The Virginia Tech Hokies basketball program made a significant addition to its 2025–26 roster with the commitment of German center Antonio Dorn. Head coach Mike Young continues to bolster the team’s lineup with impactful new players, and the announcement of Dorn’s commitment on Saturday morning, first reported by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, adds both size and international experience to the Hokies’ frontcourt.
Standing at 7 feet tall, Dorn brings a unique blend of size, skill, and international playing experience to the Hokies. The 21-year-old, who will turn 22 in May, spent the past two seasons competing in Germany’s second-tier professional basketball league. In his most recent season overseas, Dorn posted solid numbers, averaging 9.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in just 18 minutes of playing time per game. These figures marked a significant improvement from the previous year, as he managed to double both his scoring and rebounding averages. His development trajectory suggests that he is a player on the rise, and the Hokies are optimistic he’ll continue to grow within the program.
Despite his professional background in Germany, Dorn will arrive in Blacksburg as a freshman with full NCAA eligibility. His commitment represents a key piece of Virginia Tech’s ongoing efforts to reshape its roster this offseason. He becomes the third new addition for the Hokies this spring, joining transfer forward Amani Hansberry from West Virginia and guard Izaiah Pasha from Delaware. These signings reflect Coach Young’s strategy of mixing experience from the transfer portal with emerging talent, aiming to create a more balanced and competitive team next season.
In addition to the trio of spring additions, the Hokies also signed two prospects from the 2025 high school recruiting class: center Christian Gurdak and versatile guard/forward Sin’Cere Jones. Dorn will join Gurdak in anchoring the team’s frontcourt, helping fill a major void left by last season’s roster changes.
Last season, Virginia Tech had limited options at the center position. Patrick Wessler, the only traditional center on the roster, has since entered the NCAA transfer portal, leaving the Hokies in need of more size and interior presence. While forwards Mylyjael Poteat and Tobi Lawal carried much of the workload in the frontcourt, neither brought the size and natural rim protection of a true 7-footer like Dorn. With Dorn and Gurdak both in the mix, Virginia Tech will have more depth and flexibility in the paint moving forward.
Following Dorn’s commitment, Virginia Tech now has nine players on scholarship for the upcoming season. NCAA rules allow for a maximum of 13 scholarship players, so Coach Young still has six slots available to use. Although it is uncertain whether all of them will be filled, it’s clear that the Hokies aren’t finished adding to the roster. Young has been strategic in his approach, blending transfers, international talent, and incoming freshmen to craft a team capable of competing in a challenging ACC landscape.
Dorn’s commitment brings both optimism and intrigue to Hokie Nation. His size, international experience, and steady improvement suggest he could make an immediate impact, whether as a contributor off the bench or eventually earning a starting role. For a team seeking more consistency in the frontcourt, Dorn could be an essential piece of the puzzle.
As the Hokies prepare for next season, the addition of Antonio Dorn gives fans and coaches alike reason to be excited. The combination of international experience and untapped potential makes him one of the more intriguing prospects to join Virginia Tech in recent years.
Welcome to Blacksburg, Antonio.
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