Ram Nation will field a team for the third consecutive summer in The Basketball Tournament’s 72-team $2 million winner-take-all battle royale. The mostly VCU alumni squad advanced to the “Super 16” in year-one, then took things a step further this past summer in battling to the quarterfinal. Due to the team’s success and the rabid support of Ram fans who made each trip to root on the black and gold, TBT will be bringing their South Regional first two rounds to the Siegel Center. This is the roster Ram fans will get to cheer for back home this July in the Stu.
Jordan Burgess (VCU) – A 2017 grad of VCU, Burgess was a part of four NCAA tournament teams with the Rams. A gritty forward who plays larger than his 6’5 frame, Burgess posted a +3.3 career defensive box plus/minus with the Rams, giving Ram Nation a tough defender for a team looking to improve on that side of the ball.
Bradford Burgess (VCU) – One of five VCU men’s players to have their jersey retired at VCU, Bradford returns to the TBT court after missing last season’s games as a player due to an achilles tear. He rejoins the team as one of the top two-way players on the team after a championship season in Holland where the VCU legend hit 48.4% of his 95 three-point attempts.
Melvin Johnson (VCU) – A newcomer to team Ram Nation but a beloved 2016 grad of the black and gold, Johnson gives Ram Nation another deadly three-point weapon on what was already a dangerous offensive unit. Johnson finished first all-time in made threes at VCU and hit 39.6% of his threes this past season in Italy.
Eric Maynor (VCU) – Considered by many as the greatest to ever wear the uniform at VCU, Maynor returns for his second summer with team Ram Nation. The VCU G.O.A.T. had a big first summer with Ram Nation including a 28-point second round performance in a blowout win against the Primetime Players. Maynor spent the past season in Italy’s top pro league, averaging a team-high 5.3 assists for Betaland Capo d’Orlando.
Juvonte Reddic (VCU) – Reddic was forced to miss last summer with Ram Nation due to injury, but is scheduled to join for the team’s July 14 opening game at the Stu. The 6’9 big man was a part of four consecutive NCAA tournament teams at VCU and averaged 11.3 ppg this past season as a pro in Belgium.
Brandon Rozzell (VCU) – “The Mayor” returns for his third summer with Ram Nation after two explosive tournaments with the squad. Rozzell connected on 41.6% of his threes this past season in Sweden including 47.1% in Champions League games, meaning the TBT terror will once again be a deep threat in summer tournament action for Ram Nation.
Jamal Shuler (VCU) – Shuuuu returns for his second summer with Ram Nation and his third playing in The Basketball Tournament. The ’08 VCU grad has been playing professionally since leaving Broad St. and has had a tremendously successful career in France. The Nanterre star connected on 46.8% of his Champions League threes this past season, giving Ram Nation yet another dangerous weapon from deep.
Darius Theus (VCU) – Theus returns to VCU in more ways than one this year, returning to a job with the Rams after a one-year stint at Texas and with that, bringing him home for TBT action as well. The 757 native was one of team Ram Nation’s star players in the 2016 tournament before missing this past summer with Longhorn duties. He scored a team-high 27 points in Ram Nation’s second ever TBT win. Theus’ return adds another havoc-wreaking guard to Ram Nation’s talented 2018 roster.
B.A. Walker (VCU) – Only one player in VCU’s history ranks top-10 all-time in both three-point makes and three-point percentage and that man is B.A. Walker. Walker returns for his third summer with the team after shooting a red-hot 61.7% from the field for Saint-Quentin in the French NM1 professional league including 41.6% from three on 149 attempts.
Justin Tuoyo (VCU/UT Chattanooga) – Tuoyo joined Ram Nation for the Super 16 and quarterfinal rounds in last summer’s TBT, averaging 9 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks in just 17.5 minutes of action. The 6’9 shot-blocker finished college with a ridiculous 10.7% career blocks percentage, earning SoCon Defensive Player of the Year honors eventually at UTC. Tuoyo blocked a team-high 1.2 shots per contest this past season in Hungary’s top pro league, led his team in rebounds and managed to shoot over 40% from three, giving Ram Nation an unbelievably versatile player in this year’s TBT.
Reggie Williams (VMI) – The state of Virginia’s all-time leading DI college scorer, Williams returns for his third summer with Ram Nation. The adopted Ram has played for multiple NBA teams and has a strong case for Ram Nation’s top player heading into this summer’s TBT.
James Farr (Xavier) – Creating a roster full of talented (and healthy) bigs has been somewhat of a challenge for Ram Nation’s TBT team throughout the years, which is where Farr comes in. A former professional teammate of Bradford Burgess, the 6’10 240 2016 Xavier grad gives Ram Nation some talented/skilled beef that is currently performing at a very high level overseas. Farr was an elite rebounder in college, finishing third the Big East in total rebounds his senior campaign and posting an insane 20.4% CAREER rebound percentage.
Zeke Marshall (Akron) – Add another talented big to the roster. The Rams last saw Marshall when the 7-footer blocked four of VCU’s shots in the 2013 NCAA tournament. He’s since spent time as an overseas pro and at home in the G League and joins this year’s TBT team boasting the top college blocks percentage on team Ram Nation.
Ryan Richards (Great Britain) – A second round draft and stash draft pick of the San Antonio Spurs, Richards has played a number of years professionally overseas and once matched up against Ram Nation in TBT action, helping to eliminate the black and gold in 2016. The 7′ 265-pound big man has been working out with Ram Nation guard/forward Reggie Williams this offseason and gives the black and gold another talented front court player for this year’s tournament.
Lee Tatum (J. Sarge) – All three seasons Ram Nation has fielded a team in this unique tournament, we’ve taken the opportunity to offer up a unique opportunity that only this tourney provides, which is to add a fan to the roster. Lee Tatum fills that roll this summer. Look for him in extreme garbage time if Ram Nation can build up a large enough lead. He’ll be the skinny guy with the luchador mask on.
Ram Nation will begin our TBT journey Saturday, July 14 at 8PM at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. Tickets available through the Siegel Center box office or online here: https://ev9.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=TBT&linkID=vcu&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=
