Virginia Tech forward Amani Hansberry to return for senior season
Virginia Tech has officially secured its first returning player for the 2026–27 season, announcing that senior forward Amani Hansberry will be back for his final year of eligibility.
The 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward from Silver Spring, Maryland, previously spent one season each at Illinois and West Virginia, where he played under assistant coach Chester Frazier before both joined Virginia Tech.
Hansberry is coming off a standout junior campaign, leading the team with 14.3 points per game while also averaging 7.4 rebounds and shooting 49.2% from the field—all career highs. His performance earned him NABC First Team All-East Region honors and All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition, making him the Hokies’ only All-ACC selection.
His season was cut short after suffering a right knee injury in the regular-season finale against Virginia. He missed the ACC Tournament opener against Wake Forest, where Virginia Tech fell in overtime, and the team later declined a bid to the NIT, ending its season.
Despite the injury, Hansberry was a key contributor throughout the year, starting 30 of 32 games and missing only two. He recorded eight double-doubles, including a streak of four straight games from late December to early January—the program’s longest since 2011.
Earlier in his career, Hansberry averaged 2.4 points per game as a freshman at Illinois before improving to 9.8 points per game during his sophomore season at West Virginia.
As it stands, Hansberry is the only player confirmed to return for Virginia Tech next season, though several others remain eligible. Meanwhile, four players have announced plans to enter the transfer portal once it opens.
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