Courtesy Robert Occhialini (Flickr user Bump) via Creative Commons.

The NBA season came to a screeching halt for many thrifty yet obsessive fans earlier this month when the U.S. government shut down FirstRowSports.tv. While some imitator sites have popped up, there is just no way for broke college students to reliably watch any game they want to anymore.

Instead of accepting Association deprivation, some will choose to bite the bullet and purchase the cheapest available NBA League Pass option. This plan allows subscribers to watch and/or record all games on their laptop or phone — for five teams. Narrowing it down to five teams is almost enough to make a fan forget about the plan…almost.

So, for all the fans going through this agonizing process, I have devised a little guide to help organize their thoughts.

First, some ground rules any serious fan should follow:

• If you are a fan of your hometown team, they probably have a local television deal. Assuming you have some level of access to a television or a sports bar, it would be wasting a spot to choose the hometown team.
• Don’t have an East or West coast bias. Choose a diverse group of teams so you don’t frequently waste precious games. You want to have all five of those options available on as many nights as possible.
• Unless you gave birth to a team member, don’t even think about putting the Wizards, Bobcats or Hornets on there. Only a mother could love watching those guys get blown out every single night.

Now that we have that cleared up, let’s get to the guidance. If this decision has you frozen up like Shaq on the free throw line, I have the answers. Below I have divided up all of NBA fandom into five categories. Find the fan category to which you belong and check out which teams you should be watching.

–

The Hipster Fans

Sorry everybody, had to get to this first. This target audience won’t settle for anything less. These fans want to jump on an ascending power’s bandwagon before the wagon has wheels. They are constantly searching for the next big thing — longing for the day when they can scoff and say they rooted for Rubio when he came off the bench.

The lineup:

Minnesota Timberwolves- This is the ultimate hipster team. Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio quickly emerged as the key to start this team’s offensive engine, and the Wolves have taken off since he took over the starting point guard spot. Behind Rubio and the versatile big man Kevin Love, they have developed a knack for challenging and often defeating the league’s best. A bonus here, an emotional investment in the Wolves may pay off quickly. They are among the eight teams within two games of the final Western playoff spot (Eight! That’s more than half the conference.). It isn’t outlandish to think this team could sneak in this season.

New Jersey Nets- They’re moving to Brooklyn next season. But everyone knows you have to get ahead of the curve.

Portland Trailblazers- Hello? Portlandia is perfection. And if you’re looking for underrated stars, look no further than LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum.

New York Knicks- It is easy to feel satisfied as a hipster Knicks fan. All you have to do is proclaim the greatness of the backup point guard. Every two weeks he becomes the toast of New York City. And yes, I am simply assuming Linsanity is a temporary condition.

Utah Jazz- Early this season it looked as though this young team was ready to win now. The Jazz have been on a slide recently, slipping down into that logjam of Western teams battling for a limited number of playoff slots. But watch out in the future, there are a lot of good developing players in Salt Lake City.

–

The YouTube Fan

You know who you are. You’re not a fan of games so much as of highlights. You’ll record games and fast-forward through those swaths of the second quarter where reserves get their shot. It’s all about the dunks, the alley-oops, the circus shots and the volleyball-style blocks.

Los Angeles Clippers- Blake Griffin is obviously the crown jewel of NBA highlight reel players. He dunks. A lot. As does teammate DeAndre Jordan, who also provides plenty of defensive fireworks as a shot blocker. As for other thrills, Kenyon Martin just signed with the Clips after spending the lockout in China. He already has one technical and there are sure to be plenty more where that came from. Oh, and Chris Paul, he’s a pretty good basketball player, too.

Phoenix Suns- Steve Nash is still mesmerizing.

Orlando Magic- Let’s be honest, everyone wants to watch Dwight Howard in preparation for his impending trade to (insert city here). The man can block shots and do other superhuman things on a basketball court. And he does it all with a smile.

Miami Heat- It’s hard to leave any team with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade out of this package. More on these guys later.

Golden State Warriors- OK, so the Warriors aren’t known for high flying jams or dominant big men. But there is never a dull moment. They score constantly — and so do their opponents. Monta Ellis scored 48 points Tuesday night in a Warriors loss. If you hate defense, the Warriors are here for you.

–

The Short Shorts Fans

These fans want to see some good clean basketball. They put a premium on smothering man-to-man defense, quick ball movement and setting solid picks. Don’t turn it over or they will turn the channel. They want to see contenders winning with teamwork, especially in this condensed schedule.

