Video – VCU holds off William & Mary

RICHMOND, Va. – Darius Theus, the 20th-ranked point guard in the country and one of the most diverse talents in the state, according to Scouts Inc., inked a letter of intent to join the Virginia Commonwealth University men’s basketball team next season.

Theus is the first official signee by new VCU Head Coach Smaka Smart and his staff.

“I’m extremely excited about the addition of Darius to our team,” Smart said. “He fits very well not only as a player, but more importantly as a person with the other student-athletes in our program.”

A combo guard from Portsmouth, Va. will help fill a void left at the point guard spot after the departure of senior Eric Maynor, VCU’s all-time leader in points and assists.

“On the court, he is a multi-dimensional player that possesses the ability to affect the game with or without the ball in his hands,” Smart added. “Adding Darius addresses a specific need in our program in providing backcourt depth.”

Arguably the top unsigned talent left in the Commonwealth, Theus is a 6-4, 175-pound guard out of I.C. Norcom High School. Averaging 17.2 points, 6.2 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game for the Greyhounds, Theus earned a spot on the All-Tidewater Second Team the past two seasons.

Regarded as one of the best floor leaders in the class of 2009, Theus has received praise for his ability to think one play ahead of everyone else and is said to have an excellent basketball IQ.

From Scouts Inc.:
“Darius’ decision-making, passing ability and excellent ball skills allow him to play in a variety of late game situations particularly in two man games. With a good balance of confidence and basketball IQ, he rarely plays out of control. He is a good on the ball defender because of his quick hands and his ability to keep smaller guards in front. He

gets a lot of deflections via great anticipation.”

Theus chose VCU after being heavily recruited by PAC-10 power Washington State, Liberty, Duquesne and East Carolina, among others.