Joey Rodriguez

Joey Rodriguez - Rodriguez has actually already begun his professional career. Once his run with VCU ended, Rodriguez signed with Andy Miller of ASM Sports, and began playing in Puerto Rico, the homeland of his grandparents. Playing for San German, Rodriguez has averaged 4.5 points and 2.2 assists in 14 games thus far, playing alongside fellow former VCU guard Jesse Pellet-Rosa, the man Rodriguez sort-of replaced with the Rams. Pellet-Rosa has spent his career playing in Puerto Rico in the summer time, then finding some European gigs for the rest of the calendar year. Rodriguez seems likely to do the same. For all the heart, leaderships, intangibles etc that he brings, he's just too small.

Most of the ball handling is done by 5'10 senior Joey Rodriguez, who ranks 58th in the country with 4.8 assists per game, with a decent 2.1:1 assist/turnover ratio. Working on Rodriguez's favour there is that missed shots don't count as turnovers - a decent three point shooter, Rodriguez undermines that with occasionally terrible shot selection, and, due to his lack of size, he is little threat inside of the arc save for an inefficient floater. Nevertheless, he moves the ball and runs a good pick-and-roll game, has good hands and energy on the defensive end, serving as the team's unquestioned, hugely confident, perhaps over-confident leader. Alongside him, 6'2 guards Brandon Rovell (senior) and Rob Brandenberg (freshman) do most of the jumpshooting, while sophomore backup point guard Darris Theus (not related to Reggie) can push the tempo, although he can't make a shot himself. VCU are also integrating two freshman big men, 6'9 athlete Juvonte Reddic and 7'0 D.J. Haley, both athletic for their size yet also both very raw at this juncture.