Two former VCU standouts achieved their NBA dreams Thursday night, with both Max Shulga and Jamir Watkins hearing their names called in the draft.

Shulga, the Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year, was selected 57th overall by Orlando before being dealt to Boston. The 6-foot-5 guard becomes the 23rd player from VCU’s program to be drafted into the NBA and the fourth since 2021.

Watkins, who transferred to Florida State after helping VCU capture the 2023 A-10 championship, went 43rd overall to Utah and was subsequently traded to Washington.

During his final collegiate season, Shulga put up impressive numbers: 15 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4 assists per game while connecting on 39% of his three-point attempts. His leadership helped guide VCU to both A-10 regular season and tournament titles, earning the Rams an NCAA tournament appearance.

The Ukraine native from Kyiv transferred to VCU after three seasons at Utah State and made an immediate impact. Over two seasons in Richmond, he accumulated 1,045 points and established himself among the program’s elite shooters, ranking third all-time in three-point percentage (.402) and free throw accuracy (.826).

VCU’s NBA pipeline continues to flourish, with 12 former players having appeared in NBA games. Most recently, Vince Williams Jr. suited up for Memphis while Bones Hyland split time between the L.A. Clippers and Minnesota during the 2024-25 season.