In the portal era, every offseason is likely going to be a busy offseason. Add in a coaching change this March and the black and gold have had an active past two months. The good news is new VCU Head Coach, Phil Martelli Jr., is wasting no time drawing headlines. The new boss on Broad St. is getting great reviews on how quickly he and his staff have been able to "reload" from last year's A-10 Championship squad coached by former head coach, Ryan Odom. Let's take a look at who all Martelli and Co. have brought in and why Ram fans may have some reason for optimism.
THE TRANSFERS
Jadrian Tracey (Oregon/St. Joe's)
Tracey started his career at Saint Joseph's back in the 2020-21 season. The 6'5 forward was a freshman teammate of current Rams Assistant Coach, Ryan Daly. He averaged just 4.1 points in 12.5 minutes per game, then appeared in just two games the following season before taking his talents to the Ducks of the University of Oregon. Tracey averaged over 20 minutes per game in his two seasons at Oregon, averaging 7.6 points and then 6.9 points this past season. He gets shots up almost equally as much outside the arc as inside of it and is a career 34.5% three-point shooter. Tracey had a strong 58% true shooting percentage this past season in the Big 10 and was just a solid all-around piece for the Ducks.
Tyrell Ward (LSU)
The 6'6 forward from DC may have a little rust to shake early, having stepped away from college hoops this past season for mental health reasons. The prior season however, Ward shot 41.3% from three for the Tigers including a red-hot 45.8% in SEC play. Ward can score inside and out, but prefers the long ball. He led LSU in one of my (if not my most) favorite stats his last season there, posting a team-high +5.1 block plus/minus according to sports-reference.com's formula. Ward was the No.41 overall recruit in the 2022 freshman class according to 247Sports.com.
Barry Evans (Bryant/St. Bonaventure)
The 6'8 forward finds his way back to the Atlantic 10 after starting his career off under Mark Schmidt at St. Bonaventure (coincidentally Mark's son, Nick, joins this year's VCU coaching staff). Evans averaged 13.3 ppg and 6.8 rebs for last year's NCAA tournament Bulldogs. He follows his head coach to VCU. Evans ranked second on last year's Bulldogs in box plus/minus behind Earl Timberlake and ranked second on the team in steals as well. Evans led St. Bonaventure in plus/minus his final season with the Bonnies.
Keyshawn Mitchell (Bryant)
Like Evans, Mitchell will follow Phil Martelli Jr. to VCU as a Bryant transfer. The 6'11 rising junior forward/center has been a strong rebounder two years in to college hoops, but is also a big man who likes to step out and shoot threes. Not extremely accurate, but dangerous enough to be respected, Mitchell hit 31.7% of his 60 attempted threes as a sophomore.
Lazar Djokovic (Charleston/Xavier)
Another incoming big for the black and gold, the 6'11 Serbian senior started his career under Sean Miller at Xavier before transferring to College of Charleston where he put up a strong sophomore season in the CAA. Djokovic averaged 7.9 points and 6.3 rebounds in 23.9 minutes per contest this past season, with a solid 17.6 player efficiency rating and 57.9% true shooting percentage. Djokovic does the vast majority of his scoring inside the arc, but will occasionally launch the three ball. He has not been particularly effective from distance through his first two seasons, but he's young.
Ahmad Nowell (UConn)
Nowell played just 115 total minutes as a UConn Husky, but found his way to UConn after being the 33rd-ranked overall player in the 2024 freshman class. Essentially an all upside play, the 6' guard will bring some more Philly flavor to Broad St. where he'll hope to get the opportunity to shine after being buried on the bench in Connecticut. Nowell saw double-digit minutes just three times this past season, but in those games posted an impressive average offensive rating of 140.4.
THE FRESHMEN
Jordan Tillary (IMG Academy)
Tillary originally committed to Ryan Odom's group, but will reportedly stay at VCU under Phil Martelli Jr. and Co. A 6'5 small forward from high school powerhouse, IMG Academy, he's an ESPN and 247Sports.com 3-star recruit.
