<a href="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/2lsxsuh.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3951" alt="Graham" src="http://www.vcuramnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/2lsxsuh.jpg" width="200.5" height="305" /></a>6'5, 200 pound wing Treveon Graham out of Bowie, Maryland pledged to the Rams this summer over offers from CAA-members Northeastern, Delaware, and Cleveland State out of the Horizon League in addition to 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. Treveon was gracious enough to do a Q & A with VCURamNation and shared some of his thoughts on joining the Rams for 2011:
VCURamNation: On behalf of the Ram Nation I’d like to express our excitement at your decision to be a part of the future of VCU basketball.
You were pursued by many schools from many different levels, what made VCU the right fit for you in your mind and why did you pick them over the other schools?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span>VCU was a good fit for me cause of their style of play and i really liked the staff they was really recruiting me hard and they make me feel like family.
VCURamNation: Over the course of your recruitment, which schools did you have offers from?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span> Northeastern, Cleveland St., and Delaware offered me but Clemson, Boston College, and Cincinnatti were looking at me.
VCURamNation: Which NBA or college player would you say your game most resembles and why?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span> I think I play like the young paul pierce because I can get to the basket and he can really shoot.
VCURamNation: What do you think your greatest strength as a player is?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span> My greatest strength is attacking the basket and rebounding.
VCURamNation: What role do you see yourself playing at VCU next year and what goals do you have for yourself?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span> I see myself being a scorer for VCU and helping the team win games.
VCURamNation: The WCAC is widely known as a real hot-bed for bringing out great basketball players. How do you feel competing against some of the top high school programs like DeMatha, Bishop McNamara, Gonzaga, St. John's etc. helps prepare you for the next level in college?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span>Playing in this league was really a challenge my first two years. I was too small to play varsity so over the summer I was in the weightroom and I grew 3 inches that really helped my junior year where I really exploded. Me playing in this league made me really work hard on my game because every night I know I have to bring my A game.
VCURamNation: You recently came to VCU on a weekend visit. What did you do while here and how did you like it?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span> When I was down there I ate a lot, I met with all the staff and the team we hung out and had fun. I really enjoyed myself.
VCURamNation: When did you start hearing from the VCU staff about playing at VCU and who was the primary person in your recruitment?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span> I started to hear from vcu at the end of last year and if u are askin who was the main coach that recruited me it was coach mike jones but my parents were the main people that helped me with my recruitment.
VCURamNation: What are you most looking forward to about coming to VCU?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span> I'm looking foward to playing my first college basketball game.
VCURamNation: Anything you want to say to VCU fans?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span> I would like to tell the fans thanks for all their positive support and I can't wait to get there to show them wat I can do to bring vcu to the next level.
VCURamNation: Thanks so much for your time Treveon and we can't wait to see you take the court for VCU!
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. Treveon was gracious enough to do a Q & A with VCURamNation and shared some of his thoughts on joining the Rams for 2011:
VCURamNation: On behalf of the Ram Nation I’d like to express our excitement at your decision to be a part of the future of VCU basketball.
You were pursued by many schools from many different levels, what made VCU the right fit for you in your mind and why did you pick them over the other schools?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span>VCU was a good fit for me cause of their style of play and i really liked the staff they was really recruiting me hard and they make me feel like family.
VCURamNation: Over the course of your recruitment, which schools did you have offers from?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span> Northeastern, Cleveland St., and Delaware offered me but Clemson, Boston College, and Cincinnatti were looking at me.
VCURamNation: Which NBA or college player would you say your game most resembles and why?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span> I think I play like the young paul pierce because I can get to the basket and he can really shoot.
VCURamNation: What do you think your greatest strength as a player is?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span> My greatest strength is attacking the basket and rebounding.
VCURamNation: What role do you see yourself playing at VCU next year and what goals do you have for yourself?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span> I see myself being a scorer for VCU and helping the team win games.
VCURamNation: The WCAC is widely known as a real hot-bed for bringing out great basketball players. How do you feel competing against some of the top high school programs like DeMatha, Bishop McNamara, Gonzaga, St. John's etc. helps prepare you for the next level in college?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span>Playing in this league was really a challenge my first two years. I was too small to play varsity so over the summer I was in the weightroom and I grew 3 inches that really helped my junior year where I really exploded. Me playing in this league made me really work hard on my game because every night I know I have to bring my A game.
VCURamNation: You recently came to VCU on a weekend visit. What did you do while here and how did you like it?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span> When I was down there I ate a lot, I met with all the staff and the team we hung out and had fun. I really enjoyed myself.
VCURamNation: When did you start hearing from the VCU staff about playing at VCU and who was the primary person in your recruitment?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span> I started to hear from vcu at the end of last year and if u are askin who was the main coach that recruited me it was coach mike jones but my parents were the main people that helped me with my recruitment.
VCURamNation: What are you most looking forward to about coming to VCU?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span> I'm looking foward to playing my first college basketball game.
VCURamNation: Anything you want to say to VCU fans?
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Treveon:</span> I would like to tell the fans thanks for all their positive support and I can't wait to get there to show them wat I can do to bring vcu to the next level.
VCURamNation: Thanks so much for your time Treveon and we can't wait to see you take the court for VCU!
