Let's take a break from recruiting to talk LARRY SANDERS DRAFT MANIA!

While VCU is in great shape with the last 2 of their top 3 guard targets (Henry was the first) and we should get a commitment from at least 1 before June 20th, things have otherwise been somewhat quiet as the off season drags on. One nice thing that can keep VCU fans in basketball mode is the media buzz surrounding our very own junior Larry Sanders who has decided to forgo his final year of eligibility to go to the NBA.


He has already had a workout with the Indiana Pacers and most recently participated in the NBA Pre-Draft combine in Chicago. Here are Mr. Sanders' official NBA measurements:

Height: 6'9.25" barefoot, 6'10.5" with shoes
Weight: 222
Wingspan: 7'5.75"
Reach: 9'4"
Body fat %: 4.6%

Here is ESPNU's breakdown of Larry Sanders and some footage of him from the combine. He shows a pretty nice 3-point stroke hitting almost 50% of his shots behind the college line. Of course VCU fans know all about Larry's 3-point shot.



DraftExpress also sat down with Larry after the combine to ask him some questions about the process, getting advice from Eric Maynor and Amare Stoudamire as well as former VCU coach Anthony Grant on how to prepare and approach the draft process:



CBSSports.com has also done a minute long segment of highlights on Larry Sanders which can be found here.

Last week the Indiana Pacers worked out Larry Sanders in what was his first NBA workout leading up to the draft. The Pacers hold the #10 overall pick in the first round of this year's draft. Sanders was the only first-round prospect in a group that also included Sylven Landesberg (UVA), Gani Lawal (Georgia Tech), Mikhail Torrance (Alabama), Dominique Jones (South Florida) and Aubrey Coleman (Houston). Here are the highlights of the May 17th workouts in which Larry Sanders performed pretty well.



After the workouts Pacers.com interviewed Larry Sanders to get his thoughts on his first workout, advice from VCU teammate and OKC Thunder point guard Eric Maynor, his thoughts on how he might fit in with the Pacers, what he wants to show NBA executives during the draft process, and what his expectations of where he'll go in the draft are:



Several NBA fan sites and draft sites have articles out discussing the possibility of Larry joining their teams including the OKC Thunder, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, and Boston Celtics. All of the major mock draft sites have Larry Sanders going in the first round ranging anywhere from 13th to 28th overall. It will be interesting to follow the draft process and we have to thank Larry Sanders for reinforcing VCU as a plausible program for NBA-caliber players. Both Juvonte Reddic and Pierria' Henry have stated that as an important selling point in passing over such programs as Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Maryland (in Reddic's case), and West Virginia, Dayton, Xavier, Arkansas, and Virginia Tech (in Henry's case). Let's hope we'll have more of these players giving us good news in the offseason leading up to the NBA draft. 2 NBA first-rounders in 2 years is pretty darn good for a mid-major program like VCU. Let's hope the trend continues! Good luck to Larry throughout the draft process!

Issiah Grayson to transfer...we have another scholarship ladies and gents

Rising sophomore point guard Issiah Grayson is leaving the VCU program and transferring in order to find a better situation for him to get good minutes. He was professional through and through and had a great demeanor on and off the court representing the program and school well. While things didn't work out for him on the court, he was professional about it all the way. I think I can speak for all Ram fans when I say 'Good luck and all the best in your future endeavors!'.

The Rams now have another scholarship and will not be looking to use it on just anybody. The staff has a good head start on 2011 and is in good shape with a number of prospects but will also keep the scholarship open in the event that a suitable mid-year transfer becomes available. Again the Report wishes Issiah 'Iggy' Grayson all the best and a bright future with whichever program he chooses to join.

ESPN's Paul Biancardi gives VCU props on spring signing period recruits!

Paul Biancardi at ESPN wrote an article covering all the highlights of the late signing period. He mentions VCU in the 'Others Making Moves' section with regards to adding size in Juvonte Reddic and Darrell Haley:

Link:

Virginia Commonwealth

The Commodores also added good size during this late signing period in centers Juvonte Reddic (Winston-Salem, N.C./Quality Education) and Darrell Haley (Palmdale, Calif./Palmdale). Reddic plays with great energy, has great athletic ability and can defend both post positions at 6-9. Haley has an impressive frame (6-10, 230 pounds) with broad shoulders and long arms, but needs to hone his offensive game.

