VCU Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Rams
Key Reserves
VCU clearly boasts an experienced and talented starting five but the roster also features a strong bench. Over the course of last season, Coach Rhoades mostly deployed an 11-man rotation and it is reasonable to assume a similar playing time construct this time around. Even though the Rams had to wave goodbye to Sean Mobley and Michael Gilmore as key contributors last year, an impressive recruiting class should make up a fair amount of VCU’s depth.
With that said, though, the Rams’ top reserves will likely be returning senior wings Malik Crowfield and Mike’l Simms. These two both averaged ~15 minutes per game last season and should reprise their roles as the first duo off the bench for the Rams. They are definitely proven contributors and their experience will be valuable on an otherwise young group of reserves. Crowfield and Simms combined to average 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
Although neither is a particularly dangerous scorer, both are intelligent defenders that fit in VCU’s system. It is important to mention, though, that Crowfield is a career 36.4% shooter from 3-point range (99-for-272) and his presence as a perimeter threat off the bench is valuable. Simms also has potential as a shooter but only connected on 26.4% of his 3PA last season. Now that he is a senior, it is unlikely he makes a major leap from distance.
The other returning reserve pieces are rising sophomores. Vince Williams, most notably, looks poised to play a major role off the bench. He was the top reserve for the Rams last season as a freshman while showcasing his all-around ability. Although not a threat from 3-point range (yet), he does just about everything else for the squad. He is fresh off averaging 4.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.0 steals in 15.0 minutes per game last season. With an athletic 6-foot-6 frame, he looks poised to be a primary back-up in the frontcourt. Williams might be on the verge of a breakout sophomore campaign.
His second-year counterpart will have a more difficult time remaining in the rotation. KeShawn Curry is a 6-foot-4 guard who averaged 5.6 minutes per game last season. While he showed some flashes of his potential, there are a ton of incoming freshmen that might be capable of leaping him in the rotation.
The most highly-touted of this group of newcomers is definitely Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland. Although not the most physically-built guard, Hyland arrives in the Commonwealth as the No. 81 overall prospect in the 2019 recruiting class. His commitment was a massive coup for Coach Rhoades and he projects as an immediate reserve contributor behind the elite backcourt duo of Evans/Jenkins. He should be able to play a significant role this season while learning from that star senior duo before emerging as a team leader in the future.
Hyland is highly-regarded as a creating guard. He is incredibly quick and decisive with the ball in his hands. His playmaking will be evident in the opening seconds of his career with the Rams even if he needs to add a bit more strength before emerging as a legit star. “Bones” is in the perfect situation to play a major role as a freshman behind Evans before taking on a starring role as a sophomore and beyond. Buy stock NOW.
Jimmy “Tre” Clark III and Jarren McAllister (No. 318) are the other incoming freshmen guards while Hason Ward (No. 409) rounds out the class as an athletic forward. All of these newcomers look like ideal fits for Coach Rhoades’ system and could compete for playing time right away. Considering the ridiculous amount of depth on this roster, it might be hard to crack the rotation but these three will be viable options. Clark is a physical 6-foot-4 guard with the ability to defend all over the court. That certainly bodes well for his future of wreaking havoc defensively.
McAllister is a much different player as a superb athlete with plenty of length. He uses his athleticism remarkably well on both ends of the floor and has really filled out his 6-foot-_ frame with more muscle in recent months. He is a former Virginia Tech commit. These two will likely see some playing time but they will have to beat out Crowfield and/or Simms to see big-time roles. Either way, they will be major contributors in the future.
Hason, though, might be the most-likely to receive significant playing time this season. The versatile 6-foot-8 forward brings plenty of size to the table and could immediately fill a reserve role in the frontcourt. The Rams do not possess a ton of size (and they don’t need to with their system) and Hason could slide into a back-up role behind Douglas and MSS. Expect him to potentially be the second-most impactful freshman for VCU behind Bones.