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Countdown to Tipoff: Virginia Tech Hokies

James Johnson, Virginia Tech Head Coach

James Johnson begins his first season as Virginia Tech's head men's basketball coach ... No stranger to the Hokie Nation, Johnson spent the last five seasons on the men's basketball staff at Virginia Tech. He was an assistant coach from 2007-11 before being promoted to associate head coach prior to last season. He had accepted an assistant coaches' position at Clemson on April 13, 2012 but returned to Blacksburg to take over the reins of the men's basketball program ... Johnson joined the Hokies following two seasons as an assistant at George Mason. While at Mason, he focused on organizing the team's defensive efforts in practice and games. The Patriots were a combined 45-23 in his two seasons and advanced to the 2006 NCAA Final Four. Before GMU, Johnson spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Penn State. He was the recruitment coordinator for the Nittany Lions. Prior to Penn State, Johnson had a one-year stint as an assistant at the College of Charleston and he spent two years as an assistant at Elon ... Johnson, a native of Powhatan, Va., was a four-year player and three-year starter at Ferrum College. A three-time Defensive Player of the Year, he helped guide his team to two conference championships and a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. He was also voted his team's Most Valuable Player in 1993. In 2001, Johnson was selected as one of the Top 10 players in Ferrum basketball history. In September of 2009, Johnson was elected into the Ferrum College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Returning players

Erick Green, Sr., Guard
Earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2012 after leading the Hokies in scoring (15.6), assists (2.8), steals (1.3) and minutes played (34.6) ... a two-year starter ... played in 31 of the team's 33 games with 30 starts and led the team in scoring 18 times ... shot .438 percent from the floor and .828 percent from the free-throw line ... has scored in double figures in 46 of his last 51 games … finished seventh in the ACC in scoring and along with Miami's Durand Scott was one of two ACC players in 2012 to lead his team in both scoring and assists ... over the last two years has a 2.30:1 assists-to-turnover ratio (194 assists; 84 turnovers).

Jarell Eddie, Jr., Guard/Forward
Started 32 games as a sophomore in 2012, averaging 9.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game ... was third in the ACC in per-game scoring improvement (+6.2 ppg) after averaging 2.9 points per game as a freshman in 2011 ... ranked third on the team in scoring and led the Hokies in scoring on four occasions … shot .443 from the behind the arc and .868 from the free throw line ... scored in double figures 14 times a year ago, including a career-high 24 points against Norfolk State (D11) ... made at least one 3-pointer in 27 of his 32 games.

Robert Brown, So., Guard
Played in all 33 games a year ago, making four starts ... finished fifth on the team and seventh among ACC freshmen in scoring at 6.8 points per game ... led the team in scoring three times, including a 16-point, 6-rebound performance in the season finale against Duke in the ACC Tournament ... was second on the team and fifth among ACC freshmen in assists per game (1.9).

Cadarian Raines, Jr., Forward
Averaged 5.9 points and 3.9 rebounds, while shooting .516 percent from the floor … played in all 33 games for the Hokies in 2012, making nine starts, eight in a row to end the season ... led the team with 25 blocked shots and added 23 steals as well … scored in double figures in four of the final eight games of the season ... averaged 10.1 points and 4.6 rebounds over that span

C.J. Barksdale, So., Forward
Played in 32 games as a freshman in 2012, making one start (Boston College, F12) ... averaged 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game ... scored five or more points nine times ... shot .417 from the floor and .750 from the free throw line.

Marquis Rankin, So., Guard
Averaged 2.5 points, 1.1 assists and 1.1 rebounds as a freshman in 2012 ... appeared in 24 games, making six starts, including four in a row in early February ... made 9-of-23 (.391) from beyond the 3-point arc … had 27 assists and 10 steals.