What’s in store: Meet the 2011 Men’s basketball recruits
Quinn Casteel
Assistant Sports Editor
The Commonwealth Times Sports’ Twitter
Teddy Okereafor, point guard
Height: 6-4 Weight: 175
H.S. Stats: 13.1 PPG, 7.5 APG
Over the past four seasons, Joey Rodriguez has made the point guard position the most stable spot on the floor for VCU. But with Rodriguez out, many have wondered how Shaka Smart will fill the void. At 6’ 4”, Okereafor is a different breed of point guard than the 5’ 11” Rodriguez, but his talent indicates he may have the biggest impact of the four freshmen on the roster. Okereafor is originally from London, but he came to the U.S. for high school where he attended Christchurch High School on the Maryland border. While playing for Christchurch, he won Virginia Prep League Player of the Year and was also named First-Team All-State. Okereafor’s speed and ability to distribute will allow him to compete with returning point guard Darius Theus for the starting job.
Briante Weber, shooting guard
Height: 6-3 Weight: 175
H.S. Stats: 17 PPG, 8 RPG, 5 APG, 4 SPG
With Weber, the comparison to 2011 graduate Ed Nixon is an easy one. Weber, like Nixon, is an undersized guard with a light frame best known for being a shutdown defender. At 6’ 3”, 175 pounds, Weber is a fearless player who has the ability to put up big numbers in every area of the stat sheet. He averaged seventeen points, eight rebounds and four steals at Great Bridge High School before transferring to Fork Union Military Academy last season. Even with the departure of Nixon and Brandon Rozzell, Weber is joining a VCU backcourt that is still loaded with talent. The presence of Bradford Burgess and last season’s freshman standout Rob Brandenberg will ensure that Weber will have to earn all of his minutes this year.
Treveon Graham, small forward
Height: 6-4 Weight: 200
H.S. Stats: 18.3 PPG, 10.4 RPG
Graham committed to VCU back in August of 2010, then watched his future team advance all the way to the Final Four which only validated his decision even further. He comes to VCU from St. Mary’s Ryken High School, a member of the prestigious WCAC basketball conference. Graham joins the likes of Georgetown’s Jason Clark and North Carolina’s Kendall Marshall as players to come out of the conference over the last couple years. His experience playing with and against elite talent will give him a head start over most young players throughout the CAA. Graham is a big, strong, explosive scorer who averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game in high school. Look for him to have some big offensive games in Smart’s HAVOC offense.
Jared Guest, power forward
Height: 6-8 Weight: 190
H.S. Stats: 15 PPG, 8 RPG
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A native of Columbia, S.C. Guest was naturally courted by SEC programs such as Clemson, but he decided to sign with VCU after meeting with Shaka Smart. He is a long, lean power forward at 6’ 8” 190 pounds and he fits the Jamie Skeen mold to perfection. Despite being slightly undersized, he is an outstanding athlete who can get put-backs around the rim and plays well along the baseline and on the perimeter. Like Skeen, Guest is an excellent three point shooter for a big man. He has recently developed into a more complete player and look for that development to continue as he begins to bulk up under VCU strength and conditioning coach Daniel Roose.
