VCU Rams reload roster during transfer portal
CT file photo by Arrick Wilson.
Since the departure of VCU’s former head coach Ryan Odom, new head coach Phil Martelli Jr. wasted no time stacking his roster. Martelli has already secured the return of key players like first-year guard Brandon Jennings, who previously entered the transfer portal, in addition to adding fresh faces to the team.
Here’s a look at the new additions to VCU’s men’s basketball team:
Alexis Washington, Staff Writer
Jadrian Tracey – Tracey will be joining the Rams as a 6-foot-5-inch-guard. He is a redshirt fourth-year transfer from the University of Oregon, where he averaged 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists, according to Go Ducks. Tracey played at Saint Joseph’s University his first year and two games of his second year before transferring to Florida Southwestern University.
His veteran experience will make him a great asset to the team. He played in all 35 games with the Oregon Ducks and led them to a second straight appearance in the NCAA tournament, according to winknews. Martelli will focus on a fast-paced playing style, something Tracey is not shy of.
Tracey ended his season with the Oregon Ducks with a career high of 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists, according to GoDucks. His athleticism and shooting abilities will contribute to VCU’s success.
Ahmad Nowell – Nowell is a 6-foot first-year guard from the University of Connecticut who averaged 1.5 points, 1.1 assists and 0.9 rebounds. He played at Imhotep Charter Institute High School in Philadelphia, according to the UConn Huskies. Despite Nowell just starting his collegiate career, he is coming off many accolades.
Nowell won three state championships at Imhotep and clinched the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 5A title in his last final year in addition to Player of the Year and First Team All-State as a pick in Pennsylvania as a senior, according to the UConn Huskies.
He is known for his defensive ends on the floor and aggressive playing style, according to 247sports. Nowell’s fast tempo is a needed addition for the Rams.
Ethan York, Contributing Writer
Tyrell Ward – Tyrell Ward is another notable pickup for the VCU Rams going into the 2025 season. Ward joins the Rams as a third-year guard from Louisiana State University. Standing at 6-foot-6-inches and 195 lbs., Ward has shown he is a capable player. In the 2023-2024 season, Ward averaged 9.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and had a field goal percentage of 43%, according to ESPN.
In that season, Ward started in ten games and appeared in a total of 31 contests for LSU, according to MSN. Ward has proven he will be a capable asset for VCU. He scored in double figures in the last seven of his 11 games, including a stretch of four straight games with double figures, according to MSN.
Ward is a great pickup for VCU. His athleticism and size will help him on the court in the Atlantic 10 conference, along with his elite three-point shooting.
Marcus Leary, Contributing Writer
Lazar Djokovic – Lazar Djokovic is an imposing pick-up for the Rams front court. Hailing from Serbia, the 6-foot-11-inch, 235-lbs forward played one season at the College of Charleston and is now joining the Rams as a third-year for the 2025-2026 campaign. He played in 29 games, starting in 19 of them, according to College of Charleston Athletics.
Djokovic is a threat on both offense and defense. He averaged 7.9 points per game, scoring a career-high 20 against The Citadel. The big man also uses his frame to fight for rebounds.
He totaled 182 rebounds last season, 119 of which came on the defensive glass, and averaged 6.3 rebounds per game. He had five games with double-digit rebounds, including a career-high 15 against Campbell University, according to College of Charleston Athletics.
Djokovic’s size, paired with his rebounding ability, will not only make him difficult to stop offensively but also allow the Rams to extend possessions.
Nykolas Lewis – Lewis is the first freshman recruited by Martelli to join the Rams. The high school senior point-guard out of Washington D.C. measures in at 6-foot-1-inches, 195 lbs. Lewis is a nationally ranked four-star recruit coming in as the number 56 recruit in the country, according to ESPN.
In November 2024, Lewis signed a letter of intent to play at Xavier University. He reopened his recruitment after decommitting from Xavier on March 28. He committed to VCU less than a month later, on April 18, according to 24/7 Sports.
Lewis played high school basketball at Gonzaga College High School. In the 2024-2025 season, Lewis averaged 12.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists while helping the Eagles to the DCSAA Class AA championship. Lewis was also named the DC MaxPreps Player of the Year, according to MaxPreps.
