2026-27 Men's Basketball Roster
Roster
Christian Gurdak
- Position:
- Center
- Height:
- 6-10
- Weight:
- 265
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Charles Town, W.Va.
- High School:
- Gonzaga College
2025-26 Season at Virginia Tech
- Started 10 of his 31 appearances as a freshman, averaging 17.2 minutes per game
- Recorded 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest, shooting 63.2 percent from the field
- Shot nearly 70 percent from the free-throw line, while tallying double-digit totals in both assists and steals on the season
- Scored in double figures in seven games, to go along with 12 blocks on the year
Notable Performances
- Recorded the first double-double of his career vs. No. 21 Virginia (17 points, 19 rebounds); his 19 boards were the most by any ACC player during the season, coming in a triple-overtime contest in which he played 46 minutes
- Went 4-for-4 from the field vs. Georgia Tech (11 points, 7 rebounds)
- Led the team in plus/minus in three straight games (Louisville, Georgia Tech and Duke)
- Shot 3-for-3 from the field at Miami and 5-for-5 from the field vs. Wake Forest
High School
- Guided Gonzaga College High School, coached by Steve Turner, to the WCAC title game as a senior
- Earned All-WCAC First Team honors in 2024-25
- Played his first two seasons at Paul VI, earning All-WCAC Honorable Mention as a freshman and Second Team honors as a junior
- Member of the GEICO National Championship all-tournament team as a sophomore
- Coached by Jamill Jones and Antoine Gaither on the EYBL circuit with Team Takeover
- Spent five years with Team Takeover, advancing to the Final Four of the 17U Peach Jam in 2024 and winning the 16U Peach Jam in 2022
- Earned Second Team All-Peach Jam honors in 2024
- Consensus four-star recruit per 247Sports
- Rated the No. 114 overall prospect in the 2025 class, No. 18 at his position and No. 5 player in West Virginia per 247Sports
- Ranked the No. 17 player at his position nationally, according to 247Sports
- Rated a three-star recruit by On3, ranked No. 186 nationally and No. 21 at his position
- Committed to Virginia Tech over Notre Dame, Penn State, Clemson, Louisville and Butler
Personal
- Born in Stuttgart, Germany
- Son of Richard and Meredith Gurdak
- Has one brother, Xavier
- Models his game after Nikola Jokic
- Plans to major in Communication or Marketing
- Preferred walk-up song is "Hells Bells" by AC/DC
Coach Pikiell Remarks "Christian brings size, toughness, and a high motor to our frontcourt," said head coach Steve Pikiell. "He's proven he can rebound at a high level in a major conference and plays with great efficiency. We're excited about the experience he brings and the way he competes with every possession."
Player Remarks "It really just felt like a great fit," Gurdak said. "It's a great school, in a great conference. I like the area, and I like New Jersey, but I really like the arena. It's gritty, and I think I can bring physicality and rebounds to Rutgers Nation. When it comes to my play, I am going to be physical, I am going to rebound, I have great touch on the inside, and I love doing the dirty work in the paint. I want to work on stretching the range a little bit and bring the energy that Rutgers needs."
