Alexis Washington, Assistant Sports Editor
There is no denying men’s basketball has become a driving force at VCU. It is the only sport that constantly sells out, bringing students, alumni and community members together — all sharing the same passion.
That identity did not form overnight. It was built on the foundation laid by Black players who reshaped the program long before it became a national brand.
Charles McLeod became the first Black men’s basketball player at Richmond Professional Institute, now VCU, in 1966 and was arguably the founding father of the program.
McLeod transferred from Virginia State University after limited time on the court. That changed after he contacted former RPI Head Coach Ed Allen, who recruited the star athlete.
On the court, McLeod established the nickname “Charlie Mac the Jumping Jack,” using his size to pull down rebounds, block shots and play intense defense, according to VCU News.
McLeod was not only a pioneer breaking barriers on the court. It was his contributions off the court that made him special.
McLeod was a contributor for the Commonwealth Times in 1969. He wrote an article criticizing wartime efforts and the draft system.
He helped found VCU’s first Black organization in 1968, Students for Afro-American Philosophy, along with six other Black students. The mission was to challenge the university to embrace its urban institution status after he noticed the limited representation of the Black community.
“The only thing really new about the Black Revolution,” Charles McLeod said in an interview with the CT from 1969. “Is that now there is pride in being black. Before now, the Black man was unable to feel this pride.”
Decades later, Black athletes continued to make their way to Richmond. Former six-foot-three-inch guard Eric Maynor became a fan-favorite and the best athlete to ever rock the Black and Gold.
He is the all time leader in points with 1,953 and assists at 674. VCU had not seen that kind of player before — a poised guard with sharp court vision, a reliable pull-up jumper and the ability to dismantle defenses with speed.
Maynor took his talents pro, and ended a 17-year drought for the Rams by reaching the NBA in 2009 when he was selected with the No. 20 pick in the first round by the Utah Jazz.
He was the first Ram to get drafted first-round, later joined by two other Black players — Larry Sanders to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2010 and Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland to the Denver Nuggets in 2021.
Maynor paid his dues as a player and is now the current assistant coach for the reigning 2025 NBA champions, Oklahoma City Thunder.
Moments like that set a new standard for VCU basketball — one that made the absence of similar success stories in other sports, like football, even more noticeable.
At six-foot-seven-inches and 250 pounds, Mo Alie-Cox took his talents from the court to the field as an NFL tight end.
During his time with the Rams, Alie-Cox led the team to 2015 Atlantic-10 Championship and scored over 1,000 career points. He was also the 2016 Black History in the Making Award recipient.
After his basketball season, Alie-Cox did the unthinkable, signing as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts in 2017. He later signed a future contract with the Colts in 2018 after coming back from an injury.
McLeod, Maynor and Alie-Cox share a defining commonality — resilience and an unwavering drive to never give up.
Today, that same spirit lives on through players like second-year guards Brandon Jennings and Terrence Hill Jr., who are modeling themselves after legends who came before them. They both combined for an average of 23.3 points and 4.9 assists.
Jennings and Hill are embodying what leadership looks like. Their impact reaches beyond the game, serving as a powerful example for Black boys on who they can become.