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VCU Basketball: Rams’ 2017 recruiting class is finding its form

By Carmine Carcieri

Feb 16, 2016; Richmond, VA, USA; Virginia Commonwealth Rams head coach Will Wade (R) talks to Rams forward Justin Tillman (4) against the Rhode Island Rams during the second half at Stuart Siegel Center. The VCU Rams won 77-62. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2016; Richmond, VA, USA; Virginia Commonwealth Rams head coach Will Wade (R) talks to Rams forward Justin Tillman (4) against the Rhode Island Rams during the second half at Stuart Siegel Center. The VCU Rams won 77-62. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports /
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VCU basketball has landed a four-star and three-star recruit in their 2017 class already.

The VCU Rams are one of the most successful non-Power Five (or Big East) programs in the country. They have made six straight NCAA Tournaments, made the Final Four in 2011 and despite losing their head coach Shaka Smart to Texas last off-season, Will Wade has continued to thrive in Richmond.

Related Story: VCU off-season question marks

The Rams’ player development has been awfully impressive over the year’s, but it all starts with their work on the recruiting trail. Smart has always been a terrific seller of his program and it seems as if Wade has picked up right where Smart left off.

Their 2016 class consists of ESPN top 100 four-star recruit De’Riante Jenkins, three-star shooting guard Malik Crowfield and Ontario native Marquell Fraser.

Not to be out-done, but the Rams are already making waves with their 2017 class.

12 days ago, four-star point guard Lavar Batts became the Rams’ first commit in 2017. Batts is ranked 99th in ESPN’s top 100, is the 20th best point guard in the class and the second best player in the state of North Carolina.

Their second commitment came on Wednesday night, as three-star center Marcus Santos-Silva decided to play for Wade and company over Temple. Santos-Silva is not an ESPN or Scout.com top 100 player, but he is another body they can add to what is a thin front court.

Because they play in the Atlantic 10 and because of their love for developing homegrown talent, the Rams are always unlikely to receive one-and-done talents.

However, Batts is a player that received offers from a plethora of high major schools (Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Nebraska and Oklahoma), while Santos-Silva had offers from Boston College, Kansas State and DePaul.

Both of these recruits are four-year players who can extend the program’s success nationally.

Batts, a 6’2″, 165 pound guard, likely needs to add a whole lot of strength before stepping on the floor in 2017, but he is one of the better playmakers in the class. The Concord, NC native has excellent ball handling skills and good vision, which will help VCU make up for the loss of soon-to-be-graduate JeQuan Lewis.

Even though he must clean up some decision making and turnover concerns, Batts is lightning quick, can finish in traffic and has great athleticism.

Santos-Silva is the likely replacement for big man Mo Alie-Cox, who is entering his senior season. The 6’7″ prospect from Taunton, MA currently attends Vermont Academy and is the 9th best player in the state of Massachusetts in the class of 2017.

The big man has good length, a knack for locating the basketball, can score in the painted area and is a physical rebounder. In fact, Vermont Academy’s head coach Alex Popp told SNY’s Adam Zagoria that Santos-Silva is the second best rebounder to ever wear a uniform at the high school.

Next: 20 breakout candidates for 2016-17

The Rams are not done on the recruiting trail, however, it’s rather impressive to sit back and look at what they have developed over the last six years. Calling them a mid-major would be a disservice to what they have accomplished, both on the court and in terms of adding quality talent that other Atlantic 10 team’s are not always in contention for.