November 8, 2006

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- The Virginia Tech men's basketball program has announced the signing of the first four players of the fall class to national letters of intent for the 2007-08 academic year.

Jeff Allen, a 6-7, 220 lbs. forward from Washington, D.C., Terrell Bell, a 6-6, 195 lbs., wing player from Stone Mountain, Ga., Malcolm Delaney, a 6-3, 170 lbs., guard from Baltimore, Md., and Dorenzo Hudson, a 6-4, 185 lbs., guard from Charlotte, N.C. have signed to play for the Hokies beginning in Fall 2007.

"This is shaping up to be the best class I've ever been associated with," head coach Seth Greenberg said. "We are answering a lot of needs with a very special class that is graduating. Our staff has done an excellent job of identifying and recruiting such an outstanding group of young men.

"I think we'll have depth, strength, and bigger bodies. We'll have guys, that if they continue to work and are as passionate about the game as this last class, have a chance to be one of the best I've ever coached. We are filling out voids; ball-handling, shooting, size, strength and quickness."

Allen was an honorable mention Washington Post All-Metro player as he helped lead DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Md., to the Washington, D.C., Metro championship two seasons ago. He averaged a double-double as a sophomore and a junior, including 11 points and 13 rebounds per game as a junior. At DeMatha, Allen was a teammate of current Hokie Nigel Munson.

Allen played his senior season at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., for head coach Steve Smith, where he averaged 14.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 63.8 percent from the field. Oak Hill was 40-1 overall last season and ranked second nationally by USA Today. The 40 wins was a school record. He is currently playing a post-graduate season at Hargrave Military Academy for head coach Kevin Keatts. He is rated as the #1 prep player in the country by Dave Telep and #88 by Rivals.com.

"Jeff Allen is as talented as any player that has arrived on this campus," Greenberg said. "He's got the size and strength of a power forward, but the skills of a small forward. He's got terrific hands and a feel for the game. He's a winning player with toughness. He's the type of player you need to compete year-in and year-out in the upper echelon of the ACC."

Bell averaged 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds a game during his junior season at Stone Mountain H.S. for coach Eugene Brown. He shot 62.0 percent from the floor and 82.0 percent from the line as a junior. Stone Mountain was 19-7 last season. He received an honorable mention by Street & Smith. He is from the same hometown as current Hokie Coleman Collins.

"Terrell Bell is quick, skilled, extremely athletic and an outstanding passer," Greenberg said. "He reminds me a great deal of Deron Washington at the same stage, although he shoots the ball a little more consistently than Deron at the same stage. He can defend, he's long and has a great work ethic and attitude. He has the potential to be a very special player."

Delaney has been an All-MIAA and All-Baltimore Catholic League selection the last two years at Towson Catholic for coach Josh Pratt. As a junior, he also was named All-Metro after averaging 18.0 points per game, as well as 6.0 rebounds and 2.7 steals. He helped Towson Catholic reach the MIAA A conference championship game as a junior. He is ranked #89 by Rivals.com.

"Malcolm Delaney is my type of guard," Greenberg said. "He can play more than one position. He can play on or off the ball and has one-on-one skills. He's a terrific passer and shoots the ball with range. He's not a point guard; he's not a two guard, he's a ball guard. He's just a good basketball player. He comes from Baltimore and as a comparison, he may have a little Sam Cassell in him."

Hudson will play his senior season at Hargrave along with future teammate Jeff Allen. He was a first team All-Piedmont and second team All-Observer by the Charlotte Observer as a junior. He was the Union County Player of the Year, averaging 21 points per game as a sophomore at Forest Hills High School. He is ranked #51 overall and as the #14 shooting guard in the nation by Scout.com. He is ranked #70 by Sports Illustrated.

"Dorenzo Hudson is the type of wing player that I've always had," Greenberg said. "He just goes out and scores. He can post up, he can come off screens, he gets into the lane. He has a very high 'Basketball IQ'. He is extremely competitive and quick around the basket. He's a very good defender and just a very good all-around player."