Ben Martindale, Staff Writer
In 2025, VCU head men’s basketball coach Phil Martelli Jr. started his tenure with the Rams by bringing in the No. 46 ranked recruiting class in the country. Now, following a successful first season, Martelli and his staff welcome an exciting group of fresh faces to the fold. Ranked No. 29 in the nation according to Rivals, this year’s incoming class is one to look out for.
Incoming transfers
Blake Harper
Blake Harper is a 6-foot-7-inch third-year guard with huge upside. In his first year, playing at Howard University, he became the first Mid-Easter Athletic Conference player to win rookie of the year and player of the year in the same season.
Harper is a proven scorer, averaging just shy of 20 points per game at Howard, making him a welcome addition to an already talented Rams backcourt. The third-year guard is coming off of a less productive season at Creighton University in which he averaged 7.7 points per game.
Torey Alston
Torey Alston is a third-year forward who boasts a lengthy 6-foot-8-inch frame and has exciting two-way potential. Alston averaged an impressive 13 points and eight rebounds last season at Middle Tennessee State. His highlight reel is littered with emphatic rejections that will compliment an already aggressive VCU defense.
Alston showed improvement throughout last season, especially on the offensive end of the floor. As the season progressed Alston became more and more aggressive offensively, scoring in double figures in 11 of 13 games to close out the season. His efficient brand of scoring will fit in nicely with a VCU team that values taking good shots.
High school recruits
Sammy Jackson
As a top 70 player in his class and four-star recruit, Sammy Jackson had offers to play at SEC, Big 10, ACC and Big 12 schools but decided early on in the recruiting process that VCU was the place for him. Jackson was guided through the recruiting process by his father, former NBA player Marc Jackson.
Jackson is a 6-foot-6-inch wing with a tight handle and silky smooth jumper that can score with ease. According to 247 Sports’ ranking system, Jackson is the fifth-best prospect in VCU program history.
Collin Ross
Collin Ross is a 6-foot-10-inch forward who played his high school ball at SPIRE Academy. Ross boasts a pro-sized frame coupled with elite athleticism that enables him to be effective on both ends of the floor.
Ross has been touted as one of the best two-way players in his class and fits right in with the type of athletic defender Martelli has utilized so effectively. The upside is huge for Ross who figures to have an opportunity to make an immediate impact for the Rams.
Departing players
Terrence Hill Jr.
Losing second-year guard Terrence Hill Jr. is a huge blow for a VCU team that relied heavily on his talent down the stretch of last season. The 6-foot-3-inch guard truly came into his own last season, showing legitimate NBA talent and proving himself to be one of the best bench scorers in all of college basketball.
Hill, who signed with the University of Tennessee, will always be remembered by VCU fans for his iconic game winning three against the University of North Carolina in the 2026 NCAA tournament.
Christian Fermin
Christian Fermin played four seasons at VCU and started every game during the Rams’ 2023-2024 season. Fermin is an excellent shot blocker who averaged 1.2 blocks per game during his VCU career.
Fermin’s 2025-2026 season was cut short due to personal reasons, resulting in him appearing in just four games. Fermin always got a big pop from the VCU crowd when he entered the game and will be missed by the fans.
Keyshawn Mitchell
Electing to follow coach Martelli from Bryant following the 2024-2025 season, Mitchell struggled to see meaningful minutes, playing 10 per game, half of his average the season prior. At six feet and 11 inches, Mitchell boasts an imposing frame and still has lots of potential on both ends of the floor if he can find the right system.
Obinnaya Okafor
Initially a walk-on, Okafor earned a scholarship from VCU prior to the 2023-2024 season. Unfortunately for Okafor, injuries sidelined him for the entire 2023-2024 season and he has been unable to work his way into the VCU lineup since.
Jordann Dumont
6-foot-8-inch Jordann Dumont came to VCU after spending a season at Villanova. While initially an exciting prospect for the Rams, Dumont failed to make a meaningful impact, playing a total of just 16 minutes over the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Retained players
Nyk Lewis
Following an outstanding freshman season, first-year guard Nyk Lewis earned Atlantic 10 rookie of the year honors. The athletic floor general will look to build on his early success and cement his status as one of the best young guards in the country.
Lazar Djokovic
Third-year forward Lazar Djokovic was a mainstay in the starting lineup last season, delivering in big moments time and time again. Retaining the 6-foot-11-inch forward is a big win for the Rams — whose roster has gotten smaller with the losses of Fermin and Mitchell.
Brandon Jennings
Reeling from the loss of star guard Terrence Hill Jr, VCU will need to rely on other players to run the show. Brandon Jennings, who will be entering his third year at VCU, is prepped and ready to do just that after stepping into the starting role last season.
Jennings, a Richmond native and fan favorite, showed noticeable improvement across the board last season, boosting his scoring average from 2.7 points per game to 8.5 points per game on an elite 43 percent from three point range.
Ahmed Nowell
Second-year guard Ahmed Nowell was the picture of reliability last season for the Rams. Taking pressure off of Terrence Hill Jr. in the backcourt, Nowell proved to be a capable scorer on and off the ball. Nowell averaged 4.5 points per game and shot 41 percent from behind the arc last season.
Michael Belle
Michael Belle will return to VCU following the most productive year of his college career. The third-year guard/forward averaged 7.3 points per game and 5 rebounds per game in 22 minutes per game, all career highs. More than the stats, Belle was a sparkplug off the bench and brought a winning mentality to each possession, both offensively and defensively.
Jordan Tillery
First-year guard Jordan Tillery is coming off of a quiet freshman season that saw him appear in 12 games and average seven minutes per contest in those appearances. Tillery, an athletic 6-foot-5-inch guard that can get downhill in a hurry, still has boatloads of potential and will figure to get plenty of chances to prove himself over the course of the coming season.
Tyrell Ward
Third-year guard Tyrell Ward, who transferred from LSU prior to the 2025-2026 season, was an excellent pickup for VCU and an important piece in winning the A-10 tournament. The athletic guard averaged 5.7 points per game off the bench and brought energy and intensity to every possession on both ends of the floor.