Philadelphia 76ers- Please raise your hand if you pegged the Sixers as the third-best team in the East…That’s what I thought. Nobody saw this team coming, mainly because there was no reason to expect improvement over last season’s .500 performance. Turns out, coach Doug Collins turned the Sixers into a model of efficient basketball. They play stifling half court defense, don’t turn the ball over and seemingly everyone in the Philadelphia metropolitan area contributes scoring. The leading scorer is the sixth-man, Lou Williams. Andre Igoudala is the veteran leader. Thaddeus Young is the burst of energy and stats — also off the bench — and Elton Brand is doing what he can. Before last night’s loss to San Antonio, the Sixers had been on a serious mean streak where they took out some of the league’s top contenders. They are for real.

San Antonio Spurs- Speaking of the Spurs, it goes without saying that no team is going to out-fundamental Gregg Popovich’s bunch. Even with Manu Ginobili sidelined by injury, the Spurs have held their own with young players showing promise. It also helped that Tony Parker has exploded. In the past week, the Frenchman has had 37 and 42-point performances.

Denver Nuggets- It sometimes seems as though this team has more players than everyone else. Ty Lawson has turned into a game-controlling point guard, pushing teams toward exhaustion with the help of extreme altitude. Plus, up until his injury, Danilo Gallinari has been driving Knicks fans to eat their hats over the Carmelo trade.

Chicago Bulls- Tom Thibideau is simply the best defensive coach around. Luol Deng may be the single most underrated player in the game, and Derrick Rose can seemingly take over a game at will. The East leaders know what they are doing.

Indiana Pacers- Yes, they are in the Bulls’ division but they can’t go without a mention in this category. What they lack in star power they make up for in grit and consistency — and being in Indiana. They may be quiet, but the Pacers are fourth in the East and don’t look likely to fall much further than that.

–

The Nostalgic Fan

There is nothing better than a classic rivalry between legacy franchises for these fans. They want to relive their memories through basketball. They want to see their favorite players from a decade ago ride their last glorious waves of star power into the playoffs.

(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

Los Angeles Lakers- Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak is seemingly in continuous negotiations for a blockbuster trade that would shake up the status quo of this team. Whether it is the Clippers’ resurgence, the Lakers’ current standing in the West logjam or the crescendo of father time’s tic-toc, management is sending signals that this will be the farewell ride for the Kobe-Gasol Lakers. The one guy who can’t hear that clock? Kobe Bryant, whose talents look as transcendent as ever.

Boston Celtics- The Celtics and Lakers are in lockstep, which has become the norm recently. That isn’t really a bad thing. It keeps the rivalry going strong. This season, it appears to be a question of which aging legends can go further than which ones will prevail in the Finals. Boston had a decidedly more bumpy start to the season, but after spark plug Rajon Rondo went down, the Big Three finally woke up. Now Rondo is back and Paul Pierce has turned back into Paul Pierce. The result? Doc Rivers’ gang is the hottest team in basketball, 9-1 in the past 10 games.

Dallas Mavericks- Dirk sometimes looks like he should be playing shuffleboard. And Vince Carter looks wrong with that beard. And Jason Terry is still shootings threes. And Jason Kidd is still playing? Yes, and the Dallas Mavericks somehow remain strong contenders in the West. Go figure.

Chicago Bulls- The Bulls haven’t been this good since No. 23 was carrying the load. No one who lived through the Jordan dynasty can resist watching a powerful team in that uniform.

Atlanta Hawks- OK, so while your only nostalgia over the Hawks could be Dominique Wilkins or their numerous second round playoff exits, they deserve a look for once again commanding respect in the East. The Hawks — still led by the Joe Johnson, Josh Smith nucleus — are a solid playoff team. While Al Horford went down, Atlanta offset the blow by finding a major upgrade at point guard in Jeff Teague.

–

The Super Fan

Let’s just admit it, the NBA has been great this season in spite of (because of?) the late start. But everyone knows it all comes down to the second season, the playoffs. These fans want to cut to the chase and watch the contenders. They will be informed when the big boys face off for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Oklahoma City Thunder- The Thunder almost got there last year and now they hold basketball’s best record. With a young, deep and diverse roster, this team seems tailor-made to win this season. Kevin Durant is a superstar looking to start building a champion’s legacy and James Harden is giving LeBron a run in the obscure but interesting “most complete player with a puffy beard” competition. And then just when you think things are getting predictable, Russell Westbrook happens.

Chicago Bulls- Currently the best team in the East, the Bulls are poised to make a deep playoff run. While many would say the Heat are still the favorites to represent the East in the Finals, Derrick Rose has been practicing his fourth quarter winner moves. He looks like he is up for the challenge.

Miami Heat- While Wade has been subpar so far, the Heat should win the NBA Finals on paper. But doubts linger about how last year ended and LeBron has struggled to find an opportunity where he can build personal “clutch” momentum. This team should win any war on the court, but it will have to win the battle between its ears first.

