Marty Gordon
Former Virginia Tech guard Sami Hill has been named to Canada’s Olympic roster, the federation announced this week. For Hill, it will be her first Olympics when she heads to Paris later this month to represent her country.
The Canadians will face the hosts France in their first matchup in Group B on July 29 and will also compete against Australia and Nigeria.
Canada Basketball’s senior women’s national team qualified for their fourth consecutive Olympic Games by finishing third in one of four FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournaments this past February. Paris 2024 will be Team Canada’s eighth appearance in the Olympic women’s basketball tournament since it debuted at Montreal 1976.
Canada’s best Olympic result in women’s basketball was a fourth-place finish at Los Angeles 1984. Currently fifth in the FIBA rankings, Canada also finished fourth at the most recent FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2022.
Peebles gains national attention
Newly transferred from Duke, Virginia Tech defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles claimed the ninth spot on Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) list of the top 10 returning interior defensive linemen for the 2024 season. Peebles is the only player in the top-10 who will be playing for a new school in 2024, finishing as one of the nation’s best defensive tackles in pressuring the quarterback last season.
This honor adds to an impressive list of accolades for Peebles, including being named to the 2023 All-ACC First Team by PFF and the 2023 All-ACC Third Team as a defensive tackle. He was also recently featured in On3’s Top 100 Players in College Football, alongside new teammates cornerback Dorian Strong and defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland.
The 290-pound lineman played in 12 games for the Blue Devils last season, making his lone start against No. 11 Notre Dame. In total Peebles registered 40 total tackles, four quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Cross on all-star roster
Former Virginia Tech outfielder Gavin Cross has been selected to the MLB All-Star Futures Game, Major League Baseball announced this week. The number nine pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Cross, who plays in the Royals organization has been playing for the club’s Double-A affiliate, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
In 62 games this season, he’s batting .279 with an OPS of .798. He’s tallied 65 hits, 39 RBI and has eight home runs on the campaign.
The 25th annual showcase will feature 39 members of MLB Pipeline’s recently updated Top 100 Prospects list in a seven-inning game on July 13, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
The All-Star Futures Game features the brightest stars of tomorrow in an annual seven-inning matchup of the game’s top prospects that are nearing the Majors. Many of today’s All-Stars made their first appearances on a Major League stage at the All-Star Futures Game.
In his three seasons at Virginia Tech, Cross tallied 174 hits in 124 games with a .340 batting average.
New assistant coach
Virginia Tech women’s tennis announced the addition of Megan Forster as an assistant coach for the program on Tuesday.
Forster, who played at Colorado and North Florida, comes to Blacksburg after a season-long stint as a women’s tennis student assistant coach and men’s tennis director of operations for the Ospreys.
While in her most recent roles, the London, England native assisted with planning and managing tennis and conditioning sessions, organizing community opportunities, complying with NCAA rules and schedule regulations, marketing and social media outreach and stringing rackets for the women’s program. Furthermore, Forster assisted the men’s program with organizing travel.
ACC leadership
The Atlantic Coast Conference and its Board of Directors have announced the conference leadership structure for the transformative 2024-25 year, which will see the ACC expanded to 18 members with the addition of Cal, SMU and Stanford beginning July 1.
University of Virginia President James E. Ryan will serve as the league’s Chair of the Board of Directors for the second year of his two-year term. He will be joined by Wake Forest University President Susan R. Wente as the Vice-Chair of the league’s Board of Directors, announced by the Board of Directors following the annual winter meetings in February.
