Hyland enters NBA draft, Rhoades adds 3 newcomers
Sophomore guard Bones Hyland looks to pass at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. Photo by Megan Lee
Noah Fleischman, Sports Editor
After spending two years on Broad Street, sophomore guard Bones Hyland announced his intentions of entering the 2021 NBA draft and signing with an agent Saturday evening.
“The past two years with Ram Nation have been the most exciting and rewarding time of my life,” Hyland wrote in a tweet. “The VCU experience will continue to be a part of who I am as a person and an athlete.”
The Wilmington, Delaware, native was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year this season after averaging 19.5 points and 4.7 rebounds.
Hyland is the first player to leave VCU with NCAA eligibility remaining for the NBA Draft since 2010, when Larry Sanders entered after his junior year.
New additions
Coach Mike Rhoades was faced with three open scholarships after Corey Douglas’ graduation, Tre Clark’s mid-season departure and Hyland’s exit for the professional ranks last week.
Junior forward Jimmy Nichols Jr. announced his commitment to the black and gold on Thursday, transferring from Providence.
Nichols averaged 6.1 points and 2.4 rebounds with the Friars last season, playing in 16 games after appearing in just five in the prior season due to injury.
The Conway, South Carolina, native played AAU basketball for Team Garner Road and was teammates with sophomore forward Jarren McAllister in 2017. VCU recruited Nichols out of high school before he chose Providence.
Rhoades also plucked sophomore guard Marcus Tsohonis from the NCAA transfer portal. Tsohonis announced his commitment in a tweet on Friday night. He averaged 10.4 points and 2.2 rebounds this past season at Washington.
The Portland, Oregon, native logged five 20-plus point performances with the Huskies this season, including a season-high 29 points against Washington State on Feb. 15.
Unlike Nichols and Tsohonis, guard Jayden Nunn committed to Rhoades and company out of high school on Sunday evening.
Nunn originally committed to Iowa State in December but decommitted earlier this month, reopening his recruitment. He will join the Rams for the next season.
The Flint, Michigan, native averaged 13.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in his junior season at Carman-Ainsworth High School. He transferred to Dream City Christian School, a school in Arizona that plays for a national schedule, during his senior year.
The Rams’ recruiting class is complete: Nicholas Kern, Jalen DeLoach and Jayden Nunn signed from high school, while Jimmy Nichols Jr. and Marcus Tsohonis transferred to VCU.
