Top Story Spotlight VIRGINIA TECH MEN’S BASKETBALL European imports Avdalas, Dorn hope to improve at Virginia Tech MARK BERMAN The Roanoke Times Oct 30, 2025 Oct 30, 2025 Updated Mar 27, 2026 0 × Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save BLACKSBURG — Neoklis Avdalas is a 19-year-old point guard from Greece.kAmp?E@?:@ s@C? :D 2 aa\J62C\@=5 46?E6C 7C@> v6C>2?J]k^AmkAmq@E9 92G6 A=2J65 AC@ 32D<6E32== :? E96:C 9@>6 4@F?EC:6D]k^AmkAm}@H E96J H:== 36 A=2J:?8 4@==686 32D<6E32== :? p>6C:42 — 2E ':C8:?:2 %649] %96:C 7:CDE D62D@? H:E9 E96 w@<:6D 368:?D ?6IE H66<]k^AmkAm“x =@G6 W%649X] xE’D =:<6 2 5C62> 2=>@DE 3642FD6 J@F’G6 8@E 6G6CJE9:?8 J@F ?665 E@ :>AC@G6[” s@C? D2:5] “*@F’G6 8@E E96 H9@=6 724:=:EJ[ J@F’G6 8@E 8C62E 4@2496D[ 2 8C62E E62>] x 766= =:<6 W:E’DX E96 C:89E A=246 E@ 36]”k^Am People are also reading… New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward Chilhowie man faces multiple charges in domestic violence incident Smyth supervisor seeks more communication from Thomas Bridge Water system Blacksburg elementary principal among 17 men arrested in prostitution case Atkins Elementary celebrates new community-engaged playground Meet Smyth County's Pet of the Week: Sable State education leaders bring listening tour to SWVA Quadruple amputee cornhole player wanted for murder arrested in Albemarle County Virginia's proposed congressional districts and who is running | Special Report 5 things to know about legalizing marijuana in Virginia What we know about the quadruple amputee cornhole champ arrested for murder in Virginia With election underway, court could have final say on redistricting | Special Report Smyth's Democratic Party finds new life Chilhowie reports on water quality, looks at system growth A year of transformation for the Saltville PD kAm(9:=6 s@C? A:4<65 %649 H:E9@FE 6G6C D6EE:?8 7@@E :? q=24<D3FC8[ pG52=2D H2D 23=6 E@ E2<6 2 C64CF:E:?8 G:D:E E@ %649]k^AmkAm“(96? x 42>6 96C6[ x D2H =@G6[ D@ x E9@F89E E92E 4@==686 32D<6E32== 2E ':C8:?:2 %649 H@F=5 36 8C62E 7@C >6[” pG52=2D D2:5]k^AmkAmqFE E96 }qp AC@DA64E 5@6D ?@E A=2? @? 