It was a good Labor Day weekend for VCU, as the Rams learned that they had landed a rising premier talent in 2026 6’9 Collin Ross from Spire Academy. Ross took an official visit this past weekend to VCU, and it must have done the trick, as he announced his commitment on Monday afternoon.
Ross has been a player on the rise, garnering praise from many outlets for his ability to be a strong presence on both sides of the ball. At 6’9, he does a great job in being active on the defensive end, altering shots, bringing versatility as a defender, and the ability to finish at the rim offensively. Ross moves really well on the court, both offensively and defensively, finishing high at the rim with superb length and has been pegged as a player with the biggest upside with his unique impact as a rim protector.
Phenom Hoops caught up with Ross shortly after his commitment to ask why VCU was the place for him in the end. Here is what he had to say:
“The reason why VCU stuck out to me is that they showed love from the beginning, and it was easy to have a good bond with them. Coach Daly would check in with me and tell me about how they would develop me into a pro, both as a perimeter and interior player. Obviously, they have a great basketball program and facilities, but what stuck out the most was the people.”
247 Sports National Director Adam Finkelstein had this evaluation of him:
“Ross is a high upside prospect who is already a tremendous shot-blocker and still growing into both his body and offensive game. He’s a springy athlete who is mobile and quick off the ground vertically. He’s a terrific rim protector coming from the weakside of the floor, but he can block shots on the ball as well. He’s fairly switchable, not just because he can move his feet on the perimeter, but because he stays in the play, even if initially beaten, and can block shots when trailing the play.”
Read: Collin Ross, SPIRE Academy, Power Forward
This is the second commitment for VCU in the Class of 2026, as Ross now joins 6’7 Sammy Jackson and giving the Rams two Top 100 prospects for the upcoming recruiting class.