The obvious error in calling us the Commodores aside (especially considering there is a VCU Rams logo right next to the blurb), it's nice press for VCU which was the only CAA school mentioned in the article.

4-star 2011 prospect Shane Larkin has VCU as his leader

A post on the VCURamNation boards by MistaChill tipped Ram fans off to an update on Larkin by Dave Telep at Scout.com. Larkin is a 5'11 guard who hails from the same high school as Mississippi standout Chris Warren.

He has offers from VCU, Clemson (Purnell’s regime), Central Florida, South Florida and George Mason. “It’s still VCU, probably the hardest." Larkin said. “That’s the school I like the most.”

He’s visited Miami and South Florida. Duke, Alabama, UCLA, USC, Harvard, Marquette, Wake Forest, Florida State and Florida remain in touch with him.

Larkin is a Scout.com 3 star (#20 PG), 4-star Rivals.com report (#76 in Rivals 150), and a 91 ESPN grade(#28 PG).

While the summer AAU session should heat up Larkin's recruitment, it is nice to see that we lead for his services right now.

Further thoughts on Pierria' Henry from the RTD and assistant coach Cliff Jackson

Tim Pearell of the Richmond Times-Dispatch got some material that didn't make it into the print article on Henry's commitment to VCU. He put the remaining material on his blog online. Here is the link.

It says that doctors told Henry he could have lost the leg or even died had he waited longer to have surgery. He won't be able to bear weight on the leg for the next 2 months and will be fully recovered in 6 months in time for the beginning of basketball season.

“It did make me appreciate things even more. I look at life differently now. You never know what tomorrow brings. You never know when the last time is you get to speak to anybody. I make sure my last words to everybody are, ‘I love you.’”

Thoughts from South Charleston assistant Cliff Jackson:

“In the long run, I think they’ve gotten themselves a pretty darn good player. The last two years Pierria’ has fiddled with football. He was getting some decent football looks, too. I just wonder how good Perry could be in a year-round, 12-month basketball situation.

“When he gets that individual attention, I just think his offensive skills will just get so much better.”

“He’s such a great defender. [Recruiters] liked his ability to play the point and score a little bit, but they were just amazed at how he defended and his willingness to play hard the whole time.”

“Probably his biggest strength is his competitiveness. He’s a go-getter and refuses to lose.”

“His leadership was very valuable this year. He leads by example. He’s not a very boisterous person. He just pretty much leads by his play and his competitiveness.”

Everything we're hearing seems to reinforce that this kid is a class individual in addition to being a great player. This seems to be a pattern for the types of kids Coach Smart is bringing in whereas Coach Grant would take chances on guys who were not so well-mannered and mature. Guys like DJ Haley (3.8 GPA), Juvonte Reddic (3.5), and Pierria Henry (3.25) seem to be solid in the classroom as well. All nice things to see if you are a VCU fan.

ESPN updates Henry and regrades him as a 90 (#41 SG)

ESPN has updated Henry's profile to reflect his commitment, but also downgraded him to a 90(#41 SG) from a 92(#29 SG). I got to catch a screenshot of the 2011 commit list for posterity since he was the highest-rated ESPN guy to commit to VCU since ESPN started grading.

Nonetheless, his updated grade is still very impressive and Shaka and staff are completely ripping it up on the trail. The fact that he has brought two 90+ recruits into the fold for 2011 before any other team in the conference even got 1 is a pretty impressive feat. Here's what ESPN had to say regarding Henry's commitment:

Charleston, W.Va., guard Pierria Henry has given Virginia Commonwealth head coach Shaka Smart and his staff a verbal commitment, according to sources close to the situation.

The 6-foot-3 Henry had offers from Akron and Marshall and was garnering interest from West Virginia and Xavier before deciding on the Rams.

