Mo’s coming home to VCU

Mo Alie-Cox is returning to Richmond not so much to talk about basketball or football, but to talk about the game of life.

The former VCU hoops star and current tight end for the NFL Indianapolis Colts will deliver his alma mater’s commencement address May 14 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

For ticket information go to commencement.vcu.edu.

Alie-Cox wore jersey No. 12 for the won’t be until Sept. 23 when reigning CIAA champ Fayetteville State comes to Hovey for the Willard Bailey Classic.

Rams, playing in 142 games from 2013’17 and scoring 1,092 points, grabbing 663 rebounds and blocking 255 shots, second on the all-time list behind Ren Watson.

Known as “Mo-nan the Barbarian” for his powerful physique, he remains VCU’s second all-time leader in field goal percentage (57.4) behind Hasan Ward. Now he wears No. 81 for the Colts with 89 career receptions and 11 touchdowns. He also is considered among the top blocking tight ends in the game.

From Northern Virginia, the 6-foot-5, 267-pound muscle man landed a spot in the NFL despite not having played the sport since ninth grade in high school. At VCU, he earned a bachelor’s in criminal justice from the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs in 2015 and a master’s in 2017.

VUU’s regular season finale against Virginia State on Nov. 4 will be titled the L. Douglas Wilder Classic.

Help is on the way for VUU

Virginia Union University has landed one of the state’s elite high school basketball stars.

O’Maundre Harris, a super-quick 5-foot-10 guard from E.C. Glass in Lynchburg, has committed to play for Panthers Coach Jay Butler.

VUU is coming off a 24-8 season in which it advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. Many holes are left to fill through graduation.

Harris averaged 25.4 points per game for Glass this past season, leading the Hilltoppers to the state Class 4 finals againstVarina.

Earning first All-State honors, Harris was at his best against the best. He had 32 points in the state quarterfinals, 34 in semifinals and 31 in the title game 59-56 Varina loss at the Siegel Center.

Along with his prolific scoring, Harris averaged 6.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and hit 36 percent from beyond the threepoint arc.

VUU has a history of success with sub 6-foot guards. The Panthers won NCAA Division II titles with 5-foot-9 Derwin Lilly in 1980 and 5-foot-10 Luqman Jabber in 2004.

Also, current Panthers’ coach, the 5-foot-9’ish Butler, was VUU’s ace ball handler in the late ’90s, teaming up with center Ben Wallace.