Dorian Finney-Smith to Virginia Tech, Does He Hold The Key to the Hokies' Future?

Seth Greenberg took over the head coaching job at Virginia Tech in 2003, but believe it or not, the Hokies have made just one NCAA Tournament in that time frame, that coming in 2007. That 2007 appearance, in addition to one other NCAA Tournament appearance in 1996, have been the only two such trips to the Big Dance the program has seen since 1986.

Call it poor scheduling or lack of quality wins or just sheer dumb luck, but it has seemed that Virginia Tech has been on the bubble, but not in the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons. Since that 2007 NCAA Tournament appearance, the Hokies have a combined 65 wins, including 25 of them last year, but no trips to the Big Dance to stand by.

Malcolm Delaney is back for the Hokies this season and is joined by Jeff Allen and Dorenzo Hudson in a quest to get over that hump and into the NCAA Tournament. The loss of J.T. Thompson to a knee injury is tough for a Hokies' team returning much of its talent in 2010-2011, but this team will live or die through Delaney.

The feeling of being so close, but not there yet has been Virginia Tech basketball over the course of the past few seasons. This past week, Seth Greenberg received some great news into what could ultimately help guide the Virginia Tech basketball program over the hump.

Virginia Tech received the verbal commitment of ESPNU Top 100 prospect Dorian Finney-Smith on Tuesday. Finney-Smith is the highest-rated prospect to commit to VT since Greenberg has taken over, and Hokie fans have to like what they see in the future Virginia Tech star.

Virginia Tech has the talent to get into the NCAA Tournament this upcoming season. Malcolm Delaney is one of the top point guards, not only in the ACC, but in the country, and Seth Greenberg will have his teammates working around him the best way possible.

Looking forward to 2011, Dorian Finney-Smith will be a Hokie and will likely be the center of attention for Seth Greenberg's team despite his youth. Rated as the 15th best prospect in the class of 2011 by ESPNU, Finney-Smith has a huge upside as a 6'7" small forward whose versatility allows him to play inside and outside when needed.

The Portsmouth, Virginia, native attends Norcom High School and his decision to remain in-state and with the Hokies gives VT fans a bright hope for the future.

Finney-Smith joins the likes of Marquis Rankin, C.J. Barksdale, and Robert Brown in the class of 2011 for Virginia Tech thus far. The combination of the four incoming freshmen next season might just be giving the Hokies their top class in Seth Greenberg's era as head coach. Finney-Smith, Rankin, and Barksdale are all natives of the state of Virginia. 

The decision to play his collegiate career at Virginia Tech was one decided upon after consideration from Florida, Virginia, Old Dominion, and Wake Forest, among others. Hokie fans should be very excited to hear Finney-Smith decided to call VT home for the future. 

Delaney has the talent to guide this team this upcoming season, but the future may be bright for Greenberg and Co. in 2011 as well, and Dorian Finney-Smith might be the key and center of attention for Virginia Tech basketball in the near future.

This article was originally featured on The Arena Pulse