Former Minnesota signee Jonathan Nwankwo committed to VCU during his visit on Friday, his guardian told SNY.tv.
The 6-foot-9 Nwankwo also considered Boston College, Pittsburgh and SMU.
“He has a great relationship with [assistant coach] Rasheen Davis from his days at Manhattan,” Derrik Riullano told SNY.tv. “And the entire staff including Coach [Will] Wade really made him feel welcome. But it was the fans on Twitter who really made him feel welcome.”
The news comes one day after VCU landed former St. John’s commit Samir Doughty. They join Gerron Scissum, junior college transfer Ahmed Hamdy Mohamed and grad student Korey Billbury as newcomers to the Rams next year.
Nwankwo played for House of Sports and Victory Rock (FL) Prep and committed to Minnesota in September over Tennessee, Seton Hall, Rice, Temple and Fordham.
Nwankwo is a 2015 center originally from Nigeria, but his transcripts have not yet passed through the NCAA Clearinghouse because his high school clock began in 2009. Now he will need to apply for a waiver at VCU and may end up having to sit a year during his college career in order to play three years, although nothing has been determined yet.
When he committed, House of Sports coach Andy Borman told SNY.tv: “He’s a 6-9 big that’s coming into his own. He has a high D-1 body and a huge upside. He’s a great rebounder, good finisher, really efficient from the free throw line. He’s a no-brainer high-major kid.”
