Virginia Tech men’s basketball head coach Mike Young announced on April 9 that guard Ben Hammond will return to the team for his junior season in 2026-27.
Hammond’s return is significant for the Hokies as he was a key contributor during his sophomore year. He started in 18 of 32 games and led the team in scoring during Atlantic Coast Conference play, averaging 14.9 points per game. His performance improved across all categories, including leading the team in minutes played and three-point field goal percentage. Hammond also ranked among league leaders in several statistics: fourth in free throw shooting at 86.5 percent, tenth in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.2, and second in steals with two per game.
One highlight of Hammond’s season came when he tied a program record with six steals during an ACC game against Syracuse, helping Virginia Tech secure a win on the road. Another notable performance occurred on New Year’s Eve when Hammond scored a career-high 30 points—including 20 after regulation—in a triple-overtime victory over No. 21 Virginia. He finished that game making sixteen out of eighteen free throws and played forty-two minutes off the bench, becoming the first Hokie since Erick Green in 2013 to score thirty points against Virginia.
Hammond also proved himself as an accurate shooter from beyond the arc, finishing as the team’s top three-point shooter at forty-three point one percent and recording seven games with three or more made threes.
In addition to his achievements on the court, Hammond was named to CSC’s Academic All-District Team in March.
The announcement underscores Virginia Tech’s focus on building continuity within its roster ahead of next season.
