WASHINGTON, D.C. – VCU graduate guard Max Shulga (Kyiv, Ukraine) has been named a finalist for the 2024-25 Nolan Richardson Award, CollegeInsider.com announced Thursday.
 
The Nolan Richardson Award is named in honor of the Hall of Fame coach who was known for his frenetic style of play and who led Arkansas to 13 NCAA appearances, including the 1994 National Championship. The award is presented annually to a Division I player "who is the heart and soul of his team and a leader on and off the court".
 
Shulga, who was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year on Tuesday, is averaging 15.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game for VCU this season. The Rams (25-6) have earned the No. 1 seed in this week's A-10 Tournament in Washington, D.C.
 
The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which
consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of
Collegeinsider.com. The 2025 award will be announced in San Antonio, Texas, site of the men's Division I Basketball Championship.
 
NOLAN RICHARDSON AWARD FINALISTS
Tytan Anderson 6-6 Sr. Northern Iowa
Steven Ashworth 6-0 Sr. Creighton
Luke Barrett 6-6 Sr. Saint Mary's
Austin Benigni 5-10 Jr. Navy
Henry Coleman III 6-8 Sr. Texas A&M
Jaylani Darden 6-5 Sr. Norfolk State
Duke Deen 5-8 Sr. Bradley
Geronimo de la Rosa 6-2 Sr. Columbia
Donovan Dent 6-2 Jr. New Mexico
Chucky Hepburn 6-2 Sr. Louisville
Jalen Jackson 6-2 Jr. Purdue Fort Wayne
Tavari Johnson 5-11 Jr. Akron
Kam Jones 6-5 Sr. Marquette
Tamin Lipsey 6-1 Jr. Iowa State
Sean Pedulla 6-1 Sr. Ole Miss
Will Pruitt 6-3 Sr. Lipscomb
Maxime Raynaud 7-1 Sr. Stanford
Zuby Ejiofor 6-9 Jr. St. John's
J'Wan Roberts 6-8 Sr. Houston
Hunter Sallis 6-5 Sr. Wake Forest
Mark Sears 6-1 Sr. Alabama
Ian Schieffelin 6-8 Sr. Clemson
Max Shulga 6-5 Sr. VCU
Javon Small 6-3 Sr. West Virginia
Braden Smith 6-0 Jr. Purdue
Devin Tillis 6-6 Sr. UC Irvine
John Tonje 6-5 Sr. Wisconsin
Nick Townsend 6-7 Jr. Yale
Darrion Williams 6-6 Jr. Texas Tech
Zakai Zeigler 5-9 Sr. Tennessee
 
PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS
Jamal Shead, Houston (2024)