Los Angeles Clippers- Sure, Mr. Big Shot Chauncey Billups is out. But the Clippers are sitting pretty above the scrum in the West right now. By the end of the season, we are likely to witness marked improvement from Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and company as they absorb the influence of Chris Paul. Even with Vinny Del Negro roaming the sidelines, I doubt anyone will be lining up to bet against these guys come playoff time.

Portland Trailblazers- Here’s the wild card. This last team is tough. Remember the Grizzlies? Yeah, good luck trying to spot the next version of last year’s Cinderella team, but I think this season is even more likely to produce such a shocker. If I had to put money on it, I would — well, I probably wouldn’t be able to decide between the Blazers, Nuggets and Timberwolves. Heck, even the Grizzlies themselves may be the future Grizzlies. But for now I’m going with the Blazers. Barring a trademark Blazer string of bad luck (Nate McMillan would probably punch me in the face himself for mentioning it), this team is far better than its current record indicates. Aldridge and Batum are dominating games, and the backcourt — while not spectacular — is tremendously deep. Take a stab as which Western team has the best point differential thus far this season. If you guessed the Blazers, you came up roses. You want an entertaining team that could make you look smart later? Try something different and watch Portland.

Follow me on Twitter

While the NHL has abandoned the East vs. West format, the NBA’s All-Star Game continues to pit coast against coast, and this year is a fairly extreme example. Los Angeles and Miami are home to 6 of the 10 All-Star starters.

The lineups, announced Thursday night, were rather obviously chosen by fan voting. Dwight Howard, the Orlando Magic center (for now), was the leading vote getter as Orlando hosts the game. He will join Miami Heat superstars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade as they take their talent to Central Florida. The Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony and Bulls’ Derrick Rose — the reigning NBA MVP — round out the East lineup.

The West starters are decidedly more familiar with each other. Four of the five share a home court. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant will make yet another All-Star start, and his teammate Andrew Bynum will make his first start. Sharing the court and the same locker room for this game will be the Clippers’ new star point guard, Chris Paul and famed alley-oop partner Blake Griffin — who is the defending dunk contest champion and still basking in the glory of his ubiquitous dunk over Kendrick Perkins.

That Hollywood quartet will flank the scoring machine from Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant.

Of course, the big question that always comes up is, “Did the fans get it right?” Let’s take a look shall we?

East

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade will start together in the All-Star Game. Courtesy MCT Campus

PG- Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls): Rose has picked up right where he left off last year — when he won the MVP. The only noticeable change in his statistics this year is a decrease in points per game (25.0 last year, 23.5 this year) and a seemingly correlated minute increase in assists (7.7 last year, 8.0 this year). He has developed a scintillating habit of taking over games in the fourth quarter, which is really the time to see Rose at his finest. Verdict: Right pick.

SG- Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat): Wade has missed a few games due to injury and his scoring is down, but people apparently still want to see the 2010 All-Star MVP play. While Wade has been off compared to his career averages, there isn’t exactly a pack of East shooting guards banging on the door. The highest scoring contender would be Atlanta’s Joe Johnson, who doesn’t really have a great argument for the spot. Verdict: Best choice among the possibilities.

F- LeBron James (Miami Heat): Whether you are in the camp that believes he will choke in the playoffs or not, it is impossible to ignore the fact that LeBron is having a stellar season. If this were two captains picking teams (a la the NHL), nobody would dare pass on LeBron with the first pick. Verdict: Right pick.

F- Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks): Here is where the fan voting muddles things a bit. Carmelo is shooting far below career averages from inside and beyond the arc. His free-throw percentage has been improved, which has helped is scoring remain among the league leaders, but his production has not improved the Knicks. Even with what should be the most formidable frontcourt north of South Beach, the Knicks are below .500 after blowing a big lead against the surging Celtics Friday night. Who should have been here? That last member of the Big Three in Miami. Chris Bosh has stepped up this season and at times has filled the void left by a hobbled Dwyane Wade. While he doesn’t score as much as ‘Melo, advanced metrics show Bosh has a greater positive influence on the court for his team. Verdict: Got it wrong.

C- Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic): While most of the talk about Howard this season has focused on where he will play in the future, he has been playing just fine for the Magic. He leads the league in rebounding and continues to dominate defensively. His offensive numbers remain solid, but more teams are turning to the hack-a-Dwight method as his free-throw shooting dips below even his lowly career average.

West

Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul are the leading men in a newly invigorated LA rivalry, but they will start together in the West backcourt.