36:?8 96C6 7@C =@?8] pG52=2D 9@A6D E@ 36 :? E96 }qp ?6IE D62D@?]k^AmkAm“%92E’D >J 8@2=[” pG52=2D D2:5]k^Am k9amr@249’D D@?k^9am kAmpG52=2D[ H9@D6 ?:4<?2>6 :D }6@[ 8C6H FA :? E96 D@FE96C? vC6646 4:EJ @7 z2=2>2E2] w:D 72>:=J =:G6D 23@FE 7:G6 >:?FE6D 7C@> E96 36249]k^Am kAm“x =@G6 DH:>>:?8[” 96 D2:5]k^AmkAmpG52=2D >:DD6D E96 vC66< 7@@5 9:D >@E96C >2<6D[ 6DA64:2==J A2DE:ED:@[ 2 vC66< G6CD:@? @7 =2D28?2]k^Am Neoklis Avdalas, a 6-foot-9 freshman from Greece, will play point guard for Virginia Tech. He withdrew from the NBA Draft in June. Courtesy Ryan Hedley/Va. Tech kAmw:D 72E96C[ s:>:EC:D[ FD65 E@ A=2J AC@ 32D<6E32== :? vC6646] s:>:EC:D pG52=2D 2=D@ @?46 A=2J65 :? r2DD6== r@=:D6F>[ D4@C:?8 7@FC A@:?ED 7@C pE96?D $A@CE:?8 :? 2 `hh` 6I9:3:E:@? 82>6 282:?DE E96 w@<:6D]k^Am kAmw:D 72E96C :D ?@H 2 J@FE9 32D<6E32== 4@249] pG52=2D[ H9@ 925 2 32D<6E32== 9@@A :? 9:D C@@>[ FD65 E@ 36 4@24965 3J 9:D 72E96C]k^AmkAm“|J 525 AFE >6 W:?E@ 32D<6E32== 2EX 2 G6CJ J@F?8 286[ D@ x ;FDE 76== :? =@G6 H:E9 E96 82>6[” 96 D2:5]k^Am kAmpG52=2D 3682? A=2J:?8 A@:?E 8F2C5 H96? 96 H2D 2 <:5]k^AmkAm“(96? x H2D J@F?8[ … x H2D?’E E92E E2==[” 96 D2:5] “x 8C6H FA 72DE]”k^Am kAmw6 5:5 ?@E 492?86 A@D:E:@?D 27E6C 86EE:?8 E2==6C]k^AmkAm“x 2=H2JD H2?E65 E@ DE2J 2E WE96X A@:?E 8F2C5 A@D:E:@?[” 96 D2:5] “%92E H2D >J ?2EFC2= A@D:E:@?] … x 42? A2DD E96 32==] x 42? 4C62E6 7@C @E96CD 2?5 7@C >JD6=7 2?5 x 42? >@G6 =:<6 2 A@:?E 8F2C5]”k^Am kAm%96 %649 7C6D9>2? :D ?@H e\7@@E\h — ;FDE =:<6 |28:4 y@9?D@? H2D H96? 96 A=2J65 A@:?E 8F2C5]k^Am kAm“(96? x H2D J@F?8[ … x FD65 E@ H2E49 9:> :? *@F%F36 G:56@D[” pG52=2D D2:5] “|J A2DD:?8 :D <:?5 @7 D:>:=2C E@ 9:>] x ECJ E@ 5@ D@>6 4C62E:G:EJ E96C6] … (6’C6 3@E9 E2== A=2J>2<6CD]”k^Am kAmpG52=2D D:8?65 9:D 7:CDE AC@ 4@?EC24E H96? 96 H2D `d J62CD @=5] w6 ;@:?65 !2?2E9:?2:<@D[ H9:49 A=2JD :? E96 E@A =628F6 @7 vC66< AC@ 32D<6E32==]k^Am Neoklis Avdalas, a 6-foot-9 freshman from Greece, will play point guard for Virginia Tech. He played pro basketball in Greece. Courtesy Nick Carlson/Va. Tech kAm“x 925 2 E62>>2E6 E92E H2D bd J62CD @=5[” pG52=2D D2:5] “xE H2D 2 4=F3 E92E x FD65 E@ H2E49 H96? x H2D J@F?8] … %@ 36 23=6 E@ 36 H:E9 E96D6 8FJD 2?5 4@>A6E6 6G6CJ 52J[ x =62C?65 2 =@E 