RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – It’s a big day for a VCU legend.
Before VCU Men’s Basketball game against William Mary at the Seigel Center, VCU officially retired jersey number 2.
It’s the number of Briante Weber. Weber helped lead the men’s basketball team to the NCAA tournament four times throughout his tenure as ram, from 2011 -2015.
Now, all of Weber’s hard work is paying off, as his jersey joins several others hanging in VCU’s Seigel Center.
Weber was joined on the court by family and friends, while thousands of fans witnessed the historic moment.
“For me it was only a matter of time. I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. Not to be overzealous or overconfident, but what I did, record books and all of these, it’s only been one Briante Weber,” former VCU Men’s Basketball player Briante Weber said.
Weber, a Chesapeake, Virginia native, was a point guard of the team.
VCU says Weber stands out as the best on-the-ball defenders in the history of college basketball, leading him to this moment.
“The first thing I could do was get off the phone with him, call my Mom. Just have that conversation with her and just get that sign of relief of a complete road,” Weber said.
Known as a trailblazer, Weber is the only player in the history of the Atlantic 10 Conference to win the leagues defensive player of the year award three times.
Weber says being back at VCU with his family for this moment brings back memories when he was one of the guys on the court.
“I immediately snapped back into 2011 and now everybody that sees me, they don’t see the kid with the hair. They see the little kid with the headband on and the shortcut. That’s who they see and it’s a blessing to actually come back and feel like a kid again. Feel that energy. Actually, it makes me want to play,” Weber said.
Weber says he’s currently playing overseas in Kuwait; anticipating more jersey’s to be retired. However, he says he’ll never forget VCU Men’s Basketball, the program who took a chance on him as small town boy with big dreams.
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