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Atlantic 10 Basketball: Each team’s best acquisition out of 2023 transfer portal

By Adam Bernstein

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 04: The Atlantic-10 logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the George Washington Colonials and the Virginia Commonwealth Rams at the Smith Center on March 4, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 04: The Atlantic-10 logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the George Washington Colonials and the Virginia Commonwealth Rams at the Smith Center on March 4, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Max Shulga #11 of the Utah State Aggies, shoots a layup as Keli Leaupepe, #34, and Chance Stephens, #3 of the Loyola Marymount Lions (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images) /

Max Shulga – 6’4 Guard – VCU Rams

Utah State guards Max Shulga and Sean Bairstow are following their head coach, Ryan Odom, to Virginia Commonwealth University. Shulga and Bairstow had career years last season as both were starters and considerable assets to Odom’s Aggies team that finished 26-9 and reached the NCAA Tournament.

Last season, Shulga averaged 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and shot 42.8 percent. The 6-foot-4 junior out of Kyiv, Ukraine, posted a career-high 29 points and seven rebounds in an 80-65 victory over the Air Force Falcons.

Bairstow also significantly contributed to the Aggies’ success during their 2022-23 campaign. The 6-foot-8 senior guard averaged 10.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and shot 47.3 percent. He enters next season as a graduate student with VCU, and we can expect the veteran to perform well with plenty of experience under his belt.

While I believe that Shulga will be VCU’s main threat on both sides of the ball and will ultimately serve as the team’s primary floor general, I wouldn’t count Bairstow out for another breakout season. Lastly, with their previous chemistry on and off the court and their preexisting relationship with head coach Ryan Odom, VCU’s backcourt should be set up for success in 2023-24.

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