New Rhody transfers shine in first event at Ryan Center
Malik Martin (7.6 points per game) and Ishmael Leggett (8.3 points per game) are the top two returning scorers for a brand new Ram team in 2022. PHOTO CREDIT: gorhody.com
This past Saturday, University of Rhode Island Men’s Basketball fans were able to get an up close look at their team this year for the first time.
The annual Blue vs. White scrimmage consisted of two ten-minute halves, both of which showcased the talent that Rhode Island has to offer for the 2022-2023 season.
When looking at the season from an outside perspective, there is plenty to be excited about. Head coach Archie Miller begins his era at the helm of the organization this season, where his squad will wear new uniforms and play on a brand new court. However, in terms of the players, there are plenty of new faces and personalities for the fans to learn about.
There were familiar faces on the court as well. The lone senior, Malik Martin, will serve as the team’s veteran leader. The guard enters his third season as a Ram after transferring from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In the scrimmage, the oldest Ram tallied 8 points while collecting 5 rebounds and recording a steal as well. The highlight for Martin, however, was having fans in the building.
“It was good to have a crowd out there, though,” said Martin. “We have a new start here, [with] Coach Miller, pretty much a whole new team besides four or five of us…it was fun though.”
The brand new roster for Rhode Island was not necessarily by choice, however. After the firing of former head coach David Cox back in March, a wave of transfers and de-commitments shook through the Ryan Center and Kingston as a whole. Most notably, the front court duo of Mitchell twins Makhi and Makhel, Antwan Walker, who left for cross-state foe Bryant, and star recruit Chance Stephens, who decided to decommit and take his talents to Loyola Marymount following the departure of Cox.
Some of the new players have brought a level of star power and an infusion of skill to the roster. Guards Brayon Freeman, Brandon Weston and center Alex Tchikou stand a bit taller in the wave of transfers.
Freeman, a transfer from fellow Atlantic 10 competitor, George Washington University, averaged over ten points per game last year and brings a scoring bump to a team that desperately needed it. Freeman scored a team-high of 17 points in the scrimmage, getting to the line consistently and remaining flawless throughout the game, going 8-8.
“He’s a live wire out there,” commented Archie Miller when asked about Freeman. “I think he and Sebastian [Thomas] together sometimes make some sense for us to put two really quick ball handlers on the floor.”
Weston, a transfer from Seton Hall, brings a load of natural talent with a lack of experience. Archie Miller described Weston as a brand-new player.
“Basically, for me, I look at [Weston] as a true freshman,” Miller said. “He’s getting his first opportunity to be coached by me, play college basketball, and I think you probably saw him in the first half a little bit nervous, a little bit tentative, and then all of a sudden, he kind of snapped out of it.”
Weston definitely snapped out of it, as he recorded 15 points by the end of the scrimmage, shooting 7-12 from the field and 1-2 from 3-point territory.
Alex Tchikou also showed flashes of promise. The French second-year showed great explosiveness offensively, balanced by blanketing rim-side coverage on the other side of the floor. His three steals and two blocks all served as defensive highlights.
Even with new players and staff in the building, Martin is confident that the chemistry built this past off-season will transfer well into the season. However, he admits that staying consistent is a team priority.
“It’s been going great, Martin said. “As a team, our biggest thing is being consistent every day. I feel like that’s what separates good teams from teams that come just short, and I think that’s the next step for us.”
With all of the new talent, it is now time to wait for Rhode Island fans. The Rams open at home this year on Monday, Nov. 7, when they host the Quinnipiac Bobcats. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.