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Men's Basketball

VMI Basketball announces 2026 signing class

LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Head Basketball Coach Andrew Wilson announced today his program's signing class ahead of the 2026-27 season. 
 
The class features three athletes from the United States and five from Europe including the countries of Greece, Lithuania, Portugal and two from Sweden.
 
"I'm very excited about the incoming recruiting class," Wilson said. "With a strong group of experienced returners, we were able to target some very specific needs within our roster. This group of newcomers is big and physical, something our coaching staff felt was critical for us to elevate the program within the Southern Conference. I'm very confident this group of newcomers will continue to represent our program in a first-class way both on and off the court."
 
Cazell Henderson-Bradley is the younger brother of VMI senior Rickey Bradley, Jr., and Trap Johnson is the younger brother of senior TJ Johnson arriving at VMI by way of UC San Diego and Montana State. VMI is the only known Division I school in the country to have two sets of brothers on the same roster.
 
Below is the listing and player synopsis for each signee of the 2026 incoming class:
 
 
Cazell Henderson-Bradley
Guard – 6'0" - 176 – Milwaukee, Wisc.
PHHoenix Prep
 
The younger brother of VMI standout Rickey Bradley, Jr., Cazell comes to VMI by way of PHHoenix Prep in Phoenix, Arizona, the same basketball prep school that Rickey attended prior to VMI … named a Grind Session Standout Player … earned standout player status at the 2026 Tarkanian Classic … named to Arizona's CAA First Team All-State team … tabbed a Top 40 guard in the state of Arizona by Prep Hoops … graduated with honors with a 3.25 GPA.
 
 
 
Trap Johnson
Guard – 6'6" – 214
Belton, Texas
UCSD/Montana State/Belton HS
 
The younger brother of VMI junior sharpshooter TJ Johnson, Trap arrives at the Institute by way of the transfer portal following stops at Montana State (2024-25) and UC San Diego (2025-26). He will have three years of eligibility to play for the Keydets.
 
At UCSD this past season, he averaged 9.0 minutes per game over 25 contests played. He scored a career-high nine points in nine minutes played in a win at Cal State Bakersfield and pulled down a season-best five rebounds in a victory over Towson. He redshirted his freshman season at Montana State.

He was rated a three-star prospect out of Belton HS (Belton, Texas) by 247Sports and a Top-30 prospect in the state of Texas for the class of 2024. Named the All-District 22-5A Offensive Player of the Year following his senior season, he averaged 23.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game.
 
 
Rokas Zilys
Guard – 6'3" – 200
Naperville, Ill.
Vermont Academy | Marist HS (Chicago, Ill.)
 
Team captain and three-year member of the Vermont Academy … named to the NEPSAC Second Team by the New England Basketball Journal … earned NEPSAC AAA Honorable Mention All-Conference recognition … regarded as a prolific shot maker off the catch and dribble as well as a terrific defender and rebounder.
 
 
Dionysis Exarchopoulos
Forward – 6'10" - 218
Kronos B.C.
 
Most recently played for GS Kronos U18 team in Greece … extremely skilled rim runner with rare finesse, uses both hands and never dips the ball.
 
 
Zion Vaamonde
Forward – 6'7" – 215
Stockholm, Sweden
Southeastern Prep (Fla.)
 
Named to the Post Grad Slam Orange First Team All-Star in March 2026.
 
 
Rodrigas Jucevicius
Guard – 6'4" – 210
Stockholm, Sweden

Dual citizen of Lithuania and Sweden … played for Superettan Herr of the Swedish second men's division … helped team to first place in 2025-26 after averaging 8.2 ppg, 4.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds … twice named the team's Player of the Game … four-time national champion for his U16 and U-19 teams in Sweden … four-time national championship All-Star team and named the team MVP … helped his 2026 U19 team to second place at the Nordic Championships … twice named to the All-Star team (2026 U19 and 2023 U16) … helped his Swedish team to two wins at the 2024 U18 Nordic Championships by averaging 20.7 minutes, 5.6 points and 7.6 assists.
 
An excellent student, was a member of the Honor Roll and received eight academic certificates with a 3.93 cumulative GPA, the highest in his class … named Class President for two years and was named a semi-finalist at a youth national championship for scientific work analyzing flow past spheres.
 
 
Paulius Narvilas
Forward - 6'7" – 222
Klaipeda, Lithuania | Western Wyoming Community College
 
Played for the FIBA U16 European championship gold team in 2022 … helped team to Champions League Tournament gold in 2024 … at Western Wyoming Community College, earned Second Team All-Conference honors and led the team with 17.6 points per game and 10.7 rebounds per game … ranked fourth in the NJCAA in rebounds at 10.7 … excelled academically by earning a 3.71 GPA as a freshman.
 
 
 
Joao Pedro Panzo
Forward – 6'9" – 245
Porto, Portugal
Hillcrest Prep - Phoenix, Ariz.
 
A native of Portugal, Panzo played at Hillcrest Prep based in Phoenix, Arizona, this past  year and showed out by helping the team to a 31-4 record by averaging 17.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.
 
A unique talent with size and toughness, Panzo averaged 13.9 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the U18 Portuguese national team in 2025.
 




 
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Players Mentioned

Rickey Bradley, Jr.

#1 Rickey Bradley, Jr.

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
TJ Johnson

#44 TJ Johnson

F
6' 7"
Senior
Cazell Henderson-Bradley

#4 Cazell Henderson-Bradley

G
6' 0"
Freshman
Paulius Narvilas

#11 Paulius Narvilas

F
6' 7"
Freshman
Joao Pedro Panzo

#12 Joao Pedro Panzo

F
6' 9"
Freshman
Rodrigas Jucevicius

#13 Rodrigas Jucevicius

G
6' 4"
Freshman
Zion Vaamonde

#15 Zion Vaamonde

F
6' 7"
Freshman
Rokas Zilys

#22 Rokas Zilys

G
6' 3"
Freshman
Trap Johnson

#23 Trap Johnson

G
6' 6"
Freshman
Dionysis Exarchopoulos

#72 Dionysis Exarchopoulos

F
6' 10"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Rickey Bradley, Jr.

#1 Rickey Bradley, Jr.

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
G
TJ Johnson

#44 TJ Johnson

6' 7"
Senior
F
Cazell Henderson-Bradley

#4 Cazell Henderson-Bradley

6' 0"
Freshman
G
Paulius Narvilas

#11 Paulius Narvilas

6' 7"
Freshman
F
Joao Pedro Panzo

#12 Joao Pedro Panzo

6' 9"
Freshman
F
Rodrigas Jucevicius

#13 Rodrigas Jucevicius

6' 4"
Freshman
G
Zion Vaamonde

#15 Zion Vaamonde

6' 7"
Freshman
F
Rokas Zilys

#22 Rokas Zilys

6' 3"
Freshman
G
Trap Johnson

#23 Trap Johnson

6' 6"
Freshman
G
Dionysis Exarchopoulos

#72 Dionysis Exarchopoulos

6' 10"
Freshman
F