Neoklis Avdalas: The Greek Conundrum
Examining Neoklis Avdalas's start at Virginia Tech, breaking down his prior production, playmaking, offense, defense, his potential place in the 2026 NBA Draft, and more.
The discussion of Neoklis Avdalas’s genius begins with his passing. At 6’8, Avdalas checks nearly all the boxes needed to be the ideal playmaker:
height to survey the entire floor
frame to absorb contact and protect his handle
pace; can process the floor without getting sped up
elite processing; the game has slowed down for him
This amalgamation of tangible and intangible tools makes Avdalas one of the best playmakers in college basketball…and in the entire 2026 NBA Draft.
Passing
Avdalas makes it clear he’s in the upper echelon of playmakers with his manipulative passing, a skill set only unlocked by those who can process the game at the highest level. As highlighted below, the game has slowed down for Avdalas to such an extent that he is able to read and influence primary and secondary defenders with just his head and eyes.
Avdalas uses his eyes to convince defenders he is planning on passing to a specific player, forcing defenses to react, allowing Avdalas to take advantage of new openings caused by poorly informed rotations.
There isn’t a pass Avdalas can’t make, but he does have limited ambidexterity, logging 18 double-handed assists, nine right-handed assists, and zero left-handed assists. While not a significant factor, dual-handed passing would unlock even greater playmaking potential.
Being a skilled passer is only half the battle, though. Where Avdalas really sets himself apart is his combination of creative playmaking and turnover aversion. He makes and creates the right reads, while avoiding the wrong ones, with a stunning 5.80 assist/turnover ratio (29/5). While due for some regression, it’s certainly not a fluke, having posted a 3.38 assist/turnover ratio last summer across seven FIBA U20 games.
Avdalas’s playmaking, especially in transition, has immediately raised the offensive floor for this Virginia Tech team. He can turn defensive rebounds into transition opportunities and is constantly looking to push the ball up the floor. Avdalas has logged 24/29 assists in the first 15 seconds of the shot clock, naturally increasing the pace for the Hokies and revitalizing their offensive identity. But don’t just take it from me. Virginia Tech ended last season ranked #272 in pace at 66.2. Through the start of this season, they are ranked #69 at a pace of 73.3, along with a 9.1 increase in possessions per game.
Offense
Avdalas’s offensive responsibility revolves around being the primary pick-and-roll ball handler. Through Virginia Tech’s opening stretch, Avdalas has attempted 29 shots as a pick-and-roll ball handler. His next-highest play type in terms of attempts is just eight, for both spot-up shooting and isolation.
Avdalas operates the pick-and-roll with supreme pace, oftentimes engaging multiple defenders, opening up scoring opportunities for himself and teammates. He is particularly adept at using screens to snake through defenses and putting defenders on his back, thriving in Gortat screen scenarios. He rarely gets sped up by defenders, thus completely dictating the speed of the game.
Visually, it looks as if Avdalas is walking through the heart of the defense, changing speeds when necessary to trap defenders and using hesitation moves to throw off their timing.
The Inverse of this visually charming playstyle is that Avdalas actually needs the pick-and-roll to create for himself, struggling to handle pestering defenders without a screen to alleviate the pressure. With a fairly basic handle, he struggles to create separation or turn the corner against perimeter defenders without the help of a screen. His limited self-creation creates a reliance on a difficult diet of stepbacks. While virtually unguardable and a solid counter, it will be difficult for Avdalas to reach ideal efficiency if those looks are a large portion of his shot selection.
Avdalas could improve his on-ball screen navigation by being more intentional in maximizing the advantages he creates. He often leaves a sizeable gap between himself and the screener, making it easier for his defender to stay attached and limiting the overall effectiveness of the screen.
In order for Avdalas to secure his future as a ball-dominant playmaker, he must prove he can be an efficient multi-level scorer, especially out of the pick-and-roll, something he has struggled to do thus far.
Peristeri B.C (29 Games) Total 3PT% - 27/81 = 33.3% Total 2PT% - 54/116 = 46.6% - PnR 3’s 6/20 = 30% - PnR 2’s 9/29 = 31% Fiba U20 (7 Games) Total 3PT% - 11/36 = 30.6% Total 2PT% - 21/45 = 46.7% - PnR 3’s 5/15 = 33.3% - PnR 2’s 10/15 = 66.7% Virginia Tech (5 Games) Total 3PT% - 9/27 = 33.3% Total 2PT% - 19/39 = 48.7% - PnR 3’s 2/10 = 20% - PnR 2’s 9/19 = 47.4%
Obviously, his Virginia Tech sample size is tiny and should be taken with a grain of salt. However, his lackluster efficiency overall, with sub 41% EFG in three of five games (26.9%, 28.6%, 40.9%), and a slow start from beyond the arc as a pick-and-roll ball-handler, will be worth monitoring as the season progresses. It isn’t all bad news, though, with Avdalas also putting together two blisteringly efficient outings with EFGs of 58.3% and 67.4%.
