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Shaka Smart is continuing his torrid pace on the recruiting trail racking up his 3rd commitment for the 2011 recruiting class. 6′4, 200 pound wing Treveon Graham out of Bowie, Maryland pledged to the Rams a couple of days ago over offers from Northeastern and Cleveland State as well as interest from Cincinnati, Clemson, Marshall, and fellow CAA-member George Mason. Graham was a hot summer target for the VCU coaching staff and was the #1 target during the July recruiting period.

After playing on the Junior Varsity squad as a sophomore, he helped spur a resurgence in the St. Mary’s Ryken High School program that has seen little success in the past playing in one of the deepest high school leagues in the nation. The WCAC (Washington Catholic Athletic Conference) boasts such national high school programs as DeMatha, Gonzaga, Bishop McNamara, Bishop O’Connell, St. John’s, and Archbishop Carroll High School. St. Mary’s Ryken is a relatively diminutive program by WCAC standards, but Graham made the daily 60-mile trek from his home in Bowie to Leonardstown, MD to play for the Knights. After moving up from the JV squad last season, Graham exploded onto the scene averaging 18.3 ppg and 10.4 rebounds a game (the first Knights’ player to average a double-double since West Virginia’s John Flowers). His efforts helped the Knights’ reach school-records with 18 overall wins as well as 10 conference wins in the WCAC. His impact was well-noted by those on the DC hoops scene as he garnered first-team WCAC honors and honorable mention All-Met honors as a junior.

On the AAU circuit, Treveon joined Michael Beasley’s Triple Threat AAU program and turned heads, being named the Most Outstanding Prospect at Hoop Group Elite Camp Session 2 as well as the Bob Gibbons All-Tournament team (he averaged 20.3 ppg during the event). While he is not known on the national level as much as he is locally, he’s got plenty of game and should turn more heads during his senior campaign. St. Mary’s Ryken Head Coach Dave Tallman agrees:

“He’s very excited about VCU,” said Dave Tallman, Graham’s high school coach. “He’s a special player. He’s a scorer. Anything from 15-feet in is like a lay-up for him. He was our best 3-point shooter last season.

Tallman said Graham had offers from Northeastern and Delaware and that Clemson, Boston College and Cincinnati had started recruiting him. “The fact that VCU has had two first-round NBA picks the past two years didn’t hurt,” Tallman said.

(photo via www.thebaynet.com)

In a recent interview with Scout.com’s Dave Telep, Treveon’s mother Katrina agreed with the coaching staff’s (especially Assistant Michael Jones’) persistence as being a big factor in Graham’s commitment:

“They came in early,” Graham said. “They showed more interest than anyone and to me and my son, we felt that my son was a priority to them. VCU always considered him their No. 1 recruit. My son is shy and they made him feel comfortable.

VCU committed a lot of summer resources on Graham as one member of the staff was in attendance every game he played in July. “They’ve been to practically all of his games this summer. They’ve been recruiting him hard. The other schools, we heard from them here and there. We felt that they really, really wanted him.”

Treveon Graham joins combo guards Pierria’ Henry and Briante Weber in the 2011 recruiting class. VCU has 1 more scholarship to give and will likely target a big man either through the JUCO or high school ranks. Congratulations to Coach Shaka Smart and the VCU coaching staff and a hearty welcome on behalf of the Ram Nation to Treveon Graham!