PG- Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers): He is obviously the difference maker for the new contender in Los Angeles. Paul continues to improve the Clippers as a leader, floor general and teammate. Paul is among the league leaders in assists, steals and three-point shooting percentage. His calm, collected method of running the offense has led to improvement for youngsters Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan while encouraging solid, sometimes spectacular, contributions from veterans Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler. Verdict: Right pick.

SG- Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers): What can you say? Apparently those European treatments have him healthy. He is leading the league in scoring and shows no signs of stopping his dogged pursuit of a legendary legacy. Verdict: Right pick.

F- Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder): Durant is the unquestioned superstar on the league’s best team. He scores at will, and this season has increased his rebounding activity. While there is still a lot of work to be done if the Thunder are going to reach championship level, Durant appears ready to carry his weight and more. Verdict: Right pick.

F- Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers): Well, it’s not confusing to figure out why fans want to see the league’s most explosive young player. His flair for the spectacular is now a nationally followed phenomenon as the Clippers have captured the basketball world’s attention. Certainly he will be one of the most closely watched participants in this year’s All-Star Game. But, to be honest, he isn’t the “best’ all-around power forward in the West. Minnesota’s Kevin Love (who is attracting attention himself as part of the impr0ved, dynamic Timberwolves) is scoring and rebounding more than Griffin in addition to playing better defense and acting as the leader of his team. Verdict: Got it wrong.

C- Andrew Bynum (Los Angeles Lakers): I spat out a spur-of-the-moment argument the other day that I would take Bynum over Dwight Howard if I were picking a center for my championship contender. That was not a particularly popular idea, but I stand by my logic that Bynum is a far better offensive player. His moves can beat any big man in the league when he is healthy, and he is no slouch defensively. Verdict: Right pick.

–

Next, the coaches will select the All-Star reserves. Among the obvious choices are Kevin Love and Marc Gasol, two big men having stellar seasons in the West. In the East, Bosh is sure to get his justified appearance. Paul Pierce’s resurgence as the Celtics’ go-to guy will likely land him a spot.

Among the interesting subplots in this announcement will be whether teams that are winning with balance and teamwork end up getting representation in Orlando. Philadelphia, Indiana, Denver and Utah all fit that description. Indiana fans may have the best chance at watching one of their own on Feb. 26, as Danny Granger and Roy Hibbert both have a shot at a reserve spot.

For 35 minutes, the Virginia Tech men’s basketball team could not have looked sharper.

The much-maligned Dorian Finney-Smith was sinking shots (he finished with 12 points, his first time in double digits since North Florida), the crowd was into it and Clemson was committing unforced errors.

So when K.J. McDaniels went to the line with a chance to tie the game at 67 after trailing by as much as 17 in the game, the Hokies were on their heels.

“It almost turned into a typical Virginia Tech-Clemson game; whoever led the whole game was going to lose,” said Seth Greenberg, head coach. “Fortunately for us, we survived.”

McDaniels missed the first free throw, meaning he would have to miss the second to give the Tigers a chance. Tanner Smith grabbed the loose ball, and his shot rimmed out, which would have tied the game.

“We had another chance to steal one but unfortunately we just came up short,” said Brad Brownell, Clemson head coach. “I thought (Virginia Tech) was really ready to compete tonight.”

Finney-Smith, who entered the game 0-25 from the field in his past six games, got off to a hot start as he hit a layup on the opening possession. From there, it was just basketball.

“It just opened up and I got loose,” Finney-Smith said. “I was playing tight for the past six games, so after I got the layup it was a big relief.”

Greenberg has personally been working on Finney-Smith’s shot since his struggles, even working last night, a day the rest of the Hokies only watched film.

“It was great seeing Dorian get that shot early,” Greenberg said. “We were in there last night at nine o’clock at night for about 45 minutes, just really trying to get that into his shooting pocket.”

Finney-Smith, a third-team high school All-American, said his shot was coming from behind his head, and he was shooting on the way down.

“It was really frustrating and I couldn’t hit a shot in six games,” Finney-Smith said. “It was really frustrating. “My team supported me and my coach supported me. I got up some extra shots and I changed my routine. I came in early and got up some shots.”

Follow me on Twitter.

Notes:

• Finney-Smith got his confidence from his teammates and coaches, and it was a great feeling for those around him. “It was great, he needed that,” said Jarell Eddie. “Just seeing the basketball go through the basket, that was great for his confidence. He ended up having a big game for us that was great.”

• Eddie on the late-game collapse: “We got a little nervous, but we told ourselves we’re not going to let this happen,” he said. “We’re not going to let them come in here and take that win. We had a 15-point lead at the half, and we weren’t going to let them come in here and take the win.”

