RICHMOND, Va. – In less than 17 months on the job, Virginia Commonwealth University men’s basketball Head Coach Shaka Smart has tallied 27 wins and brought in one of the most highly-touted recruiting classes in years.

For his outstanding work and dedication to excellence, Smart was granted a two-year extension by VCU’s Director of Athletics Norwood Teague.

“The job Coach Smart and his staff has done in a short period of time is remarkable,” Teague said. “In just over a year, they’ve had 27 wins in their first season and done just an unbelievable job on the recruiting trail. We’re fortunate to be able to have this group of men leading our program and look forward to many more years together.”

“I’m extremely appreciative to the support shown to my wife and I by Dr. Rao, Norwood Teague and the entire VCU community,” Smart commented. “I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to coach and mentor such a fine group of young men and I couldn’t be more excited about our future as a program.”

In his first season, Smart led the Black & Gold to a 27-9 record, one win shy of the school record. The win total was also the highest in the nation among first year head coaches at the Division I level. The Rams reached the postseason for the fifth straight year and brought home with the College Basketball Invitational Championship, thanks to a perfect 5-0 mark. Four of those victories came against teams with at least 20 wins.

Off the court, the Madison, Wisc. native signed in one of the nation’s top “mid-major” recruiting classes, according to numerous scouting websites, including ESPN.com and Scout.com. All six newcomers for the Black & Gold were receiving attention from high-major schools before signing on to join Smart and the Rams.

Smart will be looking to add to his win total when VCU opens its 2010-11 regular season on Nov. 12 against the Spartans of UNC Greensboro at the Verizon Wireless Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

2010-11 MEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Season tickets for the 2010-11 VCU Men’s Basketball season are on sale now. Today is the perfect time to secure your seats! This season the men’s team will have 15 home games. Highlighting the home schedule are games against VMI, Tulane, George Mason, Old Dominion, and James Madison.

New this season – the Swaders Family Season Ticket Plan! This package includes two adult and two youth tickets to every home game – for the low price of $300! In addition, all Young Alumni receive a 50% discount off the regular price after joining the Ram Athletic Fund. For your convenience, a payment plan option is available to break up the total cost over four months.

Don’t miss out on all the great action at the Verizon Wireless Arena at the Siegel Center this year!

2010-11 Season Ticket Pricing
Reserved Season Ticket: $215
Faculty/Staff Ticket Package: $195
Baseline Ticket Package: $165
Young Alumni: $107.50*
NEW – Swaders Family Season Ticket Plan: $300
NEW – VIP Floor Season Ticket Plan: $500

***Season ticket renewals will be sent out the week of July 12.

Mini Plan packages will go on sale in September once the schedule is finalized. Single game tickets will go on sale on Monday, Oct. 18.

*Young Alumni receive 50% off regular price when joining the Ram Athletic Fund.

For more information on VCU Men’s Basketball Season Tickets, click here or contact the VCU Ticket Office at (804) 828-7267

AP

Sanders struggled in his first game going just 4-15 from the field but bounced back in a major way, just a rebound shy of a double-double and even hit 2-of-3 long range shots including what seemed to be an overtime forcing tre with 0.7 left in regulation.

Unfortunately for the Bucks the refs are currently in Summer League mode as well, as Sam Young sank a three pointer post-buzzer that was counted as the game winning bucket for the Grizzles.

Sanders added two assists, a steal, and cut his turnovers in half from yesterday’s 6 against the Dallas Mavericks. LS8 looked much more relaxed in tonight’s outing, hitting 9-of-14 shots from the field, most of which were of the jump shot variety but did manage to sneak in his first dunk of Summer League play.

The Bucks move to 0-2 and will next face the Atlanta Hawks this Wednesday at 8:30PM.

All Summer League games are shown on NBA TV.

Averaging 17 points, eight rebounds, and five assists as a senior this past season, Weber, young for his class, will play one prep season at Fork Union before joining the Rams in 2011.

Weber, a Southern District Player of the Year, was courted by the likes of UVA, Marshall, Creighton and CAA rival Old Dominion.

