Rasheen Davis returns to New York as VCU competes in 2K Classic

Seen here holding his son while cutting a piece of the net from first of two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championships he won while on staff at Manhattan, Rasheen Davis looks forward to his homecoming this weekend as his VCU team comes to New York for 2K Classic. (Photo courtesy of Jaden Daly)

His reputation is that of an ace recruiter. But once you spend even a few minutes with Rasheen Davis, you see that he is much more than an evaluator of talent.

Having spent time learning from Hall of Famer Rick Pitino, as well as two other coaches in Jamie Dixon and Chris Mack that can do more than just hold their own with their contemporaries, the native New Yorker had already established his coaching credentials by the time he arrived on Steve Masiello's staff at Manhattan College in 2012.

It was in Riverdale, however, where Davis honed his skills to their current proficiency, not only finding the talent that helped guide the Jaspers to back-to-back Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championships, but also mentoring them on and off the court in preparation for what his players would face after their careers were over.

"To me," he said, his ever-present humility prevalent in his inflection, "the way I coach is so much bigger than basketball. I formed relationships with those players at Manhattan. I looked at them not just like players, but like my little brothers. There were a lot of times that I would get on them, but it wasn't about just basketball, it was life decisions and using basketball in the same avenue."

Now in his first season as an assistant to Will Wade at VCU, Davis gets the chance this weekend to return home for the first time since leaving Manhattan, as the Rams head to Madison Square Garden for the 2K Classic, first taking on Duke Friday evening before meeting either Georgetown or Wisconsin on Sunday.

"I'm excited for the opportunity," he humbly stated. "Coming back home is always challenging even though it's a business trip, because you've got so many family and friends there to support you. But any time you get to play in the Garden, it's a special place, and then you get a chance to play the national champs, it's something that you look forward to. It's encouraging."

The feeling of encouragement is something Davis is no stranger to, having always been there to lend a positive voice and a helping hand to everyone he comes into contact with, and it remains one of his greatest strengths that continues to serve him well as he climbs the proverbial coaching ladder with the Rams, the reigning Atlantic 10 champions who have invested in not just their long-term future with a $25 million practice facility that is currently under construction, but also their immediate future with Davis entrenched firmly in the fold.

"It's a tremendous opportunity," he said of being able to join the staff at VCU. "It was very simple because I kind of already knew Will, and when he reached out to me, obviously my primary concern was my family and what they wanted to do. It really wasn't much of a conversation, it was how my family felt about it and we were going from there." 

It is an innate ability to connect with people that makes Davis such a revered and recognized name in the coaching industry. He has always managed to cultivate and reinforce lasting relationships with not only players, but also between his program's fan base and his fellow coaches. Masiello, his former boss, stated without equivocation on several occasions that he would put Davis "up against anyone in the country" when it came to how vital he was to not just the coaching staff, but also the program. Such a parallel existed in his three-year tenure at Manhattan, and has only grown in leaps and bounds in his new locale.

"I mean, and you know, in my opinion, Jasper Nation is by far the best fan base in the MAAC," he declared. "I don't think any opposing team or anyone who's ever been to a game there would dispute that. But VCU is another level. They're very passionate about the program, they're very supportive. Obviously, everybody likes a winner, but they pretty much know everything. They know the kind of toothpaste you use in the morning, that's how passionate they are."

VCU's fan base will no doubt turn out in droves this weekend as their beloved players bring their brand of basketball to the Big Apple, but while "Ram Nation" enjoys themselves, Davis was quick to reiterate that this weekend is strictly business as opposed to engaging in family reunions, so to speak.

"Honestly speaking, there's no time to catch up," he candidly assessed. "We play Friday, there's a quick turnaround for two very talented teams in either Wisconsin or Georgetown, so you don't have time to do anything other than watch film. College coaches don't get time on these kind of trips."