Richmond men's basketball welcomes 'outstanding' recruiting class

University of Richmond stayed close to home when it announced what it called an outstanding three-player signing class on National Signing Day Wednesday.

Richmond welcomed National Letters of Intent from De’Monte Buckingham, Nick Sherod – both of who are natives of Richmond -- and Grant Golden, all three-star recruits, according to a press release.

Head coach Chris Mooney, who is in his 11th year at Richmond, told The Richmond Times-Dispatch that this was one of Richmond’s best classes.

“The class that produced Kevin Anderson and Justin Harper was pretty good,” Mooney said. “But on paper, coming in, it probably wasn’t as celebrated as the accomplishments of these guys.” Anderson and Harper were stars at Richmond when the Spiders made back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 2011.

Buckingham, who plays at Henrico High School, and Sherod, who attends nearby St. Christopher’s School, are both 6-foot-4-inch local players who averaged more than 20 points and nine rebounds per game in their junior seasons. Mooney described Buckingham as an outstanding player who can play anywhere on the floor, while labeling Sherod as one of the best shooters in the country, according to a press release.

Although Golden, a 6-foot-9-inch center, is not from Richmond, he, too, comes from Virginia. Golden, who comes from St. James School in Hagerstown, Maryland, is a native of Winchester, Virginia.

Richmond will open its 2015-16 season Friday night when it hosts James Madison.

Contact editor-in-chief Jack Nicholson at jack.nicholson@richmond.edu