• Greenberg on the win: “It was a win that we needed, and it gives us something to build on,” he said. “Overall I couldn’t be more pleased with our guys and the number of guys that contributed.”

• McDaniels’ drive to the hole that led to the free throws was a blocked dunk attempt by Eddie. Eddie fouled out on the play, but it was game saving. “That was a dunk,” Eddie said. “He beat the defender, and I just had to do something on that play.”

• Cadarian Raines’ eight points are the most he’s ever had in an ACC game.

• The Hokies held the Tigers to just 2-of-17 from 3-point range (11.8%). Up until last week, the Hokies were ranked in the top five in three-point defense.

Photo by Austen Meredith, SPPS

Dorian Finney-Smith

2012 has not been kind to Dorian Finney-Smith.

Overshadowed by his team’s seventh loss in eight tries on Thursday night were the freshman’s continuing struggles.

Since the team’s 63-59 loss to Florida State on Jan. 10, Finney-Smith is 0-25 shooting from the field, and has averaged less than four rebounds per game.

“I went through the same thing as a freshman,” said point guard Erick Green. “It’s a hard thing to be as a freshman. He’s playing hard, and that’s the main thing we can ask for. I think things are going to get better for him.”

While that provides some optimism for Finney-Smith’s future, head coach Seth Greenberg saw this coming earlier in the season.

“I’m working 1-on-1 with Doe-Doe right now, and we’re changing his shot,” Greenberg said. “It’s 100 percent my fault. He was making some shots early, so we ignored it.”

Greenberg also compared Finney-Smith’s struggles to those of a certain popular NFL quarterback.

“It’s like a quarterback who’s making some completions, so you don’t want to mess with his release. Tim Tebow won a lot of games at Florida, but no one really changed his release,” he said. “So, when he want up to another level — (like) from preseason games to ACC play — it’s exposed.”

Finney-Smith is shooting 28.6 percent from the field on the season, and his head coach knows it may be a while before that number improves.

We’re getting (the ball) back into his shooting pocket,” Greenberg said. “It’s gonna take a long time for us to get that straight. And that one’s on me. I knew better. It was fool’s gold, as I said to our staff. He still needs to offensive rebound. He can’t catch a break, the poor guy. He had an offensive rebound go right through his hands (tonight).”

Notes

• Greenberg doesn’t think the Hokies are defending the four position as well as they can. “Whether it’s BYU or Duke or anyone else, we just aren’t physical enough defending that position. (Duke) knew that and they went after it.”

• The Blue Devils were 8-of-18 from three-point range. “They hit some key threes, kick-outs, tap-backs, things like that,” Green said. “When things like that happen, we can’t keep them off the glass and they’re getting open threes, they’re going to make us pay.”

• When the Hokies melted late in the first half, it was a sign to Greenberg the team was lacking toughness. “For eight years we’ve had maybe stronger, tougher players,” he said. “I don’t know if we have that component to set the tone right now and that’s frustrating.”

• The 75-60 loss is the biggest margin of defeat this year for the Hokies.

• The Hokies entered the game leading the ACC in three-point defense. True freshman Austin Rivers scored 18 points on 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range. “I think he played a very mature game tonight,” said Mike Krzyzewski. “He hit big shots.”

• Greenberg on the Duke run late in the first half: “They pushed it up a little bit and we gave into it a little bit.”

• Marquis Rankin made his third career start. He was told two days ago at practice he’d be starting. Greenberg on the decision: “I thought that his defensive presence, getting us into some open-court transition and he’s another playmaker,” he said.

Photo by Daniel Lin, SPPS

Thomas Smith

With two of Tech’s all time receiving leaders in Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin leaving, next year Logan Thomas will have a plethora of new wide receivers to target, as well as a few player whose position is still to be determined. Here are the Hokies’ new receiving and athletic recruits:

Joel Caleb, WR

Jerome Wright, ATH

Wright hails from Highland Springs, Va. and clocks in at 6’2 225 pounds. He saw a lot of action in high school as a tailback, but was used frequently as a pass catcher out of the backfield. He also saw time as a linebacker due to his speed that is unusual for his size. It’ll be interesting to watch how his versatility and athleticism translate onto the field. He’ll likely test the waters on both sides of the ball before solidifying his position.

Brenden Motley, ATH

Another athlete in this year’s recruiting class for the Hokies is a Christiansburg native. Motley has good size at 6’3 and 200 pounds, and he played quarterback in high school, but also played plenty of free safety. His height and speed make him seem like a lock to be a free safety, especially since Thomas has solidified himself as the undisputed starter under center. Motley chose Tech over ACC rivals Virginia and Georgia Tech and will be an interesting story going into training camp to see if his defensive instincts will land him on the other side of the ball.

