Recruiting: Virginia Tech transfer MJ Collins commits to Vanderbilt

MJ Collins will come to Vanderbilt after averaging 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game in the 2023-24 season for Virginia Tech.

Josh Rehders

Vanderbilt faces off against Columbia during the First Four of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, as photographed on March 20, 2024. (Hustler Multimedia/Josh Rehders)

By Andrew Wilf, Sports Editor

April 16, 2024

Former Virginia Tech shooting guard MJ Collins announced that he will commit to Vanderbilt. Collins announced the commitment via Instagram on Tuesday evening.

Instagram will load in the frontend.

The announcement came just a few hours after Isaiah West and Malik Presley both entered the transfer portal. Collins’ landing marks Mark Byington’s third secured commitment via the transfer portal. Collins’ former teammate — Tyler Nickel — committed to Vanderbilt on April 10. Collins — a 6’4” shooting guard from Clover, S.C. — averaged 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists in the 2023-24 season for the Hokies.

Collins started 28 of Virginia Tech’s 34 games this season and averaged 29.5 minutes per game. The sophomore shot 84.4% from the charity stripe and was an All-ACC Academic Team honoree in the 2023-24 season. Collins averaged just over 40% from the field in 7 of his final 10 games this season.

Collins also had a respectable freshman season, scoring in double figures in three games and making 16 starts.

Before coming to Virginia Tech, Collins was the 22nd-best shooting guard in the Class of 2022, according to ESPN.

With the addition of Collins, Vanderbilt has added more strength to a backcourt that will no longer have Ezra Manjon and Tyrin Lawrence. Collins is a well-regarded on-ball defender.

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About the Contributors

Andrew Wilf, Sports Editor

Andrew Wilf (’24) is Sports Editor for The Vanderbilt Hustler. He is from Livingston, N.J., and is majoring in history and minoring in business. He joined the sports staff his freshman year, previously serving as a Staff Writer, Assistant Sports Editor and Deputy Sports Editor. Beyond writing for The Hustler, he is also the host of Anchor Analysis, Commodore Clash and Live From West End. In his free time, Andrew enjoys watching the NFL and playing golf. He can be reached at [email protected].

Josh Rehders, Photography Director

Josh Rehders ('24) is from Houston and is studying computer science in the School of Engineering. When he is not shooting for The Hustler, Vanderbilt Athletics or freelancing, he enjoys finding new music and good food. He can be reached at [email protected].

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