A10 Basketball: Breaking down each program's 2018 recruiting class

Atlantic 10 Basketball: Breaking down each program’s 2018 recruiting class

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 13: A detailed view of a Spalding basketball during a quarterfinal game between the Davidson Wildcats and La Salle Explorers in the 2015 Men's Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament at the Barclays Center on March 13, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 21: De’Riante Jenkins #0 of the VCU Rams leads the fast break during the first half of the game against the California Golden Bears during the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2017 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

VCU Rams

VCU is one of the wildcards of the conference. It wouldn’t be surprising to see them in the middle of the pack again, but it also wouldn’t be surprising to see them near the top if everything works out. Coming into Coach Mike Rhoade’s second year, the Rams have a lot to be excited about. Although they lost their best player in Justin Tillman, they’ll see an even better version of De’Riante Jenkins, along with their new potential best player in Marcus Evans (although he’ll most likely miss some time), who followed Coach Rhoade’s over from Rice and averaged 20 points per game in his last season there.

On the freshman front, Ram nation is most excited about PJ Byrd, the 6’1″ 3-star point guard who spurned offers from Boise State and New Mexico State to join VCU. With Jonathan Williams’, last year’s starting point guard, departure, Byrd is the most likely candidate to take over the job – at least until Evans is healthy. He should be exciting to watch working in tandem with Jenkins. He’s exactly the kind of ball-handler and playmaker that Rams fans need to get over the disappointment of last season. Because of his passing, outside shooting, and quickness, and because of the minutes he will most likely see, I’m confident we’ll see Byrd’s name on the conference’s All-Rookie team at season’s end.

Joining Byrd in the backcourt will be KeShawn Curry. Between Jenkins, Evans, Byrd, and Malik Crowfield, it’s tough to project how many minutes will be available for Curry, but it will be a good opportunity for him to develop and not be pressured into too much responsibility.

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In terms of forwards and big men, the Rams are set to bring in 3-star forward Vince Williams. Williams likely won’t start at the 3 – that job will be reserved, at least to begin the season, for Issac Vann, but he should still see time as the Rams aren’t overflowing with talented forwards. Big man Corey Douglas should also have opportunities in relief for Marcus Santos-Silva and Sean Mobley.

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