Virginia Basketball has an ACC top-5 newcomer in forward Austin Nichols

With the loss of Anthony Gill and Mike Tobey, Virginia will be looking for some immediate help from its big guys, both from its veterans and from its newcomers. Luckily for the Hoos, they’ll get both this year in the junior transfer from Memphis Austin Nichols, who sat out last year due to NCAA transfer restrictions.

During the 2014-2015 season with the Tigers, Nichols averaged 13.4 points and 3.4 blocks per game (the latter good for third nationally). He started 60 of 61 games at Memphis and, during just two years there, already climbed up to No. 5 in their all time career blocks list.

Jeff Fischel of the ACC Digital Network ranks the 6’9” Nichols as the No. 3 newcomer in the ACC, behind Duke’s Harry Giles and NC State’s Dennis Smith, both of whom are returning from a torn ACL.

See the full top five below: