‘20 TN PF/C - Akeem Odusipe (Vanderbilt)

[PeterRamTime]

Can't see us taking 3 bigs unless someone leaves...

I'll be shocked if we get ANY of these guys.

Why? I actually believe their is a decent chance we do get the Mitchell Twins.

Why you think that?

[Joe95]

I just think it's a good spot for them to land and get playing time immediately next season. I have no inside knowledge at all but it would not surprise me to see them land here at all.

[FDshoes]

Can't see us taking 3 bigs unless someone leaves...

After Cyril, we will only have 1 true C/PF in Harris. There could be room.

I agree and would love to have all 3 but that would take up the remaining 3 schollies so can’t see it.

But the new "inside" info has 1 if not 2 guys leaving after the season.......
I am beginning to hate this new era of CBB with so many guys looking to transfer every year. Its crazy! I also dont like coaches skipping out of town before contracts are up. Something needs to be done to address both situations. IMO

[Billyboy78]

Can't see us taking 3 bigs unless someone leaves...

After Cyril, we will only have 1 true C/PF in Harris. There could be room.

I agree and would love to have all 3 but that would take up the remaining 3 schollies so can’t see it.

But we will already have 4 guards next year as compared to 2 this year. Then when Fatts and Sheppard graduate next year, we recruit strictly guards for '21. You could also include Martin in the guard group to make it 5 for next year.

[PeterRamTime]

I just think it's a good spot for them to land and get playing time immediately next season. I have no inside knowledge at all but it would not surprise me to see them land here at all.

But that's always the case here.

NCAA tournament caliber teams. Perfectly good conference. Plenty of playing time. Still never enough. Except for Harris.

How can we make that change is the question.

[Rhody22]

After Cyril, we will only have 1 true C/PF in Harris. There could be room.

I agree and would love to have all 3 but that would take up the remaining 3 schollies so can’t see it.

But the new "inside" info has 1 if not 2 guys leaving after the season.......
I am beginning to hate this new era of CBB with so many guys looking to transfer every year. Its crazy! I also dont like coaches skipping out of town before contracts are up. Something needs to be done to address both situations. IMO

Agreed. That’s why my initial comment said “unless someone leaves”

[Rhody83]

[Rhody83]

[Billyboy78]

Not sure what this tweet said, but I'm not seeing it.

[Rhody83]

It was a picture of the team after winning the State Championship. Akeem made the All Tournament team.

[DeanDome88]

Hopefully Akeem is getting closer to a decision now that his high school playing career has completed. I like this kid to really develop into a player. He just seems to be exactly what we need.

[Tjrams91]

Akeem is unlikely to land here.

[reef]

We cannot strike out here with Akeem the Mitchell twins or Richards please get us at least 1 ???

[DevRam]

Akeem is unlikely to land here.

According to what?

[Iggy1979]

Akeem is unlikely to land here.

Maybe someone should tell TJ, who is scouting him today.

[Rhody83]

Akeem is still URI’s top priority for a big. He hasn’t taken an OV anywhere else and doesn’t have any scheduled at this point.

[phipsiGD'11]

Sign him ASAP. Need bodies, and preferably BIG bodies.

[Billyboy78]

Akeem is still URI’s top priority for a big. He hasn’t taken an OV anywhere else and doesn’t have any scheduled at this point.

Wasn't he supposed to visit Cincinnati and Vanderbilt?

[Rhody83]

Akeem is still URI’s top priority for a big. He hasn’t taken an OV anywhere else and doesn’t have any scheduled at this point.

Wasn't he supposed to visit Cincinnati and Vanderbilt?

No visits scheduled. He season just ended this past weekend. Decision expected this month.

[STC]

Sign me up for Odusipe and the Mitchell twins!!

Tres/Kobe can replace the inevitable transfer.

[rhodyblue12]

He could coexist with the twins. It would give us really nice flexibility.
It may not be the plan, but I'd like to see it.

[CHICO 78]

Now We need Akeem to come in and the front line is set.

[DC_Rams]

Unlikely.

[reef]

Let’s grab the twins instead????

[The Dude]

I'd love to have this kid. Would be nice to have a really tall & talented group of young guys that could play together and develop a bond.

[RamStock]

I'd love to have this kid. Would be nice to have a really tall & talented group of young guys that could play together and develop a bond.

Agree. That is what they need to keep these kids from transferring. Develop a young team that takes some lumps early, but grows into NCAA contender in a couple years that is close bunch and doesn’t have 3-4 guys walk out the door every year.

[rhodyblue12]

Get Berry first and then have him help recruit Odusipe. That would be perfect.

[rhodylaw]

I'd love to have this kid. Would be nice to have a really tall & talented group of young guys that could play together and develop a bond.

Agree. That is what they need to keep these kids from transferring. Develop a young team that takes some lumps early, but grows into NCAA contender in a couple years that is close bunch and doesn’t have 3-4 guys walk out the door every year.

No. We need to get some experienced transfers and compete next year. Jacob will be better, Jermaine and Antwan will be better, Fatts will be dominant. We will mis Tyrese, but his leaving will open up another 35 mins of PT. Plenty of time for young guys and some experienced transfers.

[RamStock]

I'd love to have this kid. Would be nice to have a really tall & talented group of young guys that could play together and develop a bond.

Agree. That is what they need to keep these kids from transferring. Develop a young team that takes some lumps early, but grows into NCAA contender in a couple years that is close bunch and doesn’t have 3-4 guys walk out the door every year.

