October 7, 2009

THREE RAMS NAMED TO CAA MEN’S BASKETBALL SILVER ANNIVERSARY TEAM

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Commonwealth University men’s basketball program has a history rich with a tradition of excellence.

Three members that have helped mold that tradition of excellence were honored on Tuesday evening as members of the Colonial Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Silvery Anniversary Team.

Eric Maynor, Domonic Jones and Bernard Hopkins were among the 25-man team that recognized the best players in the CAA’s rich men’s basketball history. The team included 16 former CAA Players of the Year, nine All-America selections and seven NBA draft picks.

Although Hopkins was only with the Black & Gold for two seasons, he made sure Rams fans would always remember him. Scoring 15.0 points a game and compiling 950 points in just two years, he will forever go down as one of the most dominant big men in school history.

During his senior year in 1995-1996, he became the first player in CAA history to record 500+ points, 300+ rebounds, 70+assists and shoot 50 percent or better from the field. His 18 double-doubles during that year remain a single-season school record.

He averaged 16.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game during that year to earn recognition as the CAA Player of the Year and Virginia State Player of the Year. His leadership helped VCU capture the 1996 CAA Championship and a NCAA Tournament berth.

Perhaps Jones will be remembered for leading the Rams back to the “Big Dance” in 2004, but that tournament was just a microcosm of what the Chesterfield, Va., native accomplished during his four years at VCU.

Finishing his career in the top-five in points (1,616 points), Jones was known for his prolific scoring ability throughout his career, ranking as one of only five players in school history to tally over 500 points in just his sophomore season (516 points in 2001-02).

After averaging 16.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists during his senior year, he was named the CAA Player of the Year and earned honorable mention All-American accolades.

Maynor finished his VCU career as the all-time leading scorer (1,953 points) and all-time leading assists man (674). His career will forever be remembered for his game-winning, 16-foot jumper with 1.8 seconds left to beat perennial power, Duke, in the First Round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

That shot was a foreshadowing of things to come as the Raeford, N.C. native went on to win back-to-back CAA Player of the Year awards and was among 16 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award in both 2008 and 2009. During his senior season in 2008-2009, he averaged 22.4 points and 6.2 assists per game to earn Honorable Mention AP All-American status.