Hunter Cattoor set to return Wednesday night in Virginia Tech vs. Virginia rivalry showdown

The Virginia Tech Hokies are getting one of the best shooters in school history back on the floor, just in time for one of their biggest games of the season. Sharpshooter Hunter Cattoor will return to the lineup tonight in the Hokies matchup vs. Virginia, the Virginia Tech Twitter account announced on Wednesday evening. He’s been sidelined since suffering a concussion in the Virginia Tech-Clemson game.

Cattoor practiced yesterday and has been officially cleared to play Wednesday evening, according to Mike Barber of the Richmond Times Dispatch. He cleared concussion protocol. The game will be nationally televised on ESPNU and is set to begin at 7 p.m. EST. Virginia Tech currently sits at 10-6 overall on the 2023-2024 campaign, and they’re traveling to John Paul Jones Arena to test the Cavaliers’ 19-game unbeaten streak at home.

With Cattoor out of the lineup, Sean Pedulla poured in more than 30 points in the Hokies last two games.

Cattoor has had a highly decorated career with the Virginia Tech Hokies, establishing himself as one of the best shooters in school history. He broke the school record for most three pointers in a career against Boise State, when he drilled his 268th three-pointer. Cattoor broke the record previously held by A.D. Vassallo, who played for Virginia Tech from 2005 to 2009. He hit five three-pointers in the game, pushing his total to 270 during his five years with the Hokies.

In the 2022 campaign, Cattoor led the ACC in three-point field goal percentage (42.4%), connecting on 78 of 184 threes. He also became the 50th member of the 1,000-point club for the Hokies (in the Miami game on Feb. 21). Cattoor also fractured the radius in his left elbow against Boston College–forcing him to miss four games.

In the 2021-2022 campaign, Cattoor had a breakout season for the Hokies, starting in all 36 games. He went ballistic in the ACC Championship Game against the Duke Blue Devils, erupting for 31 points in lifting Virginia Tech to their first ever ACC Tournament Championship. The sharpshooter drilled seven three pointers in the championship game, tying J.J. Redick for the second-most in the ACC Championship game in ACC history. Cattoor brought home the Everett Case Award–given to the ACC Tournament MVP.

Cattoor also tied the single-game school record for the most three-pointers made in a game that season, drilling nine threes and scoring 27 points against Florida State.