1. Redefining the Core: A Complete Roster ResetDrissa Traore (55) is the only returning rotational piece for a 2025-26 Rhode Island Rasm team which features eight new faces via the transfer portal and three incoming freshmen. | Photo Credit: Chris Cost-Kirkpatrick, URI Athletics
It’s been a complete roster overhaul for the Rams.
Picked 12th in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll with no Preseason All-Conference Team honorees, the outside perspective isn’t exactly optimistic- and it’s hard to blame voters. After all, most of Rhode Island’s 2024–25 roster is gone, including the likes of Cam Estevez (Fairfield), Tyonne Farrell (Morehead State), David Fuchs (San Francisco), David Green (Tulsa), Jamarques Lawrence (Nebraska), and Always Wright (UT–Rio Grande Valley)- all via the transfer portal- while Sebastian Thomas, Jaden House, Javonte Brown, and Quentin Diboundje have all graduated.
Still, it isn’t all bad news. Miller and his staff have been aggressive on the portal and the prep circuit, landing a diverse mix of experienced transfers and high-upside first-year students to offset the peaks and valleys the roster endured last season.
Leading the way are interconference additions Jahmere Tripp (Fordham; 7.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.2 SPG in 2024-25) and Jonah Hinton (St. Bonaventure; 8.4 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.7 APG), both of whom bring familiarity with A-10 play. From beyond the league, Alex Crawford (Fresno State; 11.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 49.1% FG) and Mouhamed Sow (St. Peter’s; 8.9 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 47.2% FG, 35% 3PT) each provide size, maturity, and frontcourt scoring.
The backcourt overhaul features veteran guards such as RJ Johnson (Charleston Southern; 13.8 PPG, 4.5 APG, 42.3% FG), Myles Corey (South Alabama; 13.8 PPG, 4.3 APG, 1.4 SPG), and Tyler Cochran, who sat out last year at Minnesota but averaged 14.4 PPG and 6.4 RPG at Toledo in 2023–24 (and, over 115 career games, he’s produced a steady 11.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, making him a well-rounded two-way presence). Graduate forward Keeyan Itejere (Northern Kentucky; 7.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 59.2% FG) rounds out the senior influx.
On the high school front, four-star guard Barrett Loer (Millis, MA / St. George’s Academy) headlines the first-year class, joined by Jalen Harper (Philadelphia, PA / St. Joe’s Prep) and Javon Perry (Springfield, MA / MacDuffie School) — both late-rising recruits with considerable upside.
As for returners, it’s a small but notable group. Redshirt freshmen Damon King and 7’1” center Moek Icke are back, along with Drissa Traore, the only member of the 2025–26 roster to log meaningful minutes last season. Traore appeared in all 31 games (two starts), averaging 2.8 points and 2.5 rebounds across 12.6 minutes per contest.
On paper, this is Miller’s most balanced roster yet — older, deeper, and more athletic than ever before — but translating that blend of experience and promise into consistency will determine whether Rhode Island finally stabilizes — or resets once again.
|
gomason.com