Nyk Lewis (Gonzaga High School)
Another DC product making his way down 95 South, Lewis grabbed the attention of national media with his commitment to VCU as the No.50 overall recruit in the 2025 class according to 247Sports (No.56 in ESPN's rankings). Lewis had initially committed to Xavier prior to their offseason coaching change, then held offers by the likes of Michigan, Iowa, Georgetown and a slew of others.
THE TRANSFERS
Jadrian Tracey (Oregon/St. Joe's)
Tracey started his career at Saint Joseph's back in the 2020-21 season. The 6'5 forward was a freshman teammate of current Rams Assistant Coach, Ryan Daly. He averaged just 4.1 points in 12.5 minutes per game, then appeared in just two games the following season before taking his talents to the Ducks of the University of Oregon. Tracey averaged over 20 minutes per game in his two seasons at Oregon, averaging 7.6 points and then 6.9 points this past season. He gets shots up almost equally as much outside the arc as inside of it and is a career 34.5% three-point shooter. Tracey had a strong 58% true shooting percentage this past season in the Big 10 and was just a solid all-around piece for the Ducks.
Tyrell Ward (LSU)
The 6'6 forward from DC may have a little rust to shake early, having stepped away from college hoops this past season for mental health reasons. The prior season however, Ward shot 41.3% from three for the Tigers including a red-hot 45.8% in SEC play. Ward can score inside and out, but prefers the long ball. He led LSU in one of my (if not my most) favorite stats his last season there, posting a team-high +5.1 block plus/minus according to sports-reference.com's formula. Ward was the No.41 overall recruit in the 2022 freshman class according to 247Sports.com.
Barry Evans (Bryant/St. Bonaventure)
The 6'8 forward finds his way back to the Atlantic 10 after starting his career off under Mark Schmidt at St. Bonaventure (coincidentally Mark's son, Nick, joins this year's VCU coaching staff). Evans averaged 13.3 ppg and 6.8 rebs for last year's NCAA tournament Bulldogs. He follows his head coach to VCU. Evans ranked second on last year's Bulldogs in box plus/minus behind Earl Timberlake and ranked second on the team in steals as well. Evans led St. Bonaventure in plus/minus his final season with the Bonnies.
Keyshawn Mitchell (Bryant)
Like Evans, Mitchell will follow Phil Martelli Jr. to VCU as a Bryant transfer. The 6'11 rising junior forward/center has been a strong rebounder two years in to college hoops, but is also a big man who likes to step out and shoot threes. Not extremely accurate, but dangerous enough to be respected, Mitchell hit 31.7% of his 60 attempted threes as a sophomore.
Lazar Djokovic (Charleston/Xavier)
Another incoming big for the black and gold, the 6'11 Serbian senior started his career under Sean Miller at Xavier before transferring to College of Charleston where he put up a strong sophomore season in the CAA. Djokovic averaged 7.9 points and 6.3 rebounds in 23.9 minutes per contest this past season, with a solid 17.6 player efficiency rating and 57.9% true shooting percentage. Djokovic does the vast majority of his scoring inside the arc, but will occasionally launch the three ball. He has not been particularly effective from distance through his first two seasons, but he's young.
Ahmad Nowell (UConn)
Nowell played just 115 total minutes as a UConn Husky, but found his way to UConn after being the 33rd-ranked overall player in the 2024 freshman class. Essentially an all upside play, the 6' guard will bring some more Philly flavor to Broad St. where he'll hope to get the opportunity to shine after being buried on the bench in Connecticut. Nowell saw double-digit minutes just three times this past season, but in those games posted an impressive average offensive rating of 140.4.
THE FRESHMEN
Jordan Tillary (IMG Academy)
Tillary originally committed to Ryan Odom's group, but will reportedly stay at VCU under Phil Martelli Jr. and Co. A 6'5 small forward from high school powerhouse, IMG Academy, he's an ESPN and 247Sports.com 3-star recruit.
Nyk Lewis (Gonzaga High School)
Another DC product making his way down 95 South, Lewis grabbed the attention of national media with his commitment to VCU as the No.50 overall recruit in the 2025 class according to 247Sports (No.56 in ESPN's rankings). Lewis had initially committed to Xavier prior to their offseason coaching change, then held offers by the likes of Michigan, Iowa, Georgetown and a slew of others.