ESPN.com Recruiting Coordinator John Stovall describes Henry as a "combo guard who is comfortable playing either spot."

"Pierria's got a good basketball I.Q. so he has no problem running a team. He is quick and strong enough to get in the lane and finish or dish it to a teammate and he's also a solid shooter out to 20 feet."

"Pierria was injured (thigh contusion) early on in the spring and may not play the rest of the travel circuit but overall this is an excellent get for the Rams," Stovall added. "He can play in almost any style but is at his best in an up-and-down system."

He joins Florida product Kasey Wilson in VCU's 2011 recruiting class.

More on Pierria Henry

In the day since Henry's commitment was announced, there have been a number of changes. Both Rivals and Scout updated their profiles to reflect his commitment with the former also rating him a 3-star recruit. He joins Kasey Wilson as a 3-star. The last 7 commitments to VCU have been Rivals 3-star recruits (from the classes of 2010 and 2011). There has also been a good amount of press on the event that outlines a lot of the background around Henry's commitment. I'll give a synopsis on the highlights of the material.

-Henry visited VCU in February with his grandfather Jerry Stephens. His grandfather was always partial to VCU who loved the staff, atmosphere, and program. He always asked when they would go back. Mr. Stephens passed away this month on May 3rd.

-Henry suffered a thigh contusion at the Pitt JamFest AAU event and had to go to a hospital in Pittsburgh for emergency surgery, the first staff to call him while in the Hospital was VCU.

-Henry's coach was somewhat surprised but did not question or sway his players decision but did state that he had offers from ACC, SEC, and Big East schools so VCU's staff obviously did something right.

-When asked Henry said West Virginia, Xavier, Virginia Tech, Arkansas, and Dayton had offered him.

-Henry committed to VCU because of the support his grandfather gave. He feels the coaching staff will be father-figures to him, something he lacked growing up after his father left when he was a small child. He also cited the ability to get to the NBA from VCU as a selling point.

-Henry has a 3.25 GPA and has qualified academically.

-His coach Vic Herbert says he's the premier defender in the state and takes pride in his commitment to defense and rebounding, something that will allow him to contribute immediately at the college level.

Here are some the better articles out there on his commitment as well as thoughts from Henry and his high school coach Vic Herbert.

Richmond Times-Dispatch article:

Charleston Daily Mail:

Charleston Gazette:

Kasey Wilson's ESPN Profile Updated to a 91!

To go along with awesome news of Pierria Henry's commitment to VCU (a 92 ESPN recruit), the first commit from the 2011 class Kasey Wilson has been bumped up from an 89 to a 91 and the #25 PF in the 2011 class as well!

Shaka Smart and staff are just outdoing themselves and if anyone thought 2010 was a great class, 2011 already looks better if ESPN is any indication! Congrats to Kasey Wilson!

Updated Kasey Wilson ESPN profile:

(credit goes to mwalvior on the VCURamNation boards for the find!)

Pierria Henry Commits to VCU!

The Rams have secured a HUGE commitment from 6’4, 186 pound combo guard Pierria Henry (incorrectly listed as Perry Henry on several sites) out of South Charleston high school in West Virginia. He is a Big East level player who sported a number of Division 1 offers including West Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Xavier among others. ESPN gives Henry at a 92 grade which would make him the highest-ranked recruit according to that service that VCU has garnered a commitment from since ESPN started their recruiting service. He was a two-sport standout for the Black Eagles starring at wide receiver and defensive back in football. Henry led them to 2 straight state championships in the sport and was named MVP in the state championship game this year . He’s no slouch on the basketball court either, scoring his 1000th point as a junior on February 11th. He was named Mountain State Athletic co-Player of the Year (with Wake Forest commit Chase Fischer) and 1st team All-State West Virginia. He was recently named MVP of the All-Ohio Nike Cup AAU tournament, leading his WV Wildcats 17U team to the title with 21 point, 9 rebound game in the final. Henry can do it all averaging 16.2 points, 8 boards, 6 assists, and 5 steals per game this past season.

