After just one season in Keaney Blue, freshman guard and scholarship player Omar Silverio has left the program.
Silverio was one of four freshman to come in this year, in what was David Cox’s first recruiting class. Originally committed to play for Santa Clara University, Silverio decommitted from the Broncos and committed to the Rams following Head Coach Dan Hurley’s departure along with former URI commit Brendan Adams, who followed Hurley to the University of Connecticut.
“Omar has made the choice to put his name in the transfer portal,” said Head Coach David Cox in an interview with GoRhody.com. “After sitting with Omar as part of our year-end meetings, I am supportive of him finding a situation that is a good fit. We wish him the best moving forward.”
For the Rams, this now frees up an extra scholarship spot for the program to explore. Rhode Island has three freshmen already coming in next year: Gregory Hammond, a three-star swingman from the Sophie B. Wright school in New Orleans, Mehki Long, a three-star wing from Massanutten Military Academy in Virginia, and Marial Mading, who played for Commonwealth Academy in Springfield, Massachusetts.
This class is currently ranked first in the Atlantic 10 according to 247sports, which would be the second year in a row if that held. Along with the three freshman recruits, Rhode Island picked up a transfer, Antwan Walker. Walker, originally from Georgetown, was ranked as a three-star in his own class. Walker currently has three years of eligibility left.
Currently the Rams are involved with JUCO player Jeremy Sheppard, a 6 feet, 1 inch tall guard who plays for the College of Central Florida. Sheppard originally was committed to, and played one year at East Carolina University, but left the program. The Rams have also offered three-star Point Guard Nah’Shon Hyland of St. Georges Tech in Delaware according to 247sports.
Ultimately, it appears the Rams will be looking for backcourt depth with their last roster spot. With a plethora of versatile forwards on the roster and coming in next year, URI needs depth and another primary ball handler to back up guards Fatts Russell and Jeff Dowtin, who both averaged over 34 minutes per game this season, with their minutes per game both increasing in Atlantic 10 play. While experience in the form of Jeremy Sheppard wouldn’t hurt, it is also time to think about the point guard of the future with Russell and Dowtin both being upperclassmen next season.