General High School Recruiting Discussion/Comments 2023-24

[Dino611]

This must be the kid who visited recently. Interesting that we're recruiting another '24 PG with Ben Hammond announcing on Tuesday.

He visited when camsrams said there was another kid on campus earlier in the week before when Ben said he was announcing his commitment

[CamsRams]

This must be the kid who visited recently. Interesting that we're recruiting another '24 PG with Ben Hammond announcing on Tuesday.

He visited when camsrams said there was another kid on campus earlier in the week before when Ben said he was announcing his commitment

Seems to have a jaden house combo Guard game.

[CamsRams]

**Jakai Sanders, a 6-foot-3 guard in the class of 2024 out of Bishop Loughlin (NY.), has been in contact with St. John’s, Rhode Island, Fordham and Northern Illinois, among others.
He recently heard from Seton Hall and Xavier.
Sanders said Rhode Island is currently coming after him the hardest after his visit last week.
“It was cool,” he said. “The coaches they really want me there. They told me how I fit in the program and what it’d be like if I were to go there.”
He will focus on taking more visits after Peach Jam.

https://www.zagsblog.com/2023/06/25/rec ... -and-more/

[Billyboy78]

**Jakai Sanders, a 6-foot-3 guard in the class of 2024 out of Bishop Loughlin (NY.), has been in contact with St. John’s, Rhode Island, Fordham and Northern Illinois, among others.
He recently heard from Seton Hall and Xavier.
Sanders said Rhode Island is currently coming after him the hardest after his visit last week.
“It was cool,” he said. “The coaches they really want me there. They told me how I fit in the program and what it’d be like if I were to go there.”
He will focus on taking more visits after Peach Jam.

https://www.zagsblog.com/2023/06/25/rec ... -and-more/

I still wonder what this means for Hammond. Both are PGs. If they knew Hammond was going to commit, why go so hard after Sanders?

[bigappleram]

Bc at mid major level you don't have your pick of the litter and you can't be singularly focused.
Creates a sense of urgency with both recruits that they need to pick you or potentially lose a spot.

Not saying that is the motive here but it's a plausible reason why.

[Billyboy78]

Bc at mid major level you don't have your pick of the litter and you can't be singularly focused.
Creates a sense of urgency with both recruits that they need to pick you or potentially lose a spot.

Not saying that is the motive here but it's a plausible reason why.

That makes sense, but Hammond is announcing tomorrow. I'm sure the staff knows whether or not he is coming here.

[KingstonLane]

Bc at mid major level you don't have your pick of the litter and you can't be singularly focused.
Creates a sense of urgency with both recruits that they need to pick you or potentially lose a spot.

Not saying that is the motive here but it's a plausible reason why.

That makes sense, but Hammond is announcing tomorrow. I'm sure the staff knows whether or not he is coming here.

Jaden House is listed as a senior on the roster. Staff likely planning on him leaving. Then there being turnover of one additional roster spot. Which I’d say in todays landscape of college basketball, would be on the low end

[McRam]

**Jakai Sanders, a 6-foot-3 guard in the class of 2024 out of Bishop Loughlin (NY.), has been in contact with St. John’s, Rhode Island, Fordham and Northern Illinois, among others.
He recently heard from Seton Hall and Xavier.
Sanders said Rhode Island is currently coming after him the hardest after his visit last week.
“It was cool,” he said. “The coaches they really want me there. They told me how I fit in the program and what it’d be like if I were to go there.”
He will focus on taking more visits after Peach Jam.

https://www.zagsblog.com/2023/06/25/rec ... -and-more/

I still wonder what this means for Hammond. Both are PGs. If they knew Hammond was going to commit, why go so hard after Sanders?

To me, having two point guards (one who is 6'3'') on the floor at the same time, can be a real advantage.

[SGreenwell]

I'd also add that tons of players who project more as a combo guard or a 2 in college will end up playing the point in high school, just because they might be the best ball-handling and passing option on their team. It's a less extreme version of how the tallest guy usually ends up as the 5, whether he's 6'11"+ (ideally) or 6'5".

[RhowdyRam02]

**Jakai Sanders, a 6-foot-3 guard in the class of 2024 out of Bishop Loughlin (NY.), has been in contact with St. John’s, Rhode Island, Fordham and Northern Illinois, among others.
He recently heard from Seton Hall and Xavier.
Sanders said Rhode Island is currently coming after him the hardest after his visit last week.
“It was cool,” he said. “The coaches they really want me there. They told me how I fit in the program and what it’d be like if I were to go there.”
He will focus on taking more visits after Peach Jam.

https://www.zagsblog.com/2023/06/25/rec ... -and-more/

I still wonder what this means for Hammond. Both are PGs. If they knew Hammond was going to commit, why go so hard after Sanders?

