By SAM LANCE
Class of 2025 three-star center Silas Barksdale has committed to VCU and head coach Ryan Odom, he announced live on the 247Sports YouTube page.
Barksdale — the 6-foot-8, 225-pound big man from Woodside (VA) and the Boo Williams Nike EYBL AAU program — chose VCU over Butler and Miami. He will have a chance to be the hometown hero, as his current high school is just an hour from campus.
“The coaching staff, it was crazy,” Barksdale said of why he made the decision. “First time I pulled up there, they made me feel like I was already part of the team, you know. Coach just reminds me of my coach, and they’re really close… Coach Odom is a great coach. He just let me know I’m going to be able to play my own game and just have fun.”
Barksdale had a productive summer playing with the Boo Williams program. He features a strong back-to-the-basket game, can knock down shots from the mid-range, and has great rebounding instincts. At Peach Jam, Barksdale averaged 10.0 points and 11.6 rebounds per game while playing in Pool A, one of the toughest pools of the tournament. The teams Boo Williams played in Pool A had a combined record of 50-25 in the EYBL regular season.
Barksdale’s message for VCU fans: “We’re going to get a lot of wins. My work ethic is crazy. I never want to leave the gym. And I’m used to winning so we’re going to be winning a lot.”
VCU now has its first commit in the class of 2025. The Rams are also in the mix with and have offered prospects like guards Chance Mallory, Jake West, Mouse Williams and Trey Williams, as well as forwards/big men like Matt Gilhool, Nicholas Randall, Mikey Wilkins and Kareem Stagg. Small forward Adlan Elamin has an official visit set for Sept. 20.
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