(WAVY) – Surrounded by family and flanked by four hats representing four different universities, Thomas Wilder was ready to announce where he intends to attend college.

A four-star offensive tackle from Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Wilder narrowed his choices to Maryland, Penn State, UNC and Virginia Tech.

In the end, it was the Hokies that landed the prize recruit after a multi-year courtship.

“The relationship has been great since I was 13 or 14,” Wilder said. “It seems like they really care about me.”

Assistant coach Fontel Mines was Wilder’s primary recruiter and has opened up a Green Run to Blacksburg pipeline of players including wide receivers Brodie Adams and Jayden Anderson and defensive linemen Zeke Chinwike and Kamren Johnson and DB Knahlij Harrell.

Hokies head coach Brent Pry has been trying to do a better job of recruiting in Hampton Roads, something that seemed to be missing during Justin Fuente’s run as Virginia Tech head coach.

“Coach Pry speaks highly of our program,” Green Run coach Brandon Williams said. “I love what he’s doing at Virginia Tech with the recruitment, he’s bringing it back to when I was in high school and all the 757 kids were going to Virginia Tech.”

Wilder is between 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-7, depending on what recruiting profile you look up, and according to 247 Sports, he’s the 30th ranked offensive lineman in the country.

But Hokies fans will have to be patient, Thomas Wilder still has his senior year of high school remaining.

“Unfinished business,” Wilder said. “We’re looking to get that state championship.”