7C@> E96>] xE H2D 2 8C62E 6IA6C:6?46 7@C >6]”k^AmkAmw6 DA6?E 7@FC D62D@?D A=2J:?8 AC@76DD:@?2==J :? vC6646[ 2== :? vC6646’D E@A =628F6] w6 2G6C2865 f]f A@:?ED 7@C !6C:DE6C: =2DE D62D@?] w6 92D 2=D@ D66? tFC@{628F6 2?5 uxqp 24E:@?]k^Am kAmpG52=2D 3=@DD@>65 :?E@ 2? }qp AC@DA64E] w6 @A6?65 6J6D :? D4C:>>286D 2E E96 }qp sC27E r@>3:?6 :? r9:428@ :? |2J] w6 G:D:E65 q@DE@?[ ~C=2?5@[ pE=2?E2 2?5 |:=H2F<66 7@C :?5:G:5F2= H@C<@FED H:E9 }qp E62>D]k^AmkAmt$!} AC@;64E65 :? |2J E92E 96 H@F=5 36 E2<6? H:E9 E96 E9:C5\E@\E96\=2DE A:4< :? E96 D64@?5 2?5 7:?2= C@F?5 @7 E9:D J62C’D }qp sC27E]k^Am kAmqFE pG52=2D 2=D@ 6IA=@C65 4@==686 32D<6E32== @AE:@?D :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D]k^AmkAmw:D 286?E >256 2 42== 23@FE pG52=2D :? pAC:= E@ %649 2DD:DE2?E 4@249 r96DE6C uC2K:6C] %96 286?E <?6H uC2K:6C 3642FD6 E96 286?E FD65 E@ C6AC6D6?E uC2K:6C’D 7C:6?5 #F5J v2J] pG52=2D G:D:E65 q2J=@C 2?5 ':C8:?:2 %649 :? pAC:=]k^Am kAmw@A:?8 4@==686 32D<6E32== 4@F=5 EFC? 9:> :?E@ 2 7:CDE\C@F?5 5C27E AC@DA64E[ pG52=2D H:E95C6H 7C@> E96 }qp sC27E :? yF?6 2?5 D:8?65 H:E9 ':C8:?:2 %649] w6 H2D C2E65 E96 }@] a :?E6C?2E:@?2= A=2J6C :? E96 a_ac\ad C64CF:E:?8 4=2DD 3J E96 acf $A@CED H63D:E6]k^AmkAm“x E9@F89E W4@==686 32D<6E32==X H@F=5 36 E96 36DE @AE:@? 7@C >6 :? @C56C 7@C E96 H@C=5 E@ D66 >6[” pG52=2D D2:5] “xE H2D E96 36DE @AE:@? 7@C >6 E@ 8@ E9C@F89 E96 D62D@?[ 3F:=5 >J H2J FA … E96 5C27E 3@2C5D]”k^AmkAmpG52=2D :D ECJ:?8 E@ 36 2 E62> =6256C H:E9 E96 w@<:6D]k^Am kAm“x’> `h] x’> DE:== =62C?:?8 7@C DFC6[ … W3FEX 36:?8 H:E9 AC@76DD:@?2=D D:?46 x H2D `d[ x 92G6 D@>6 6IA6C:6?46[” 96 D2:5]k^Am kAmpG52=2D 925 `` A@:?ED[ 7:G6 C63@F?5D[ EH@ 3=@4<D[ @?6 2DD:DE 2?5 E9C66 EFC?@G6CD :? ag >:?FE6D :? %649’D 6I9:3:E:@? =@DD E@ sFBF6D?6 =2DE H66<6?5]k^AmkAmw6 :D DE:== 25;FDE:?8 E@ E96 A246 @7 E96 4@==686 82>6]k^Am kAm“xE’D 2 3:8 25;FDE>6?E x 925 E@ >2<6[ A=2J:?8 72DE6C[” 96 D2:5]k^Am kAmw6 9:E E96 H6:89E C@@> 27E6C ;@:?:?8 E96 w@<:6D 2?5 ?@H H6:89D a`a A@F?5D]k^AmkAm“%96 7:CDE 8@2= H2D E@ AFE D@>6 H6:89E @? >6[” 96 D2:5] “}@H … x’> 766=:?8 2 =@E @7 4@?7:56?46 H:E9 >J D<:==D]”k^Am kAms@6D 96 766= AC6DDFC6 E@ =:G6 FA E@ E96 9JA6 @7 36:?8 2? }qp AC@DA64Enk^AmkAm“%96C6’D 2=H2JD AC6DDFC6[ x 36=:6G6[ :? 