ESPN compares Weber to a Rajon Rondo type, a long armed player who uses his defense to set up offensive opportunities.

Weber joins 6’4 West Virginia product Pierria Henry as the only commitment for the 2011 class after 6’6 forward Kasey Wilson reopened his recruitment this past month.

The verdict is in: VCU has the CAA’s top class this year.  Recruiting guru Jerry Meyers at Rivals.com has 6’10 big man Juvonte Reddic as the CAA’s top recruit; he just missed the cut for the Rivals 150 and was the first one out according to Meyers. The reclassification of Vanderbilt-signee James Siakam from 2011 to 2010 bumped Reddic off a spot in the top 150, which Brian Rivals at Rivals.com said Reddic would be in strong consideration for in his write-up on Reddic’s commitment:

On the strength of his senior year, Reddic will earn definite consideration for a Rivals150 ranking when they are updated after the season.

Reddic seems to be the headliner of the class having committed to VCU over final offers from Maryland, Oklahoma, and Mississippi with an early offer from Georgetown as well. Reddic will be the CAA’s top recruit when Rivals does its conference recruiting breakdown in the coming days.

Though Reddic did not crack the Rivals150 as many anticipated, it was not all bad as the updates brought good news regarding the rest of the class. Darrell Haley, Rob Brandenberg, and Toby Veal were all unranked prospects prior to the update and have now joined Reddic and 6’7 wing Reco McCarter as 3-star recruits! That gives VCU a 5-man 3-star class, the same number of 3-stars as the rest of the CAA combined. While star rankings mean about as much as the paper they are printed on, it is nice to see those involved in recruiting give such respect to the class Head Coach Shaka Smart has assembled.

Scout.com has also updated their recruiting rankings and while Reco McCarter was the CAA’s only Scout 3-star recruit (#38 SF) prior to the spring signing period, things changed in the latest update as Juvonte Reddic joined McCarter as a 3-star and the #35 C in the nation. This makes them the first consensus Scout/Rivals 3-star recruits since Joey Rodriguez and Ed Nixon signed with the Rams in 2007. National Director of Recruiting for Scout.com, Dave Telep has been highly complimentary of the class and says ‘it should be the talk of the league’ among other things in an interview by Adam Stern at the Commonwealth Times. It’s a great read as Telep comments on Brandenberg, Reddic, and Haley.

“They snatched a couple guys, man” said Dave Telep, National Recruiting Director for Scout.com, a sports publishing company that focuses on recruiting. “I actually thought they were wasting their time with Reddic. I thought he was going to wind up going higher, so for them to pop Reddic was a big deal.”

“Shaka did really, really well,” Telep said. “This is an Atlantic-10 recruiting class in the CAA, that’s what it looks like to me. I think this is going to wind up being the talk of the league.”

With this being the first class for which Shaka Smart was able to recruit players year-round (after having to scramble late last year in the wake of Anthony Grant’s and Ben Eblen’s departures to Alabama), it is clear that if there is one thing Shaka can do exceptionally well, it is recruit.  VCU Athletics released a highlight video of the Class of 2010 and if you could summarize it’s contents in one word, ‘athleticism’ comes to mind immediately. This is a fast, long, and athletic 5-man class that runs the floor well and should allow Shaka Smart to wreak his brand of ‘Havoc’ on the CAA.

2010 Highlight Video from VCU Athletics

In the coming days, I will be breaking down each member of the ‘Fab Five’ complete with rankings, scouting reports, video clips as well as interviews with a couple as well.

Over the past 4 years, VCU has been the CAA’s winningest program. This next class of VCU players will look to deliver on Shaka Smart’s pledge at his hiring press conference to ‘take VCU basketball to even greater heights’. The future is bright!

Maynor saw extended minutes as the Thunder entered the game having already clinched the 8th-seed in the NBA’s Western Conference. The former VCU standout posted 15 points, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds in 29 minutes of play.

Maynor averaged 4.7 points and 3.3 assists in 15.7 minutes/game in his rookie season.

Thunder starting point guard, Russell Westbrook added 9 points on 3-of-10 shooting in 25 minutes on the night.

