two-time ACC Player of the Year and AP All-American Elizabeth Kitley missing next season, it will be a Clara show at center. Silva joins Clara Strack, a top-100 recruit and current true freshman, who stands at 6-5. She represented Portugal at the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championships in Turkey and averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds in seven outings.
Final Thoughts
With the three signees, here’s how Virginia Tech’s roster for 2024-25 breaks down:
Amoore’s decision
Georgia Amoore is in the last class that has the opportunity to benefit from a year of COVID eligibility, but that’s more due to good planning on her part and Virginia Tech than anything else.
Amoore was a prospect in the class of 2020, but he enrolled in early January to get acclimated. The upside is that she practiced with the Hokies throughout the spring semester, which helped her adapt to the American style of play. The pandemic changed that, but if she signed up for the summer like most rookies, it would be her last season. Instead, she was part of Tech’s 2019-20 team and is eligible to return.
A few years later, Amoore was one of the most important pieces in three straight NCAA Tournament appearances for Virginia Tech, an ACC championship, a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance and a trip to the Final Four. She was MVP of the ACC Tournament and the Seattle 3 Regional, is a two-time first-team All-ACC member, and was a preseason All-American. And she can come back for more if she wants.
This will be the biggest talking point this offseason. She’s projected as a first-round pick in the WNBA Draft, but the Hokies could not only match, but double or triple that salary with NIL. His relationship with Brooks will play a role, as will his career aspirations. It’s too early to really think about it, but it’s something to keep in mind when looking ahead to 2024-2025.
Transfer Portal Needs
Even if Amoore doesn’t return, the Hokies will remain in the backcourt for several seasons. We can expect some slight attrition, but between Carleigh Wenzel, Mackenzie Nelson and Samyha Suffren, they are placed at the point guard position.
Tech could opt to pursue another wing to go along with Ekh and Blue, but that may depend on how Baker performs this season. At 6-2, she has the size to play inside, but she seems more suited to playing on the perimeter, especially with a superb 3-point shot.
The position Virginia Tech might emphasize more than any other is power forward. With only Micheaux and Hazelton there and a handful of open scholarships, there is an opportunity to add another piece on the front line. This may be someone with similar skills to Summiel, a good defender and rebounder who can step out and knock down threes occasionally.
The Hokies don’t really need another center unless they’re unhappy with Strack’s progress, but based on everything Brooks & Co. have said about the Buffalo native, she is doing well and will soon see extended playing time.
