Collegiate Times

As Bob Dylan once said, "The times, they are a-changing."

 On May 11, sophomore men's basketball player Hank Thorns announced he has been released from his scholarship and plans to transfer. Less than a week later, the program announced that Allan Chaney, a 6'8'' transfer from the University of Florida, would be joining the team next season.

Beyond the shuffling of the playing roster, assistant coach Stacey Palmore announced his resignation on May 8.

Thorns' departure promptly opened up a scholarship spot on the Hokies roster for Chaney, a forward from New London High School in Connecticut.  In two seasons with the Hokies, Thorns averaged 3.7 points and just less than 20 minutes a game.

Thorns cited lack of playing time, along with his role within the offense, as his main reasons for transferring.  He played both point guard and shooting guard in his career with the Hokies, and this past season was used primarily as an extra ball-handler on the floor to support guard Malcom Delaney.

The Las Vegas native hopes to become a more prominent scorer at his next destination, which is yet to be determined.

Despite the coincidence of Thorns' departure and Chaney's arrival soon thereafter, the coaching staff remains adamant that Thorns was not coaxed to leave the program to free up a scholarship, and had the full opportunity to stay in Blacksburg.

Chaney left Florida at the end of the 2008-09 season after being suspended by coach Billy Donovan for "conduct detrimental to the team."  Chaney also expressed his desire to play in an offense more suited to his skills.

Chaney's size and ability to play facing the basket should fit nicely in coach Seth Greenberg's offense. In recent memory, players such as Coleman Collins and current Hokie Jeff Allen fit the bill of tall bodies that can stretch the floor with their face-up game.

As a high school senior, Chaney was named Gatorade Player of the Year in Connecticut, averaging 26 points and 15 rebounds per game. On rivals.com, Chaney was rated as a four-star recruit, and the 96th-ranked player overall in the class of 2008.

Chaney will not be eligible to play until the 2010-2011 season under NCAA rules. When he hits the floor, he could form a tough inside tandem with Allen.

Coach Palmore's departure from the program allowed him to take a similar post under Mark Fox at the University of Georgia. Palmore made a name for himself at Virginia Tech for his ability to recruit in the south, especially the state of Georgia.

Palmore originally hails from Greenwood, South Carolina, and expressed his desire to coach closer to home as one reason for leaving Tech.

There is no word yet on who will replace Palmore, but there is a possibility Adrian Autry, the Director of Basketball Operations, could be promoted to fill the void.