Cordell Pemsl

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Cordell Pemsl is bringing size and rebounding to Virginia Tech — both of which are in big demand.

Pemsl, a 6-foot-9, 248-pound power forward from the University of Iowa, announced his intent to transfer to Virginia Tech on Monday after more than two weeks of being in the transfer portal.

The fourth-year junior forward averaged 2.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game last season for the Hawkeyes. He averaged 8.9 and 5.0 as a freshman, when he started in 14 games. Pemsl sat out most of the 2018-19 season after having knee surgery and returned to play in 28 games off the bench for Iowa this past winter.

Pemsl gives Virginia Tech coach Mike Young five signees for his 2020 class. The group also includes a grad transfer at point guard from Kansas State in Cartier Diarra. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 13.3 points and 4.2 assists last season in 32 games (27 starts).

The Hokies went 16-16 overall and 7-13 in the Atlantic Coast Conference last season.

Pemsl was a three-star recruit coming out of Dubuque Wahlert, where he was named first-team all-state three times and won a pair of state titles (2014, 2015).