VCU star declares for NBA draft
Senior Vince Williams shoots a free throw against Virginia State University on Nov. 1. Photo by Alessandro Latour
Yanni Kouiroukidis, Contributing Writer
Senior forward Vince Williams Jr. declared for the NBA Draft earlier this month in a tweet, graduating after four years with the Rams.
“Thank you Ram Nation for these past four years,” Williams stated. “You welcomed me with open arms and have supported me the entire time.”
Williams will be VCU’s next prospect to enter the draft after last year. Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland was selected in the first round by the Denver Nuggets.
Williams, a Toledo, Ohio native, was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team this year after being named to the All-Conference third team during the 2021 season, according to the A-10 website.
Williams was a key player for the Rams squad this year, leading the team in 14.1 points and six rebounds per game, according to VCU Athletics.
“This whole season he’s played like a senior with great urgency,” VCU head coach Mike Rhoades told the Toledo Blade. “This is the best basketball he’s ever played here, even battling some injuries.”
Williams was hobbled by a nagging ankle injury and a small calf strain throughout the season.
In his last game in a VCU Rams jersey, Williams had a career-high in scoring, notching 27 points against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the National Invitation Tournament. Williams scored over 20 points in five of the Rams’ games this season, according to VCU Athletics.
Williams shot 47.7% from the field for the 2022 season, beating his previous season-high of 45.9% during the 2019 season.
ESPN ranks Williams as 92nd on its “best available” prospect list, and NBA Draft website Tankathon has Williams ranked at No. 60 on its “big board,” which lists the best prospects for the Draft.
The NBA Draft Lottery will be announced on May 17 and the draft will take place in Brooklyn, New York on June 23rd at 8 p.m. ET.
