Virginia Tech hoops dismisses key transfer amid gambling probe into former team

A Virginia Tech basketball player has been dismissed amid an investigation into unusual gambling on a game from last season involving his former team.

Hysier Miller, a transfer, was Temple’s leading scorer last season. He averaged 15.9 points and 4 assists per game.

Virginia Tech released a statement confirming that Miller has been permanently released from the team “due to circumstances prior to his enrollment.”

According to Sports Illustrated, the Owls have been at the center of an investigation that began after their game against UAB on March 7 was flagged by a gambling watchdog company, U.S. Integrity, for an unusual fluctuation in the point spread in the hours before the game.

The game line saw rapid movement in the hours leading up to tip, moving from UAB as a 1.5-point favorite at the beginning of the day to an 8-point spread by mid-afternoon. The Blazers went on to crush the Owls on the road,100–72.

Miller scored eight points in the game and committed three turnovers.

A source told SI in March that U.S. Integrity had been monitoring Temple games for some time.

Virginia Tech’s athletics posted a rundown of the Hokies’ guard situation heading into the season on Oct. 18, which didn’t mention Miller. His omission was notable since he was expected to be a major contributor in the Hokies back court.

Tech went 19-15 last season before losing to Ohio State in the second round of the NIT. The Hokies were picked to finish 14th in the ACC preseason poll released on Oct. 15.