Mark Irick, WR

At 6’3 and 185, Irick is a speedy deep threat who is a big play waiting to happen. Coming from St. Matthews, South Carolina, Irick is a three-star recruit who has exceptional hands and strength. If he can improve his route-running, Irick could be a difference maker immediately at Tech thanks to his ability to elevate and out-jump defensive backs, especially in the red zone.

Thomas Smith, WR

Smith is yet another Virginia native, coming from Williamsburg, Va. Smith is a big, physical receiver at 6’3, 225 pounds and will likely grayshirt. Rumors are that he will attend Fork Union Military Academy to improve his academics and athleticism. He’s shown good speed for his size with a 4.53 40-yard dash time, and the time spent Fork Union should help his maturity and understanding of the game.

Joshua Stanford, WR

Coming from Lithonia, Ga. is another speedy wide receiver for the Hokies. Stanford stands at 6’2, 175 pounds and runs a quick 40-yard dash at 4.4 seconds. Stanford had staggering numbers his senior year, catching 56 passes for over 1,100 yards. Stanford combines the rare ability of making plays from being elusive and agile, but he can also go over the middle and take big hits. On top of all of that, he’s also a prolific kick returner.

Photo courtesy Rivals.com

Jarontay Jones

Ken Ekanem: 6’3, 226 pounds

Woody Baron: 6’3, 252 pounds

Baron is a strongside defensive end hailing from Brentwood, Tennessee. He’s been earning accolades at the Brentwood Academy since he put up an impressive 17 sacks in his junior season. He’s since been named the 19th best player on Rivals’ 2011 Tennessee postseason rankings, and was invited to participate in the Tennessee East vs. West All-Star game. The team should have decent depth at defensive end, and Baron will probably have the opportunity to sit for a while and fill out his frame before he sees any serious action.

Seth Dooley: 6’5, 230 pounds

Dooley is a weakside defensive end from Salem, Va. He attended Glenvar High School, but he’s had his mind on the Hokies for some time now. He committed to Tech after receiving an offer while attending a camp in Blacksburg, and Rivals rates him as the 28th best end in the state. Dooley has very good height for his position, but he needs time to build strength. His max bench currently stands at 365, and he’ll have to continue to add bulk to crack the starting lineup anytime soon.

Jarontay Jones: 6’2, 240 pounds

Jones is a weakside defensive end from Stone Mountain, Ga., and is the top-rated defensive end recruit for the Hokies. He attended Stephenson High School, and amassed 90 tackles and 16 sacks in his junior year there. He’s ranked as the 23rd best player at his position in the nation by Rivals, and runs a 4.62 40-yard dash. He’s a little undersized, but his speed should help him compensate at the next level. He has the most developed technique of any defensive end in Tech’s recruiting class, and could compete for rotation time relatively quickly.

Alston Smith: 6’3, 272 pounds

Smith is a defensive tackle from Virginia Beach and attended Cox High School. Although he didn’t receive much attention early in his career, he’s since gained notoriety and was named to Rivals’ list of players to watch in Virginia for 2011. He has since been ranked as the 24th best tackle in the state, and should have some time to develop, as he steps into another position with a fair amount of young talent.

Nigel Williams: 6’3, 260 pounds

Williams comes from Richmond, Va., where he attended Benedictine High School. He put up eight sacks in back to back seasons in his sophomore and junior seasons, and runs a surprisingly quick 4.63 40-yard dash. He has soared up rankings lists recently, as Rivals rates him 15th at tackle in the state and 49th at the position nationally. He turned down offers from schools like UVa and NC State to come to Tech, and he should be a real asset as he fights for playing time right away.

Photo courtesy Rivals.com

Donovan Riley

The Virginia Tech Hokies introduce their new recruiting class with some great defensive backs. All of these young men are great athletes and talented in their own way. Donaldven Manning is the only four-star recruit out of this group, but the other four are not far behind in skill and talent. Look out for these five football players to make a special impact on the Hokie defense under Bud Foster in their next step to becoming professional athletes.

Desmond Frye

Frye is a 6’1 170-pound defensive back that has experience at both cornerback and wide receiver. Frye has great size and hands for a defensive back and this enables him to make big plays on defense. He is a versatile player who can also play the wide receiver position. Frye does not have the world-class speed that you would look for in a defensive back, but with his athletic ability and pure ball skills he looks to have an impact in Bud Foster’s defense. Frye will likely be redshirted this upcoming fall because of the depth that is already at both the defensive back and wide receiver position.