OKC forward Kevin Durrant scored 31 points, the first 20 of which were good enough to clinch the 09-10 NBA scoring title, averaging 30.1 points per contest.

The Thunder will take on the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in game-1 action this Sunday at 3PM on ABC.

On Thursday, Smart and his staff rounded out a class that they feel embodies those components with the additions of Toby Veal (Savannah, Ga./Northwest Florida State College), D.J. Haley (Palmdale, Calif./Palmdale) and Juvonte Reddic (Winston-Salem, N.C./Quality Education Academy). The trio joins guards Reco McCarter (Goldsboro, N.C./Wayne Country Day) and Rob Brandenburg (Gahanna, Ohio/Lincoln), who signed during the fall.

“We are extremely excited about the five student-athletes that will be joining our program,” Smart said. “As a group, they will add a high level of athleticism, length and competitiveness. All five will fit very nicely into our HAVOC style.”

Veal is coming off an outstanding season with the Raiders of Northwest Florida State College, where he averaged a near double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds a night. His stellar play earned him Panhandle Conference Newcomer of the Year honors and he was a key component in the Raiders run to the 2010 NJCAA National Tournament and a No.5 national ranking.

“Toby is an impact frontline player, which is our most pressing need,” Smart stated. “He will provide us with strength, toughness and athleticism from day one.”

The 6’ 8”, 230-pound forward was ranked as a top-50 prospect by Juco Junction in 2010 and ESPN.com ranked him as the 25th-best forward in the country coming out of Johnson High School in 2008.

He chose to join the Black & Gold after receiving interest from LSU, Arkansas and Southern Mississippi.

Ranked as the eighth-best center on the West Coast by Scout.com, Haley will bring a 6’ 11 ¾”, 230-pound frame to the Verizon Wireless Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center next season. He averaged a double-double for Falcons of Palmdale to earn a spot in the 2010 East/West California All-Star Game.

“D.J. Haley is a near seven-footer with a very high ceiling,” Smart said. “He runs extremely well for his size and possesses a very good touch around the basket.”

Haley’s success is not limited to the hardwood. He carried a 3.7 grade point average during his time at Palmdale. He chose the Rams over interest from Drake, Iowa State, Colorado and Penn.

Rounding out the trio of new additions is the powerful inside presence of Reddic. The 6’ 9”, 215-pounder was ranked the 20th-best center in the country by ESPN.com and led the Fighting Pharoahs of Quality Education Academy to the 2010 National Christian School Athletic Association Division I National Championship.

“Juvonte possesses phenomenal upside and a very good ability to learn,” Smart commented. “His length and athleticism make him ideally suited for our style of play.”

He averaged 16 points and 15 rebounds during his senior season and Scout.com rated Reddic as one of the three best available big men in the spring of 2010.

After receiving interest from Maryland, Georgetown, Oklahoma, Auburn and Ole Miss, he chose to join the Black & Gold next season.

“I think it’s an incredibly diverse group of guys that will ultimately help them continue to compete for league championships every year,” Scout.com’s National Recruiting Director Dave Telep said. “It’s not often you can bring in a near 7-footer in D.J. Haley, a guy who was recruited at the mid-to-high level in Juvonte Redic, an incredibly gifted and long guy in Reco McCarter, a multi-positional threat in Toby Veal and a late bloomer who just gets it done in Rob Brandenburg.”

“This is a decision that I spent a lot of time thinking about and was very difficult to make,” Sanders said. “But after talking it over with my mom, my coaches and everyone that has supported me throughout the years, I have to decided to pursue my dream of playing in the NBA.”

The 6-11 forward is considered a potential first-round selection in June.

“I have had an incredible support system throughout my life and they are the ones that have enabled me to be in this position today,” Sanders stated. “I want to thank my mom for putting her life to the side to help me get where I am right now. I want to thank VCU for the opportunity to play college basketball and the education. I fully intend to return in the future and complete the necessary classes to earn my degree from VCU.

