Virginia Commonwealth University Men’s Soccer Coach Dave Giffard has announced the addition of six players ahead of the 2024 season. The new recruits, hailing from both local and international backgrounds, are set to join the Rams as they look to build on their success as defending Atlantic 10 Champions.

The incoming class includes Mohammed Ibrahim, Haya Yoshizawa, Ryan Londeree, Deniss Hayes, Nikita Hayes and Tetsunari Fujishiro. Three of the new additions— Londeree and the Hayes brothers—are from the Richmond area and played at Cosby High School. The other recruits come from Ghana and Japan.

“It’s a small but exciting group of players that we’ve added for 2024,” Giffard said. “There are a few guys that I think will be ready to help this fall, but they all bring something valuable to the program and have the potential to make an impact over the course of their careers at VCU.”

Ibrahim, originally from Cape Coast, Ghana, attended Montverde Academy, where he was named MVP of the 2023 MAST Tournament while playing for SIMA Gold. This past summer, he played in USL League Two with Vermont Green.

Yoshizawa transfers to VCU from Stetson University, where he played in 17 matches last season, starting five and recording one assist. He began his college career at Georgia Southern and also attended Montverde Academy.

Londeree arrives as the 2023-24 Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year and VHSL Class 6 State Player of the Year from Cosby High School. He also played for Richmond United, earning a spot on the Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro First Team.

Deniss Hayes, also from Cosby, played a pivotal role in securing the 2024 VHSL Class 6 State Championship, scoring the game-winning goal in the final. He was named to the VHSL Class 6 First Team All-State and the Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro First Team.

Nikita Hayes, Deniss’ brother, was another standout at Cosby, earning VHSL Class 6 First Team All-State honors and joining his brother on the Richmond Times- Dispatch All-Metro First Team. 

Fujishiro joins VCU from Japan’s Nihon University Fujisawa High School, where he helped his team to a third-place finish at the national high school tournament and a championship in the U18 Kanagawa Prefectural League D1.

VCU kicks off its regular season Aug. 22 at Wake Forest. The Rams will host their home opener Aug. 26 against in-state rival Old Dominion at 7 p.m. at Sports Backers Stadium.