Mark Berman

1 week ago | roanoke.com | Mark Berman

An infusion of newcomers has Virginia Tech men's basketball coach Mike Young excited about his new roster. Only four scholarship players are back from last year's team, which suffered Tech's first losing season in 10 years. Young has added two European players, including NBA prospect Neoklis Avdalas, and three transfers. He also signed two high school recruits last month to go along with the two who signed last fall. Young likes this roster better than last year's roster.

1 week ago | roanoke.com | Mark Berman

Last month, ESPN predicted Neoklis Avdalas would be chosen in the second round of this month's NBA Draft. But Avdalas is joining Virginia Tech, not the NBA. Virginia Tech announced Monday it has signed Avdalas, a 19-year-old guard/forward from Greece. The 6-foot-8, 198-pound Avdalas withdrew from the NBA Draft on Sunday, according to a tweet from ESPN's Jonathan Givony. Sunday afternoon was the deadline for international players to withdraw from the draft, which will be held June 25-26.

1 week ago | roanoke.com | Mark Berman

Eastern Montgomery High School's first appearance in a boys soccer state title game did not end well. Northampton erupted for six second-half goals to beat the Mustangs 7-1 in the Class 1 state final Saturday at Salem High School. The game was tied at 1 at halftime. "At halftime, … we were really encouraged," EastMont coach Whittney Shaver said. "Unfortunately, our depth and our bench numbers weren't quite the same as Northampton's.

1 week ago | roanoke.com | Mark Berman

Glenvar boys soccer coach Josh Jones raised one forefinger at Saturday's trophy presentation. Then he raised a second finger. Then, instead of raising a third finger, he simply raised his team's latest state championship trophy. Undefeated Glenvar claimed the Class 2 boys soccer state title for the third consecutive year Saturday, scoring two second-half goals to beat Bruton 2-0 in the Class 2 final at Roanoke College's Kerr Stadium. "Three's crazy," Glenvar senior Jake Williams said.

2 weeks ago | roanoke.com | Mark Berman

The Poquoson High School girls soccer team was plenty motivated to break the scoreless tie in its game against Glenvar on Friday. "We didn't want to go into overtime, especially in the heat, so we had to give it everything," Poquoson freshman Brynn Groseth said. Groseth scored two goals in the first three minutes of the second half to give the Islanders a 2-0 win over defending Class 2 state champ Glenvar in a Class 2 semifinal at Roanoke College's Kerr Stadium. "We just had to play with heart.