No. We need to get some experienced transfers and compete next year. Jacob will be better, Jermaine and Antwan will be better, Fatts will be dominant. We will mis Tyrese, but his leaving will open up another 35 mins of PT. Plenty of time for young guys and some experienced transfers.

So you would rather have some senior that probably hasn’t accomplished a lot at another school over a guy that could potentially turn into another great URI front court player. I am looking at it differently than you I guess. I don’t see this team being an NCAA team next year and if that is the case I would prefer to get a young team a lot of playing time and build for the future. It is highly doubtful we get a impact big via the transfer route other than the Mitchell’s and they are different because they have three years remaining

[rhodylaw]

Tyrese leaving is throwing a wrench in my thoughts about next season, but before that they were definitely a bubble team. I love Jeff and Cyril. Their leadership, guts and particularly Jeff coming up big in big moments is tough to replace BUT not impossible. It happens every year in college basketball. Remember Jeff as a freshman saved our season four years ago.

I expect at least one the freshmen guards to be a starter next year and a more than serviceable replacement for Jeff. I expect Fatts to get better (which go him really just means being more consistently awesome). I expect growth from both Jermaine and Antwan. Add Jacob (who I assume is working out with his bro during this quarantine) and we have a really good core to add some young developmental players to and some experienced NCAA level players.

[DC_Rams]

Tyrese leaving is throwing a wrench in my thoughts about next season, but before that they were definitely a bubble team. I love Jeff and Cyril. Their leadership, guts and particularly Jeff coming up big in big moments is tough to replace BUT not impossible. It happens every year in college basketball. Remember Jeff as a freshman saved our season four years ago.

I expect at least one the freshmen guards to be a starter next year and a more than serviceable replacement for Jeff. I expect Fatts to get better (which go him really just means being more consistently awesome). I expect growth from both Jermaine and Antwan. Add Jacob (who I assume is working out with his bro during this quarantine) and we have a really good core to add some young developmental players to and some experienced NCAA level players.

I can guarantee Shep and Fatts will start.

[SandorClegane]

Yeah I think you can pretty much ink in the below 4 guys In the starting line up. Just my opinion (if everyone is back).
I think Sheppard is going to have a big year.

G - Fatts
G - Sheppard
F - Toppin
F - Harris
F/C - ?

[steviep123]

Remind me how many years Sheppard has please.

[Rhody83]

Remind me how many years Sheppard has please.

One

[steviep123]

Remind me how many years Sheppard has please.

One

That sucks.

[Rhody83]

Remind me how many years Sheppard has please.

One

That sucks.

Next year will be Sheppard’s 5th year. You get five years to play four. You don’t get six years to play four.

[reef]

Shep will be raring to go looking forward to seeing him out there

[rhodyblue12]

Odusipe would be a great compliment to Abou. I hope he is still considering URI.
Extremely active, runs the floor. He and Abou would be a nice tandem for the next four years.

[Rhody83]

Odusipe would be a great compliment to Abou. I hope he is still considering URI.
Extremely active, runs the floor. He and Abou would be a nice tandem for the next four years.

He is still considering URI. I would say URI is in the lead.
Many of these kids are uncertain what to do about the fact that the virus brought their recruiting process to a halt regarding visits.

[rambone 78]

That should help us, since he's already been here.

My guess is that visits won't be allowed for at least a couple of months, if not longer.

URI won't even be open again until the fall, most likely.

If the NCAA keeps the signing period as is, then kids will be under pressure to sign by May 20, the end of the period.

If they push the signing period back, then that changes things....but who knows what will happen, even later in the year?

[rhodyfan3000]

With the signing of Ousmane, it would make sense that Odusipe and the twins become a one or the other situation.

It's either going to be Ousmane and Odusipe

or Ousmane and the twins

Should be interesting how this shakes out. Either option isn't bad and has merit.

[reef]

Yes let’s hope that’s an either or situation as we don’t want to whiff on all 3 ???

[Rhody83]

With the signing of Ousmane, it would make sense that Odusipe and the twins become a one or the other situation.

It's either going to be Ousmane and Odusipe

or Ousmane and the twins

Should be interesting how this shakes out. Either option isn't bad and has merit.

Bingo

[DC_Rams]

With the signing of Ousmane, it would make sense that Odusipe and the twins become a one or the other situation.

It's either going to be Ousmane and Odusipe

or Ousmane and the twins

Should be interesting how this shakes out. Either option isn't bad and has merit.

Twins seemingly the priority when they became a viable option.

Ousmane and the Twin Towers.

Look out A10.

I’ll accept turnover if it makes us better in the end, especially if it’s to become the new norm.

[reef]

If I had to choose I would take the twins . 2 is better than one

[rhodyblue12]

Either option is good. There is a level of excitement Odusipe brings due to his athleticism.
But the shear size the twins bring would make us a very, very tough match up in the A-10.

[DC_Rams]

The twins were Top rated as well. Odusipe is good, but he’s 6’7-6’8, and is still small, comparatively speaking. I don’t think he would be an immediate impact. The twins would be.

[Rhody83]

The twins were Top rated as well. Odusipe is good, but he’s 6’7-6’8, and is still small, comparatively speaking. I don’t think he would be an immediate impact. The twins would be.

Akeem is 6’8” 223 lbs.
Just a reminder Cyril is 6’7” at best and didn’t weigh 223 lbs as a Fr.
Harris is the tallest player on the team at 6’8”.

[Running Ram]

Akeem is not small.

Sign him up!!

Odusipe, Leggett, Wood, Ousmane and Berry would be a nice freshmen class.

[Rhodymob05]

Lol amazing how we can never break the “URI 6’8 hump”. Although I feel Harris closer to 6’9.