Hokies Dorian Finney-Smith Seeks Transfer

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Forward Dorian Finney-Smith, Virginia Tech's highest-rated recruit in recent program history, will seek a transfer after just one season with the school.

Finney-Smith's mother, Desiree Finney, requested her son's release in a meeting with Tom Gabbard, Virginia Tech associate athletic director in charge of basketball, and coach James Johnson.

Finney-Smith, an ACC all-freshman team member in 2012, averaged 6.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in his freshman season. He started 30 of 33 games, averaging 29.0 minutes per game. ESPNU ranked him No. 18 overall in the class of 2011, and No. 4 at the small forward position.

The decision comes just two weeks after Virginia Tech fired former coach Seth Greenberg and hired former Tech assistant coach Johnson -- who left the program in April to take a similar position at Clemson -- to fill the vacancy. In his May 1 announcement press conference, Hokies athletic director Jim Weaver cited "continuity" as one of the reasons for the hire.

Per the NCAA's transfer rules, Finney-Smith will request permission from the Hokies athletic department to contact a list of interested schools. Gabbard told the Daily Press that Virginia Tech will grant a release to any school "not in direct competition" with the Hokies.