32D<6E32==[” 96 D2:5] “W(96?X x H2D J@F?8[ x =62C?65 9@H E@ 562= H:E9 :E]k^Am kAm“%96C6’D 2 =:EE=6 3:E @7 AC6DDFC6 7@C >6[ ECJ:?8 E@ 8@ E@ E96 }qp ?6IE J62C[ 3FE :7 x’> W@?=JX E9:?<:?8 23@FE E96 >@>6?E[ … :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 8@@5]”k^AmkAmpG52=2D’ 8:C=7C:6?5[ H9@ :D 2 =2H DEF56?E :? vC6646[ :D G:D:E:?8 9:> :? q=24<D3FC8 2?5 A=2?D E@ DE2J 7@C 2 76H >@?E9D]k^AmkAmpG52=2D’ 72E96C C646?E=J 7=6H 96C6 D@ 96 4@F=5 H2E49 pG52=2D’ 7:CDE 76H >@?E9D @7 ':C8:?:2 %649 32D<6E32==] pG52=2D’ >@E96C H:== 2CC:G6 96C6 ?6IE >@?E9 7@C 2 G:D:E]k^Am k9ams@C? :D ‘AC6EEJ E2==’k^9am kAms@C?[ H9@D6 ?:4<?2>6 :D %@?:[ H2D 3@C? :? v6C>2?J E@ #FDD:2? :>>:8C2?ED]k^AmkAmw6 >:DD6D E96 #FDD:2? 7@@5 9:D >@E96C >2<6D[ :?4=F5:?8 4963FC6<:[ 2 >62E\7:==65 EFC?@G6C]k^AmkAmw6 8C6H FA :? t=>D9@C?[ ?62C E96 ?@CE96C? v6C>2? 4:EJ @7 w2>3FC8] w6 5:5 ?@E 368:? A=2J:?8 32D<6E32== F?E:= 96 H2D `c J62CD @=5]k^Am Antonio Dorn, a 7-foot center from Germany, is a sophomore who has joined Virginia Tech. Dorn played pro ball in Germany. Courtesy Ryan Hedley, Virginia Tech kAm“#:89E 2H2J[ x 76== :? =@G6 H:E9 :E[” 96 D2:5]k^AmkAms@C? :D ?@H f 766E E2==]k^Am kAm“~3G:@FD=J[ x’> AC6EEJ E2==[” 96 D2:5]k^AmkAmw6 D:8?65 9:D 7:CDE AC@ 4@?EC24E H96? 96 H2D `e] w6 >@G65 @FE @7 9:D 72>:=J’D 9@>6 2?5 962565 E@ D@FE96C? v6C>2?J E@ A=2J AC@ 32==]k^AmkAm“x’> AC6EEJ 8@@5 @? >J @H?[” 96 D2:5] “xE H2D?’E 92C5 E@ 25;FDE]”k^Am kAmw6 A=2J65 7:G6 D62D@?D @7 AC@ 32==[ DE2CE:?8 @FE H:E9 2 56G6=@A>6?E2= E62> :? v6C>2?J’D E9:C5\E:6C =628F6] w6 A=2J65 :? v6C>2?J’D E@A =628F6 7@C A2CE @7 E96 a_aa\ab D62D@? 2?5 A=2J65 :? v6C>2?J’D D64@?5\E:6C =628F6 E96 A2DE EH@ D62D@?D] w6 2G6C2865 h]d A@:?ED 7@C z:C4996:> =2DE D62D@?] w6 2=D@ 92D tFC@rFA 2?5 uxqp 6IA6C:6?46]k^Am kAms@C? 564:565 E@ 8:G6 p>6C:42? 4@==686 32D<6E32== 2 ECJ]k^AmkAm“%96 @AA@CEF?:EJ J@F 92G6 @G6C 96C6 :D ;FDE 2 =:EE=6 3:E 36EE6C E92? :? tFC@A6[” s@C? D2:5]k^Am kAmw:D 286?E <?6H uC2K:6C 2?5 C64@>>6?565 ':C8:?:2 %649] s@C? D:8?65 H:E9 %649 :? pAC:=]k^Am Antonio Dorn, left, a 7-foot center from Germany, defends point guard Ben Hammond during a Virginia Tech practice. Dorn played pro ball in Germany. Courtesy Ryan Hedley, Virginia Tech kAm&?56C }rpp CF=6D[ s@C? :D 2 D@A9@>@C6 :? E6C>D @7 6=:8:3:=:EJ]k^AmkAm(9:=6 pG52=2D 8C25F2E65 9:89 D49@@= :? a_ac[ s@C? 8C25F2E65 9:89 D49@@= :? a_aa] q642FD6 s@C? A=2J65 >@C6 E92? @?6 J62C @7 AC@ 32== :? 