Winning ways: Impact of Final Four could have far-reaching future

Adam Stern
Sports Editor
Commonwealth Times Sports’ Twitter

After every NCAA tournament game these past three weeks – yes, that’s how it’s starting to feel these days in Uptown Richmond – freshman guard Rob Brandenberg finds VCU second year head coach Shaka Smart, embraces him and says something in his ear.

“Thanks,” he says, “for recruiting me to VCU.”

These, indeed, are the sort of perks that could become commonplace sooner rather than later for Smart in the most important aspect of any basketball program: players and recruiting.

On Sunday, after VCU had dislodged Kansas from atop college basketball’s highest perch, Brandenberg had his typical tough yet loveable grin on his face when he said, “Coach Smart didn’t tell me we were going to the Final Four when he was recruiting me.”

Such statements are the epitome of what can happen with success in a polarizing sports tournament that has captivated and consumed the nation let alone the school or the team.

And, as much as it’s helping with the players that are here already, perhaps it’s helping even more with those high-talent players who are in between VCU and another school, often a high-major.

“I talked to some of the recruits since we got into the NCAA tournament and there’s a different sound in their voice,” Smart said. “They certainly call back a lot quicker.”

Smart, whose awareness and tact seem razor-sharp, knows how things work and accepts it for what it is.

“That,” he said “is just the nature of the beast.”

But it’s not the only key to recruiting.

“The way to make a splash recruiting-wise is to sustain success.”

The program has that too. Last year, VCU became the first school in state history to ever have back-to-back first round draft picks in the NBA. Sanders was the 19th player in school history to make it to the big league promised land; the next Rams player will put VCU into twenty and beyond.

With five straight wins in the NCAA tournament, the school once again has a winning record in the prestigious competition of 10-9. And speaking of the word five, VCU has now gone five straight seasons with 20 or more wins in a season – by far the most of any Virginia school.

And if recent history is anything to go by, the Rams have staying power in the Big Dance as well. VCU has made the NCAA tournament three out of the past five years dating back to Eric Maynor’s shot that downed Duke in 2007.

Feathers in VCU’s proverbial cap such as those are going to be the sort of factors that swing players into the Rams favor and allow coaches to continue to land high-quality recruits that makes runs like these possible.

One of those recruits potentially coming to Broad Street sometime soon may be the next best thing out of a family that’s already fed VCU one top-notch talent. Junior renaissance man Bradford Burgess’ brother, Jordan, is currently a junior at Benedictine, a military school in Richmond that Bradford attended too.

Jordan is given a scouting grade of three stars and an 89 on ESPN’s college basketball recruiting website, where it lists him as considering VCU. During a press conference on Tuesday, Smart dropped a hint that this run is certainly helping in the quest to land the next Burgess brother.

“It makes an impact on one guy in particular that we are recruiting, those of you guys that know Brad,” Smart said slyly as he’s not allowed to officially comment on upcoming recruits.

And for those freshman already here, they’ve raised the bar and benchmark for themselves by a bunch. That includes redshirt freshman Reco McCarter and Heath Houston, whose turned into VCU’s hype man and dancer this season.

In keeping up with the older teammates’ ways of being best friends, Brandenberg and the rest of the freshman all seem to have sparked up great relationships. And, in the Ohio native’s eyes, the progress McCarter and Houston have made this year will have a big impact on the program.

They’ve been progressing great and getting better every day; getting their mind right,” Brandenberg said. “They’re seeing the game from a different point of view; it’s like they’re not in the game but they are.”

“They do everything we do except playing the game,” Brandenberg said. “So it’s going to be exciting seeing them on the floor next year.”