Despite the disappointment of head coach Kenny Brooks and his team’s first-round loss, they knew something special was happening in Blacksburg for this program. After all, the 2021-22 Virginia Tech women’s basketball team has set several program records and established itself as one of the best teams in the conference.
Their 13 ACC wins were a program record and tied for third overall in the conference. In addition, their five regular season wins in the standings were a program record. In the ACC tournament, the Hokies raised the bar by defeating UNC in an overtime thriller and advancing to the semifinals for the first time. Overall, it was a very successful season for the Brooks program and just the right step they needed to continue their growth.
With the end of any season comes the difficult process of losing girls to the WNBA, graduation and transfer portals. For Virginia Tech, Aisha Shepard graduated with a master’s degree and moved on to the WNBA. Sheppard was drafted and played her rookie season for the Las Vegas Aces.
Elsewhere, Azana Baines, who started 20/33 games for the Hokies last season, has transferred to Seton Hall. The likes of Emily Little, Shamarla King and Rochelle Norris have left the team through transfer portals or graduations. With a key starter, three-deep pieces and the program’s record holder gone, the onus was on Brooks and the coaches to provide fresh faces for 2022-23.
It started with the addition of Clara Ford on April 21. The 6’3 center from Boston College was the Hokies’ first transfer portal for next season. This past season, she started just one game and averaged 2.2 ppg. Still, her experience will prove invaluable and she’ll be a much-needed backup to returning ACC POY Elizabeth Keatley.
A few weeks later, the Hokies landed Ashley Owusu. The heralded All-American from Maryland is a big boost for Tech. She is a 6’0 tall guard who was one of the best players in the Big Ten. In the year In 2021, she was named All-Big Ten first team and AP All-American third team. Owusu averaged 14.3 ppg last season and scored 20 points or more in eight games. Her explosive and powerful cutting skills make Owusu a great addition to the Hokies’ guard division.
After another quiet week, Tech Transfer Portal once again picked up the award with Taylor Soule. Like Ford, Sol is also from the Boston College Eagles. She started all 33 games for the Eagles and averaged 16 ppg on 51% shooting. Soule was named to the All-ACC Second Team for her 2021 campaign and the All-ACC First Team in 2020. The 5’11 forward brings a versatile skill set that will be a big-time boost for the Hokies on both ends. Winter.
The additions of Soule and Owusu will help the Hokies replace Shepard, the program’s all-time leading scorer. Neither Soul nor Osu make their living from the three-point arc like Shepard’s, but they still get theirs in other ways. Both will probably start at Biskberg from day one. Owusu at the shooting guard spot next to Georgia Amore in the backcourt. Soule could go with last year’s starting wing Kayla King at one of the two forward spots. Even with these major moves in the transfer portal, Brooks and company aren’t done on the recruiting trail.
In the year In 2022, the Hokies will welcome three new recruits to the ranks of their program. Charlise Dunn is a 6’2 freshman guard from Victoria, Australia. That makes her the second OC in the group behind Amor. Dunn was a member of the U-19 Australian Games team that took silver in the 2021 World Cup. She was ranked as a top ten international recruit in her class and has the size to play multiple positions in the future.
Tech’s next tight end is Carley Wenzel. The San Antonio native played for O’Connor High School and Antonia College Prep where she was a standout all four years. Wenzel was a top 50 recruit in the 2022 class and was a TAPPS first-team All-South Texas player in 2021. She has been praised for her shooting touch and feel for the game, which is something Brooks will want to see from her in the coming years. .
Then the final member of the first class of the group is Maddie Vejcicki. Vejcicki came from Newark High School where she led the team to four straight state championships. She was part of the All-Conference First Team and won the Title Nine Tournament MVP. Vejcicki brings three-point heat to the table, hitting 10 threes in one game during her high school season.
After adding more quality players to a strong returning roster for the upcoming 2022-23 season, Virginia Tech looks poised to compete at the top levels of the ACC and the nation. ESPN’s way too early Top 25 poll ranked the Hokies as the nation’s 11th best team. Why is a big reason not only with incoming players, but returning ones as well.
Back in the Maroon and Orange will be ACC Player of the Year Elizabeth Keightley in her senior season. AP continues to be an All-American with low power and is the mainstay of Tech’s offensive attack.
Georgia Amore is now a junior and will likely have a bigger role this season. She will continue to be the primary ball handler and will likely have more responsibilities as a lead creator off the perimeter.
Sharp-shooting wing Kayla King continues to knock down three-pointers at a 40% or higher clip and play good defense. Then the main spark off the bench from last year’s team, Kayana Trailer, will return to that role for another season.
A mix of familiar faces and talented newcomers gives this Virginia Tech women’s basketball team plenty of options heading into the summer. The starting lineup and key bench components could look something like this.
Possible starters:
- Guardian- Georgia Amoore
- Keeper – Ashley Owusu
- Forward – Kayla King
- Forward – Taylor Soule
- Center – Elizabeth Keithley
Key Bench Players:
- Guardian- Kayana Trailer
- Forward – Dacia Gregg
- Center – Clara Ford
There is plenty of flexibility and multiple lineup combinations for Brooks and the Tech coaching staff. Losing Sheppard will especially hurt from a team shooting standpoint. The Hokies lose their threat of floor space allowing others to operate in space. However, with added touches of color, Soule and Osu bring more slashing and opportunities to bend the defense.
By playing a style that includes drives and rebounds, Tech can end the three-pointer game they played last season with inside-out drives and kicks. If that’s the case, hookies will still be very dangerous as they force a ton of rotation with every move and downhill drive attack. Down the road, this Kenny Brooks team with a reloaded roster that looks to compete at the top level in 2022 will be ready to take on the challenge in the ACC.