To me, having two point guards (one who is 6'3'') on the floor at the same time, can be a real advantage.

Just look at how Hurley used Jarvis Garrett and Jeff Dowtin together at times

[bigappleram]

I agree with the premise of having two ball handlers out there and how it can be an advantage. Tho I don’t recall a ton of instances of Jarvis and Jeff playing together. My memory might be shoddy but once Jeff took the reins of PG Jarvis pretty much became his back up. Also bc we had JT and EC who needed to be on the court for most of the game.

[Billyboy78]

Aren't Cam Estevez and Ways Wright also PGs? Anway, I guess it's becoming more and more irrelevant due to positionless basketball?

[McRam]

I'd also add that tons of players who project more as a combo guard or a 2 in college will end up playing the point in high school, just because they might be the best ball-handling and passing option on their team. It's a less extreme version of how the tallest guy usually ends up as the 5, whether he's 6'11"+ (ideally) or 6'5".

Agree, and, sometimes a player might even be a "shooting " guard in college and play point in the pro leagues.

Thinking of Garrick and Mobley. (PS Is Cat really still playing in the Big 3?)

[Rhody15]

Aren't Cam Estevez and Ways Wright also PGs? Anway, I guess it's becoming more and more irrelevant due to positionless basketball?

You can’t assume players are going to stay all 4 years these days with the portal.

Have to recruit the best players you can regardless of position.

[Ramfan22]

From Middletown I believe, goes to St. George’s

[Billyboy78]

From Middletown I believe, goes to St. George’s

I'm seeing Millis, Mass as his hometown.

[Billyboy78]

From Middletown I believe, goes to St. George’s

I'm seeing Millis, Mass as his hometown.

Yes, and he is at St. George's in Newport, is in the '25 class and is an Austin Carroll recruit.

[Ramfan22]

From Middletown I believe, goes to St. George’s

I'm seeing Millis, Mass as his hometown.

Yes, and he is at St. George's in Newport, is in the '25 class and is an Austin Carroll recruit.

Oh the website I was looking at just said the location of St. George’s. Not actually from Middletown.

[CamsRams]

[Ramfan22]

Plays for La Salle, was named Rhode Island Max Preps player of the year.

[Billyboy78]

#1 player in Rhode Island.

[CamsRams]

[Billyboy78]

Sounds like he could be our next commit.

[Billyboy78]

Does this kid look like a 9th grader?

[RhodyKyle]

Does this kid look like a 9th grader?

Like that guy in the LLWS year ago with a full beard as a 12 year-old

[Billyboy78]

From Middletown I believe, goes to St. George’s

[Jersey77]

From Middletown I believe, goes to St. George’s

He is a 2025 CG (6'5").
Shaka and Marquette showing interest.

[hrstrat57]

I’m becoming cautiously optimistic about the near future of Ram hoops…

[RhowdyRam02]

The staff is locked in on their recruiting, better days are ahead

[Jersey77]

The staff is locked in on their recruiting, better days are ahead

I agree with you there 02.

That is why I am not going to panic this season if we finish out of the top half.
My only serious concern is if we have another major roster overhaul for 24-25, but doubt that will happen.

[reef]

Agree , the key is too get good and stay good , which is the way we are trending, I’m thinking for sure by the end of year 3 we should stay top 4 in conference damn near every year

[Billyboy78]

[Billyboy78]

[Ramulous]

Too short…should be a minimum of 6’9”.

[CamsRams]

[Billyboy78]

This is up to date with the Forsythe offer. Everything seems to be accurate. Some names I haven't seen posted here. There is a redshirt junior listed as 'enrolled' (I just wanted a certain poster to see this)

https://www.verbalcommits.com/schools/rhode-island

.

[TruePoint]

The staff is locked in on their recruiting, better days are ahead

I agree with you there 02.

That is why I am not going to panic this season if we finish out of the top half.
My only serious concern is if we have another major roster overhaul for 24-25, but doubt that will happen.

My expectation is that once demonstrable progress has been made on the court, everything should stabilize. The major roster overhaul this offseason was a result of last season not meeting expectations - as opposed to some programs that have gone through an exodus, ours was far more by design rather than it happening to us (with maybe one notable exception).

There are a lot of reasons we could point to to explain last season’s underwhelming results, but I think a lot of them have been addressed and am hoping for demonstrable progress this season that we can build on and start gathering momentum.

[Billyboy78]

[STC]

Love to see the staff aiming high even if it is a long shot.

[theblueram]

Love to see the staff aiming high even if it is a long shot.

Why is a Top 125 recruit aiming high? Sorry, I disagree.

[KingstonLane]

Love to see the staff aiming high even if it is a long shot.

Why is a Top 125 recruit aiming high? Sorry, I disagree.

