VT Hoops Features Former Hidden Valley Stars

Abby Redick

As Virginia Tech prepares for its upcoming women’s and men’s basketball seasons, sophomores Abby Redick and Ben Boggs, both Hidden Valley graduates, look to make an impact on their respective teams, when the season opens on Friday, Nov. 12 with a double-header at Cassell Coliseum.

Redick, who scored 1,038 career-points in leading the Titans to two state championships, played in all 30 games for the Hokies last season as a freshman.

The 6-1 forward averaged 2.5 points per game coming off the bench for the Hokies, who finished 15-15 overall and 4-10 in the ACC.

The Virginia Tech women, picked to finish 11th in the 12-team league this season, will be counting a lot on its five freshmen and five sophomores right out of the gate.

“The freshmen and sophomores are two of the most talented groups to come to Virginia Tech,” said head coach Beth Dunkenberger. “Our biggest job will be figuring out who is going to play and when.”

One of those looking for more court time will be Redick, who played 408 minutes last season. Her brother is ex-Cave Spring and Duke star J.J. Redick, now with the Orlando Magic. Two older twin sisters played D-1 ball for Campbell.

“Abby is looking very good in our workouts,” said Dunkenberger. “We are trying to let her move away from the basket a little bit more. She is a great three-point shooter and we’re trying to find her spot where she can catch and shoot.” Added Dunkenberger: “She has one of the brightest basketball minds.”

“There is more of an opportunity to get more playing time this season,” said Redick. “We do have a lot of freshmen and sophomores stepping up, so I’m looking forward to an opportunity to get more minutes and to be to a contributor.”

As for looking to take more three-point shots this season, Redick, who was 4-for-24 outside the arc said, “I have been working during the summer and the last couple of months on my guard-skills and getting more shots up.”

Redick and her Hokies teammates open up their 2010-11 season on Friday, Nov. 12, when they host Presbyterian in a 5:30 p.m. tip.

Another former Hidden Valley standout looking to contribute to the Virginia Tech men’s basketball program this season,  is sophomore Ben Boggs.

The 6-4 guard, who broke his leg during his senior season at Hidden Valley, saw very limited action during his Hokie freshman year.

“I’ve been working hard this summer,” said Boggs. “My leg is feeling a lot better. Last year at the beginning of the season I wasn’t even sure if I could go a full practice because I was still having a lot of pain.”

In his 216 minutes of playing time last year, Boggs averaged 2.2 points per game and 1.4 rebounds.

Asked about his goals this season, Boggs stated,” I want to be a knock down shooter and I’ve talked to the coach about knocking down open jumpers and threes, as well as being a good defensive player.”

“Boggs is a hard-nosed, tough guy, who can make shots,” said men’s head coach Seth Greenberg. “He is an un-selfish player, we just need for him to make shots and compete on the defensive end.”

Being picked No. 2 in the ACC Preseason Poll, said Boggs, “[is] great. It shows that our program is on the rise and we are [capable of] having a good year. . . . But we still have a lot to prove.”

The Hokies, who return all five starters from last year’s 25-9 team (10-6 ACC), open their season on Friday, Nov. 12, when they host Campbell in a 7:30 p.m. tip off.

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