36EH66? 9:D 9:89 D49@@= 8C25F2E:@? 2?5 9:D 4@==686 6?C@==>6?E[ 96 92D @?=J E9C66 J62CD @7 }rpp 6=:8:3:=:EJ :?DE625 @7 7@FC]k^Am kAm%92E :D 2=D@ H9J s@C? H2D 9:E H:E9 2 @?6\82>6 }rpp DFDA6?D:@? 2?5 >FDE >:DD %649’D D62D@? @A6?6C |@?52J] $@ s@C?[ H9@ >:DD65 =2DE H66<6?5’D 6I9:3:E:@? 82>6 H:E9 2 >:?@C :?;FCJ[ H:== >2<6 9:D %649 563FE 282:?DE !C@G:56?46 @? }@G] g]k^Am kAms@C? :D =:DE65 3J %649 2D H6:89:?8 ab_ A@F?5D[ 2=E9@F89 96 D2:5 96 H6:89D >@C6 E92? E92E]k^AmkAmw6 :D DE:== 25;FDE:?8 E@ p>6C:42? 32D<6E32==]k^AmkAm“~G6C 96C6[ :E’D 2 =:EE=6 3:E … 72DE6C[” 96 D2:5] “tG6CJ3@5J’D 2 =:EE=6 3:E >@C6 2E9=6E:4]”k^Am kAm$@ s@C? 9@A6D E@ 56G6=@A 9:D 3@5J 2?5 86E :? 36EE6C D92A6]k^Am kAm“~?6 @7 E96 A2CED E92E H@F=5 >2<6 >6 36EE6C :D :7 x 255 E96 A9JD:42=:EJ 2?5 E96 2E9=6E:4 DEF77 E@ >J 82>6[” 96 D2:5] “x <:?5 @7 2=C625J 92G6 E96 32D<6E32== <?@H=6586 7C@> tFC@A6] x7 x 4@>3:?6 E9@D6 EH@[ x E9:?< x’== >2<6 E96 ?6IE DE6A]”k^Am Mark Berman (540) 981-3125 mark.berman@roanoke.com 0 Comments Locations Virginia Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Antonio Dorm discusses his game Virginia Tech's Avdalas reportedly planning to enter transfer portal Avdalas finished the season averaging 12.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Sights and sounds from Virginia Tech Pro Day Inside the NCAA Bracket Record: How Big Is the Craze? Inside the NCAA Bracket Record: How Big Is the Craze? Hokies' Copeland on decision to return Hokies' Copeland on decision to return Vegas and Seattle a step closer to getting NBA teams. League's owners approve expansion exploration Vegas and Seattle a step closer to getting NBA teams. League's owners approve expansion exploration
Virginia Tech's Avdalas reportedly planning to enter transfer portal Avdalas finished the season averaging 12.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