Because it statistically is. Which is what matters, not “theblueram’s” opinion in fantasy land.

Of the Top 100 2023 recruits, per ESPN, only one non-P6 school has any of them committed to play for them: Memphis. And I’d argue Memphis is as borderline P6 as you can be. Decent chance they’ll join a P6 conference in the next few years

So it’s not a URI problem. Simply it’s more that mid major schools rarely land these types of talents out of high school

[theblueram]

Love to see the staff aiming high even if it is a long shot.

Why is a Top 125 recruit aiming high? Sorry, I disagree.

Because it statistically is. Which is what matters, not “theblueram’s” opinion in fantasy land.

Of the Top 100 2023 recruits, per ESPN, only one non-P6 school has any of them committed to play for them: Memphis. And I’d argue Memphis is as borderline P6 as you can be. Decent chance they’ll join a P6 conference in the next few years

So it’s not a URI problem. Simply it’s more that mid major schools rarely land these types of talents out of high school

How many did Hurley get when he was here? Tell me. I know he got EC and Terrell. Hass was borderline top 125. Maybe Jarvis? But I don't think he was that high. 3 star though. Stop blowing smoke up peoples asses about getting high ranked recruits here.

[STC]

I went back and looked at the ESPN Top 100 recruits for the years 2014-2023, so the last ten recruiting cycles, and over the last 10 years only 12 Top 100 recruits have committed to an A10 school, or just over 1% of Top 100 recruits during that time.

2014 - 3 - VCU, URI
2015 - 0
2016 - 2 - UMass, VCU
2017 - 2 - St. Louis
2018 - 1 - URI
2019 - 1 - UMass
2020 - 0
2021 - 1 - Dayton
2022 - 2 - Dayton, VCU
2023 - 0

The last time a Top 100 recruit committed to an A10 school with a losing record the prior year was Tre Mitchell in 2019. URI has 2 Top 100 recruits in the last decade so I think it is a fair characterization to say landing a player like Adrien Stevens is a long shot.

[theblueram]

I went back and looked at the ESPN Top 100 recruits for the years 2014-2023, so the last ten recruiting cycles, and over the last 10 years only 12 Top 100 recruits have committed to an A10 school, or just over 1% of Top 100 recruits during that time.

2014 - 3 - VCU, URI
2015 - 0
2016 - 2 - UMass, VCU
2017 - 2 - St. Louis
2018 - 1 - URI
2019 - 1 - UMass
2020 - 0
2021 - 1 - Dayton
2022 - 2 - Dayton, VCU
2023 - 0

The last time a Top 100 recruit committed to an A10 school with a losing record the prior year was Tre Mitchell in 2019. URI has 2 Top 100 recruits in the last decade so I think it is a fair characterization to say landing a player like Adrien Stevens is a long shot.

STC, it was top 125 in the discussion.

[STC]

I went back and looked at the ESPN Top 100 recruits for the years 2014-2023, so the last ten recruiting cycles, and over the last 10 years only 12 Top 100 recruits have committed to an A10 school, or just over 1% of Top 100 recruits during that time.

2014 - 3 - VCU, URI
2015 - 0
2016 - 2 - UMass, VCU
2017 - 2 - St. Louis
2018 - 1 - URI
2019 - 1 - UMass
2020 - 0
2021 - 1 - Dayton
2022 - 2 - Dayton, VCU
2023 - 0

The last time a Top 100 recruit committed to an A10 school with a losing record the prior year was Tre Mitchell in 2019. URI has 2 Top 100 recruits in the last decade so I think it is a fair characterization to say landing a player like Adrien Stevens is a long shot.

STC, it was top 125 in the discussion.

Lol word, report back with some data showing me this isn’t a long shot.

[theblueram]

I went back and looked at the ESPN Top 100 recruits for the years 2014-2023, so the last ten recruiting cycles, and over the last 10 years only 12 Top 100 recruits have committed to an A10 school, or just over 1% of Top 100 recruits during that time.

2014 - 3 - VCU, URI
2015 - 0
2016 - 2 - UMass, VCU
2017 - 2 - St. Louis
2018 - 1 - URI
2019 - 1 - UMass
2020 - 0
2021 - 1 - Dayton
2022 - 2 - Dayton, VCU
2023 - 0

The last time a Top 100 recruit committed to an A10 school with a losing record the prior year was Tre Mitchell in 2019. URI has 2 Top 100 recruits in the last decade so I think it is a fair characterization to say landing a player like Adrien Stevens is a long shot.

STC, it was top 125 in the discussion.

Lol word, report back with some data showing me this isn’t a long shot.

Then why are we paying $2.5M+ for a coach? So he can get scrubs? Please.

[Billyboy78]

A '25.

[sevegny7]

[sevegny7]

[Billyboy78]