Atlantic 10 Basketball: Breaking down each program’s 2018 recruiting class

Fordham Rams

Rams fans have had a tough last couple of seasons, the team going 11-25 in conference play during that stretch. Things don’t look poised to get much better this year, especially after star player Joseph Chartouny chose to transfer to Marquette. That being said, there are some talented freshmen coming in, and whether or not they make a major impact this year, they do provide hope for a better future in the Bronx.

The most likely standout and future A10 star of the incoming batch is point guard Nick Honor. The #45 point guard in the class nationally should start immediately for the now Chartouny-less Rams, and he has the talent to be more than adequate at the job. Most of Honor’s fellow newcomers are guards, which doesn’t look great in terms of versatility, but it’s fine when you consider that the Rams’ best returning players are all forwards and big men. Ty Perry and Jalen Cobb are both 6’3″ shooting guards with smooth shooting strokes and strong enough bodies to work as slashers. Chris Austin, a 6’4″ combo guard, can flat-out score from all three levels, and I like his chances to surprise people as one of the best offensive freshman in the conference.

The only non-guard that coach Neubauer was able to reel in is 6’10” power forward Onyi Eyisi, whose length and athleticism will allow him to block shots and clean up around the rim offensively. He should pair nicely as a compliment to the more offensive-minded Prokop Slanina.

The bottom line for Fordham is: while this won’t be “the year” by any stretch of the imagination, it will be exciting to watch all of the aforementioned players grow and to follow their ups and downs. I could see all of them being good/great down the line, so it will be fun to look back at when they were relative unknowns.