Der’Woun Greene

Greene is a 5’10 175-pound defender that has experience at both cornerback and safety. Greene has great athletic ability and this allows him to play at either the safety or cornerback position. His versatility will make him more valuable to the Hokies’ defense. Bud Foster loves players that can play multiple positions, and Greene looks to be a perfect fit for this defense. Greene will probably end up playing at the safety position because of his pure athletic ability and his natural experience at that position. Greene will probably not see much playing time in the fall, but with his size and ability he should see the field in the next couple years.

Donaldven Manning

Manning is 5’9 165-pound cornerback that has committed to continue playing football here at Virginia Tech. Manning is one of Tech’s only four start recruits from this class. He looks to continue his success here in Blacksburg under Bud Foster. Manning hopes to follow the footsteps of great cornerbacks like Brandon Flowers, Deangelo Hall and Jayron Hosely here at Virginia Tech. Manning may be lacking in size and top-end speed, but his raw ability to play the corner position is amazing to watch. Bud Foster will love to have a player like this on his defense; he will coach him up and we should definitely see an impact in the secondary in the future.

Donovan Riley

Riley is a 6’0 190-pound defensive back that has committed to Virginia Tech where he looks to continue his high school success into college. Coming to Tech, Riley will probably play the safety position because of his combination of size and speed. He is a very versatile player that can play either the safety or corner position; he is just an all-around good defender. Riley is a hard-hitting player that loves to make big plays on the defensive side of the ball to send messages to the opposing team.  He may lack a little in the height and length department, but with his talent and ability, he should translate well in the Bud Fosters defense. Look for Riley to be redshirted this upcoming fall, but after that watch out for this guy on the football field.

Davion Tookes

Tookes is 5’10 170-pound cornerback that has committed to Virginia Tech. Coming out of high school Tookes has been very underrated, he has solid measurables such as speed and size but his instincts are what make him special. His ball skills and pure awareness on the field are outstanding; he can flat out make plays on the defensive side of the ball. With the help of Bud Foster and more experience Tookes can be that next great corner to come out of Virginia Tech. When he plays, he reminds you a lot of Jayron Hosely, they are about the same size and both play with great football instincts. Don’t expect Tookes to get a lot of playing time his freshman year, but over the next couple years I won’t be surprised if he makes a splash onto the national scene.

Photo courtesy Rivals.com

Dahman McKinnon

Virginia Tech fell short on linebacker recruiting last year and as a result, a talent gap was created at the position. With a lack of upcoming talent to develop behind the likes of Tariq Edwards, Bruce Taylor and Jack Tyler, the Virginia Tech coaching staff had its linebacker recruiting work cut out for it this year. However, it looks as if Tech has more than made up for the loss, thanks to the recruiting efforts of Bud Foster, Charley Wiles, Bryan Stinespring and Shane Beamer, whose combined efforts have landed an outstanding class of linebackers that promise to champion the Hokie defense for seasons to come. Here’s a look at the top five prospects:

Deon Clarke; 6-2/205lbs; Chesterfield, Va

As part of a fantastic season, Deon Clarke led Lloyd C Bird High to the playoffs and had offers from Miami, Virginia, Tennessee, and many other schools. According to Rivals.com, he was the No. 13 outside linebacker in the nation and the No. 6 overall prospect in the state of Virginia. He is considered a “lunch-pail” player that will fit right into Bud Foster’s defense, with his work-ethic, athleticism and tackling ability. With some added weight, this guy could become a gap-crushing bruiser. Clarke will most likely redshirt until he can cross the 230 mark in weight, a necessity on the lunch-pail line-backing corps.

Trey Edmunds; 6-2/205; Ringgold, Va

This Parade All-American and son of Ferrell Edmunds (two time Miami Dolphin Pro-Bowler), is considered by many to be a physical freak as a two-way player who can also do work at running back. Edmunds received offers from Texas Tech, UNC, Tennessee among others with Rivals.com ranking him as the No. 16 OLB in the nation and the No. 9 overall prospect in VA. At this, he will best fit into the Mike position at Tech. His raw physical talent means that he could possibly see playing time right away if Tech had to call on him, but he will most likely redshirt due to the current group of linebackers already employed. With some development and some added weight, Edmunds has the potential to be a three year starter at Tech.

Dahman McKinnon; 6-2/200; Hope Mills, Nc

This recruit was ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 57 OLB in the nation and the No. 24 prospect in Nc. He garnered interest from Tennessee, NC State, UNC, and Wake Forest as he tallied 144 tackles and five sacks his junior year. McKinnon has solid fundamentals but, much like the rest of the 2012 class, will need to bulk up before he sees playing time. With his speed, some strength training and development, McKinnon will look to step into a Whip linebacker position at Tech in a year or two.

