Tobi Lawal, a transfer from Virginia Tech, entered the 2024 NBA Draft conversation by attending the league’s combine, only to see his college career interrupted by a mid‑season injury.
From Blacksburg to the NBA
After the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, Lawal returned to Blacksburg for his senior year but was sidelined for a substantial portion of the schedule, limiting his impact and raising questions about his readiness for the next level.
The Dallas Mavericks drafted him with the 48th overall pick in June, and he made his Summer League debut in Las Vegas, where his performances were inconsistent, highlighting the work still needed to secure a permanent spot on the roster.
Preseason outlooks for the Hokies remain divided; ESPN’s Joe Lunardi recently projected Virginia Tech outside the expanded 76‑team NCAA field, while CBS Sports analyst Jon Rothstein placed the program eighth in the ACC preseason poll, a position that could still translate into tournament contention if they finish the conference slate strong.
Adding a note of optimism, former Hokie Nickel Alexander‑Walker was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player in April during the Atlanta Hawks’ playoff run and appeared at No. 2 on Bleacher Report’s list of the league’s most underrated players, trailing only Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta.