Basketball championships run in the Nelson family and there is room for more.

Jason Nelson Jr. has become a ringleader of VCU’s talented “Bench Bunch” that has spurred the Rams to the threshold of the Atlantic 10’s top perch.

The 5-foot-10 guard led VCU with 13 points in just 14 minutes of court time in the 49-47 win over No. 21-ranked Dayton on Feb. 9 at the sold out (7,637) Siegel Center.

In a tense defensive struggle, “J-Nel” hit four of five shots from the floor, including three of four beyond the arc.

Nelson’s trophy case is well stocked.

He helped Varina High to the 2018 State Class 4 title and then John Marshall to the 2020 crown.

In two seasons at Varina and one at JM, his teams were 75-6. He was likely denied another JM championship in 2021 when the season was canceled during the pandemic.

Jason Nelson Sr. helped win some bling of his own in 2005 as a member of the NCAA Division II NCAA champion Virginia Union Panthers.

Nelson Jr. was redshirted his true freshman season at the University of Richmond and became a Spiders regular last season, averaging eight points and two assists.

He transferred to VCU this season, with sophomore eligibility, in part to play with his old AAU Team

Loaded mates, Roosevelt Wheeler (also his teammate at JM), Alphonzo Billups (crossed paths at Varina) and Joe Bamisile (Monacan).

Nelson has started six of 24 games for the Rams but seems comfortable as a leading man on the “Bench Bunch.” In the win over Fordham, the VCU reserves outscored their starters, 42-33. Against Dayton, the subs had 23 of the 49.

Overall, Nelson has averaged seven points while hitting 37% from behind the arc and 81% of his free throws.

The Dayton win lifts VCU’s record to 16-8 overall and 8-3 in the A-10. Richmond leads at 9-1 with Dayton and Loyola-Chicago at 9-2.