Devin Vandyke; 6-1/203; Lorton, Va

The younger brother of Ronny Vandyke, a redshirt-FR for Tech, Devin Vandyke is the No. 41 OLB in the nation according to Rivals.com and the No. 11 overall prospect in VA. He was awarded Washington Post All-Metro honors during his senior season when he led the South County High Stallions to the Division 5 state championship. He received offers from Boston College, Kentucky, Maryland, and Vanderbilt among others. Vandyke will fit right in on the Virginia Tech defense with his hard-nosed, scrappy style of play, and with a bit of developments and some bulking up, he could soon become one of the mainstays of the defense.

Photo courtesy Rivals.com

Augie Conte

After only one offensive line commitment last year, the coaching staff made it a priority to add some depth to the position.

The Hokies received commitments from offensive linemen Augie Conte, Adam Taraschke and Jack Willenbrock today. Only Augie Conte is rated higher than a 2-star and none of them were highly-touted prospects, but the coaching staff has proved in the past that player rating systems mean nothing — especially when it comes to offensive line recruits.

Jack Willenbrock was the first to commit of the three. Willenbrock stands 6’4 and weighs 260 pounds. While Willenbrock’s physical attributes are nothing special, he is very athletic and quick for an offensive lineman. He plays hard and with a toughness that the Virginia Tech staff seems to like. Willenbrock played most of his high school career as a guard and is expected to play that same role at Tech. Willenbrock will not see any playing time in the near future as he will need a few years to build strength.

Adam Taraschke is 6’6 and weighs pounds. Like Willenbrock, Taraschke was not heavily recruited by other schools, but he has the potential to be a key contributor on the offensive line. Taraschke will need time to gain the weight needed for him to go up against a collegiate defensive lineman, but he has all of the capabilities needed for the position. Taraschke is praised for having a great initial surge off the snap and solid technique. Expect to see Taraschke getting some playing time in his redshirt sophomore year.

Augie Conte is Tech’s highest rated offensive line prospect for this class and is rated as the 54th best offensive lineman in the country. Never having played football until his freshman year in high school, Conte seemingly came out of nowhere to become a D-1 football prospect. He stands 6’6’ and weights 270 lbs. Conte was named VIS first-team all-state for offensive line and defensive line. He is definitely the best athlete out of the other two offensive line prospects, but like the others, will need time to bulk up so he can go against an ACC defensive line. All in all this offensive line recruiting class will bring much needed depth to a position that was looking pretty thin.

Maybe one of the best stories of the recruiting season was the commitment of tight end Dakota Jackson. Jackson goes to high school at Northside in Roanoke, Va. It is always a good story to have a player grow up around a big time college football program and actually get the chance to live the dream of playing for them. Jackson is 6’4 and weighs 250 pounds. Jackson played iron man football as he lined up at both linebacker and tight end at Northside. Scouts say he has excellent hands and the rare ability to block defensive ends, something many tight ends struggle with. Although Jackson is not going to blow you away with his speed, he makes up for it with his route running abilities. Unfortunately, Virginia Tech’s 2011 recruiting class encompassed three tight ends so it may not be until Dakota’s redshirt junior year for him to get some playing time. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jackson was Virginia Tech’s starting tight end before the end of his collegiate career.

Photo courtesy Rivals.com

J.C. Coleman

Michael Holmes recovering from knee surgery for most of the offseason, there will be a stable of freshmen coming to Blacksburg that will get a chance to make an immediate impact. The most prized recruit of this class is J.C. Coleman, who is ranked as the third-best all-purpose running back in the nation according to Rivals.com.

Having graduated Virginia high school powerhouse Oscar Smith in December, Coleman has already enrolled at Tech, and has drawn comparisons to Maurice Jones-Drew and Ray Rice with his 5-7, 170 pound frame. Coleman possesses devastating open field speed as well as vision carrying the ball, and could become an invaluable asset on third downs with his terrific pass-catching ability.

Along with Coleman, the Hokies will have another back known for his speed with Chris Mangus. Standing at 6-0, 180 pounds, Mangus hails from Raleigh, North Carolina, but eventually narrowed down his college choice to the two Virginia ACC schools. Mangus is a three star recruit ranked 30th nationally by Rivals.

The last running back to commit to 2012 class is Drew Harris.  Hailing from Exton, Pennsylvania, Harris is a 6-1 210-pound back who runs with great power and vision. Ranked as the 22nd best running back nationally by Rivals, Harris ran for 28 touchdowns as a junior, and was recruited primarily by running backs coach Shane Beamer.  With two running backs known for their speed, and Harris considered a bruising power back, the Hokies should generate a dynamic rushing attack with a stellar trio of running backs committed.

Photo courtesy Rivals.com