“To all my coaches, I can’t thank you enough. To Coach [Kareem Rodriguez] and all my supporters and Port St. Lucie High School, thank you. Coach Rodriguez has always treated me like his son and that has meant so much to me. To Coach Grant and his staff, thank you for bringing me here and giving me this chance to make it to the next level. To Coach Smart and my current coaches, thank you for stepping in right away and taking me under your wings and giving me the guidance and support. It was unbelievable to me, that in their first year, the way they stuck by me all the way through this difficult decision.

“And to my hometown of Fort Pierce, thank you for the constant love and support you have given me ever since I was a little kid.”

Sanders helped the Rams to a 75-27 record during his three seasons, including two CAA regular-season championships and one CAA tournament championship.

“I couldn’t have done all of this without my teammates,” Sanders commented. “My teammates were the ones who worked hard every day at practice and helped me elevate my game on a daily basis. I will never forget these guys that have become my brothers over the past three years.”

This past year, he led the team in scoring (14.4), rebounds per game (9.1) and field-goal percentage (53.4%). All three were career-highs and helped him earn a spot on the All-CAA First Team. The honor was his second straight all-conference accolade as Sanders was named to the All-CAA Second Team during his sophomore campaign.

“I’m extremely happy for Larry and 100% supportive of his decision to enter the NBA draft”, Head Coach Shaka Smart said. “Our program is very thankful for the contributions that Larry has made to VCU basketball over the past three years. He has provided all of us with many lasting memories and created highlights that we will never forget.”

In March, Sanders earned his second consecutive Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2008-09 and 2009-10. His length, athleticism and quickness are what drew over 180 NBA Scouts to VCU games this past season.

“Larry’s opportunity is extremely unique and exciting,” Smart said. “Over the next few years, I am very confident that he will to continue to grow and develop as a player and find significant success at the next level. I’m extremely pleased that another member of the VCU basketball family is about to realize his dream of playing in the NBA.”

Sanders is expected to be the second straight NBA Draftee from VCU, joining Ram great Eric Maynor, who was selected 20th overall by the Utah Jazz in last year’s NBA draft.

“Coming to VCU was the best decision I’ve ever made,” Sanders said. “This place is one close-knit family, from the fans to the coaches to the players. Everyone has each other’s back and this place is the main reason I am able to take this next step.”

Sanders concludes his Black & Gold career with 1,044 points (27th all-time at VCU), 776 rebounds (fourth all-time), 277 blocks (second all-time) and 28 double-doubles (third all-time).

The 2010 NBA Draft is scheduled for Thursday, June 24, at 7 p.m. at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

“We’re appreciative of the contributions that Terrance has made to the VCU program over the past two years,” Smart said. “But at this time, we feel it is best for Terrance to continue his career elsewhere. We wish him nothing but the best.”

Saintil, a 6-foot-8 forward from North Miami, Fla., averaged 2.5 points and 1.9 rebounds in 26 games this season after returning from a thumb injury. In two seasons with VCU, Saintil appeared in 57 games and averaged 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds.

The Rams, who struggled in regular season road games, were forced to win one of two in St. Louis to lock up the crown after defeating the Billikens in the first of a best of three series this Monday in Richmond.

St. Louis compiled 23 wins and an 18-3 home record this season behind one of the stingiest defenses in the country, which for the first half of the game, looked to be the the blueprint for their 24th win. That is until VCU found it’s offense, scoring 47 second half points in rout to the unusual road COMEBACK victory, their 27th and final win of the season.

Joey Rodriguez struggled early but finished with 13 points on the night. Rodriguez averaged just under 18 points to go along with 5.6 assists in CBI play, good enough to win CBI Tournament MVP honors.

VCU leading scorer Larry Sanders was saddled with foul trouble most of the evening, finishing with 3 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, and two steals to go along with his 4 fouls in potentially his final game as a Ram.

Sanders has been projected as high as a late lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, but has fallen into the late teens to late first round in most mock drafts (currently 26th on NBADraft.net).

Jamie Skeen continued his solid CBI play, coming up big for the Rams late in the game, and posting 16 points on 7-10 shooting, to go along with 6 rebounds on the night.

Skeen averaged 12.2 points a game in CBI play, up more than 4 points over his regular season average.

The Rams would return all 5 starters with the return of Larry Sanders for the 2010-11 season.