In terms of understanding his shooting projections, it should be noted that Avdalas has struggled to be a consistent free-throw shooter.
Peristeri B.C - FT% - 72.2% (39/54) FIBA U20 - FT% - 65.7% (23/35) Virginia Tech - FT% - 64.7% (11/17)
Getting Downhill
Avdalas is at his best when he can pressure the rim, both in transition and in the halfcourt, but he hasn’t done it consistently this season. He’s shooting 9/12 at the rim so far, with seven attempts coming during his 33-point explosion against Providence, further highlighting that positive things happen when Avdalas gets downhill.
Avdalas being a threat to attack the rim is crucial for creating advantageous spacing for the rest of his offensive skill set.
Off-Ball Offense
Virginia Tech has been intentional in Avdalas having an off-ball role, generating him 2.4 catch-and-shoot three-point opportunities a game. He has cashed in on those looks, shooting 6/12. While the sample size is not meaningful, discrepancies in Avdalas’s efficiency as an on-ball vs. off-ball shooter will be crucial in projecting how his skill set translates to the next level.
While his off-ball shooting numbers have been positive, Avdalas can fall into lapses of laziness, where he isn’t in a “ready to shoot” position, standing upright without his hands or feet prepared. While not a sustainable practice, his coordinated and quick shooting mechanics have made up for it so far.
Given that Avdalas is often initiating the break in transition or running the halfcourt offense, there are not many opportunities for him to shine as a play finisher in transition or as a cutter—which had been his two most efficient play types in his final season with Peristeri.
Defense
Despite a large frame and broad shoulders, Avdalas has impressive quickness sliding laterally when he chooses to accept the challenge of being a point of attack defender, and can single-handedly stymie driving attempts. When he does get beaten off the dribble, he immediately flips his hips and is able to recover with long strides, quick feet, and active hands.
My favorite aspect of Avdalas’s defensive skill set is his screen navigation. He has a strong understanding of angles and instinctively anticipates screens, allowing himself the time to proactively react, rarely getting blindsided by them. He often dips his shoulder and gets “skinny” slipping between the screener and ball-handler. His screen navigation is ultimately headlined by his persistence. Most players accept the screen, but Avdalas challenges it, forcing the ball-handler to use the screen to its utmost potential.
Avdalas has showcased elite body control with several high degree of difficulty blocks. Doing an excellent job of controlling his momentum and stretching out for the block without making body-to-body contact. The first block in the video below is particularly noteworthy. Avdalas misses the go-ahead three with 1:34 left in the fourth quarter, and is the first player back on defense, putting up a difficult contest on the transition driver. Side note, he essentially doesn’t commit fouls, racking up only six in five games.
When Avdalas is fully engaged defensively, he is disruptive, with a clear focus on the details needed to be a great on and off-ball defender. However, given Avdalas’s quick feet and length, he has developed some poor defensive habits—mainly a tendency to stand in a stiff and aggressively upright defensive stance. That is something that will be tested as Virginia Tech faces stronger competition. His motor ebbs and flows; if he isn’t overtly involved in a defensive possession, he has a knack for standing still and ball-watching, even if he is in a position to provide additional defensive pressure. Avdalas can struggle to change direction, and offensive players have had success initiating physicality and driving through his chest.
While Avdalas has exciting tools and falls under an intriguing, yet risky archetype, it will be interesting to monitor how he reacts to more competitive competition, given that he really hasn’t been tested yet, playing just one Top 100 team.
My excitement for Avdalas is less rooted in his collegiate production and has greater emphasis on his tools. While a potentially irresponsible outlook, I’m enamored with his mix of size, pace, defense, playmaking, and flashes of offensive production, a combination that is simply hard to come by. Avdalas seeks out high-pressure moments and plays with an obvious confidence, two traits I believe are the most underrated in the long-term development of players and positive indicators for his future success.
It’s worth noting that Avdalas is older than 8/14 of last year’s NBA draft lottery; despite the “freshman” label, he will be 20 years old on draft day. While not an indictment on Avdalas as a prospect, it is a data point to factor in when comparing him to the rest of the 2026 draft class.
Great insights on Avdalas. VT scored when they got him.