We rest in May, for sure.
After former coach Ryan Odom left for UVa and Phil Martelli Jr. was hired as the 14th head coach in VCU basketball history, all eyes are now on the transfer portal and the often chaotic task of building a roster in today’s college basketball landscape.
While the NCAA tournament is still underway, most teams across the country are already focused on the 2025-26 season.
What will Martelli’s first VCU team look like? Who will be on his coaching staff? Could some local players in the transfer portal be considering a return home? Which Rams from the Odom Era will remain, and who might join him in Charlottesville?
Here’s a roundup of the latest news surrounding VCU basketball:
VCU’s New Head Coach: Phil Martelli Jr. Martelli Jr. has taken the helm, and he’s already outlined his aspirations for the Rams. He emphasized the program’s blue-blood status and his vision to elevate VCU basketball.
Richmond Native Jaden Daughtry Enters the Portal Indiana State sophomore Jaden Daughtry, a Richmond native and former star at L.C. Bird and Benedictine, has entered the transfer portal. Daughtry had a standout sophomore season with ISU, averaging 12.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. The stretch-four, who spent some time playing center for the Sycamores, is considering a return to his home state for his next step in his basketball career.
“I’m looking for a family environment like what I had at ISU,” Daughtry shared, reflecting on his time at the school. He’s eyeing the possibility of a homecoming, and VCU could be a potential destination.
Other Local Players in the Portal In addition to Daughtry, Richmond’s Dennis Parker Jr. and Davin Cosby Jr. have also entered the portal. Parker, a former All-Metro player of the year, played for NC State last season. Cosby, who began his career at Alabama before transferring to Wake Forest, averaged 5.6 points in 15.7 minutes per game last season.
Odom’s Staff Follows Him to UVa It was reported that former VCU assistants Matt Henry, Bryce Crawford, and Darius Theus will join Odom’s staff at Virginia. Theus, a Rams legend, will be especially missed by VCU fans who hoped he might stay to take over as head coach. However, Bradford Burgess, another former Ram, attended Martelli’s press conference, signaling he might stay with the program.
VCU Players in the Transfer Portal Several VCU players, including freshmen Brandon Jennings and Luke Bamgboye, have entered the portal. However, players like Terrence Hill Jr. and Christian Fermin have not, which suggests they might be staying with the team.
Potential Transfers to Watch South Florida’s leading scorer, Jayden Reid, is visiting VCU this week. Other players reportedly in contact with VCU include Chris Bell (Syracuse), Deuce Turner (UC Santa Barbara), Cole Hargrove (Drexel), and others.
With the transfer portal still active, the team’s roster could see significant changes before the new season.
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