October is shaping up to be an important month for basketball across Central Virginia. From middle school players preparing for competitive opportunities to college programs testing their rosters before the regular season, the region's basketball calendar is filling up.
For young athletes, families, coaches and fans, the next few weeks offer opportunities to participate in the game and see some of Virginia's college programs in action.
## Team Richmond Opens the Door for Young Players
Team Richmond AAU has announced an October open gym and upcoming tryouts for its 2026–27 middle school basketball program.
The organization has scheduled an open gym for **Saturday, October 17, from 12:30 to 2 p.m.** at James River High School, located at 3700 James River Road in Midlothian.
The event is intended for students in fifth through eighth grade.
Team Richmond has also announced two middle school tryout sessions at the same location: October 31 and November 7, both scheduled from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
For families exploring organized basketball opportunities beyond school teams, these dates provide a starting point. Players can use the coming weeks to prepare their conditioning, ball-handling, shooting and defensive fundamentals.
Registration information is available through [Team Richmond AAU](https://teamrichmondaau.org/). Families should confirm participation requirements before attending.
## Richmond Spiders Look to Respond After Virginia Exhibition
At the college level, the Richmond Spiders are preparing for another preseason test following a difficult exhibition against Virginia.
On October 9, Richmond fell 96–53 to the Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville.
The Spiders showed promise early, building a 20–12 advantage before Virginia responded with a decisive 26–0 run.
Junior guard Dominick Stewart led Richmond with 15 points in his debut after transferring from Penn State. Returning guard Aiden Argabright contributed 13 points and three steals.
Richmond struggled offensively, shooting 25.4% from the field, while Virginia controlled the rebounding battle 54–29.
The Spiders will have an opportunity to evaluate their progress on **Sunday, October 18**, when they travel to Harrisonburg for a 2 p.m. exhibition against James Madison.
The regular season begins November 2, when Richmond hosts UNC Asheville.
For the Spiders, the upcoming exhibition offers another opportunity to evaluate lineup combinations and execution before games begin counting toward the regular-season record. [Source: Richmond Athletics](https://richmondspiders.com/news/2026/10/9/mens-basketball-opens-preseason-at-uva).
## VCU Basketball Returns to Action
Across town, the VCU Rams are approaching their own preseason matchups.
VCU is scheduled to visit Old Dominion in Norfolk on **Saturday, October 17, at 7 p.m.**
The Rams then return to Richmond for an October 25 exhibition against James Madison at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
VCU's regular-season opener is November 2 against Little Rock at the Siegel Center.
These exhibitions give basketball fans an early opportunity to see the Rams compete against familiar Virginia opponents before the official season begins.
Full scheduling information is available through [VCU Athletics](https://vcuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule).
## From Youth Gyms to College Arenas
What makes October especially interesting is the range of basketball opportunities taking place across the region.
While college programs prepare for nationally competitive schedules, younger athletes are pursuing opportunities to develop their games and join organized teams.
Both levels contribute to the area's basketball culture.
For young players, watching college exhibitions can also provide a learning opportunity. Defensive positioning, off-ball movement, communication and decision-making are skills that translate across levels of competition.
Richmond's basketball community has plenty to follow this month, whether that means attending an open gym, supporting a college program or preparing for the upcoming school basketball season.
**Rich City Hoops will continue highlighting basketball opportunities, organizations and athletes throughout Richmond and the Commonwealth of Virginia.**