Rivals Profile: 3 stars, offers from West Virginia, Xavier, Virginia Tech, VCU, Marshall, Ohio, Akron, Cleveland State, and Delaware.

ESPN Profile: 92 grade, considering Akron, Marshall, West Virgina, Xavier, and Virginia Tech.

Scout profile: unrated, offers from West Virginia, Xavier, Akron, and Marshall.

What makes his achievements in both sports all the more impressive is the fact that he comes from a tough family situation and despite his hardships has thrived. His father left him and his 4 siblings when he was just a child, leaving his mother working 2 jobs to keep the household afloat. His brother is sitting in a jail cell for allegedly shooting a man and Henry has had to grow up quickly and become the man of the house for his sisters. Things got so bad at home that his mother finally relented and let him go live with his girlfriend’s family to get him out of the negative environment surrounding his home. Without the money to pay for college, Henry’s flair for the athletic opened new doors towards completing a college education. The hardship of his life has given him toughness, heart, and desire that can’t be learned on the basketball court or the turf. He is one the hardest working players on the football field and was the leading rebounder on his team as a 6’4 sophomore guard. Henry’s hard work is not just limited to the athletic arena, as he also sports a GPA above 3.0 as well. While he’s a great player on the court, Henry looks to be an even more remarkable individual off of it.

An unfortunate injury during the AAU season sidelined Henry as he developed a blood clot in his right leg after being kneed in the thigh at the Pittsburgh JamFest AAU tournament at the University of Pittsburgh. It was the second injury after developing a deep thigh bruise in the Nike Cup tournament in Columbus the week before. The blood clot required immediate emergency surgery and so he underwent a number of surgeries to take care of it. While he is expected to make a full recovery, the timetable for recovery from such an event is anywhere from 3-6 months. This means that Henry will be unable to play in both AAU tournaments this summer and football in the fall. While Henry is a division 1 football prospect, he had not received any firm offers although many coaches were looking at him at the wide receiver position. With his recovery time impeding him from playing football this fall, basketball is the way to go for Henry.

Is anyone else thinking Jesse Pellot-Rosa here? Henry has all the makings of a tough, hard-nosed guard who can put up points in a hurry but also battle among the trees in the post to grab valuable rebounds. With offers from VCU, West Virginia, Xavier, Virginia Tech, Akron, Ohio, Cleveland State, and Delaware, Henry has been recruited by a wide variety of schools and ended up choosing the Rams. His ultimate goal is to go to the NBA in order to provide for the family and mother that have worked so hard their whole lives to get by: "That's why I keep working hard every day to get to the pros. That's my main thing; get my mom a nice home and a car that will work. Let her sit down and relax and enjoy life. Right now, she can't do that. She's been working ever since I can remember." Sound like a good kid to you? South Charleston AD Jason Redman agrees: "For him to go through the things that he's gone through and be the quality kid that he is ... Let's put it this way: I have a two-month old son, and I hope he grows up to be that kind of quality person." While it sounds like Shaka Smart and the rest of the VCU coaching staff have picked up a heck of a basketball player, it also looks like they’ve picked up an even more impressive individual in the process.

Henry joins 6’7 forward Kasey Wilson as the 2nd VCU commitment in the 2011 class. There are 2 spots remaining. I think I speak for all of Ram Nation when I say, "Welcome to VCU, Pierria Henry!"

Kasey Wilson and Florida Elite 17U win AAU State Tournament!

6'7 2011 verbal commit Kasey Wilson is keeping up the strong play in AAU as he and Florida Elite won the State AAU tournament at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida today. They breezed through pool play yesterday, blowing out opponents to the tune of 66-30, 68-39, and 55-38. Today the team faced stiffer competition but beat each opponent they faced to get to the finals and Team Stat led by Austin Rivers (the Scout.com #1 SG prospect in the class of 2011), Darius Perkins, Trevor Lacey and a number of other talented players. Austin Rivers didn't play in the final and Florida Elite killed Team Stat in the final to take the State AAU Tournament championship at the 17U level. Wilson continued to impress and had a great weekend!