In what has become a theme in recent seasons, the Virginia Tech Hokies men’s basketball team loses a projected starting guard just ahead of the new season. On Wednesday, Virginia Tech announced that transfer guard Hysier Miller was no longer in the program.

Here’s the statement:

Temple transfer point guard Hysier Miller has been permanently released from the Virginia Tech men’s basketball program due to circumstances prior to his enrollment at Virginia Tech. There will be no further comment by the university on this matter.

According to Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated, Miller’s departure is related to a gambling probe at Temple University. You can read more of Forde’s report here.

A native of Philadelphia, Miller averaged 15.9 points, 4.0 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game in 2023-24. While Temple struggled last season, the Owls went on a miraculous run in the AAC Tournament, where Miller averaged almost 28 points per game in five games.

This is another tough blow for head coach Mike Young before the season. One year ago, rising sophomore guard Rodney Rice quit the team just before the first game. Rice is now at Maryland. In 2020, Kansas State transfer guard Carter Diarra opted out of that season.

Miller’s absence means sophomore Brandon Rechsteiner and true freshman Ben Hammond will likely be Virginia Tech’s starting point guard. Rechsteiner appeared in 26 games as a freshman last season as Sean Pedulla’s backup and averaged 1.8 points per game.