Busting Brackets
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MEAC Basketball: Howard’s huge 2020 recruiting class turns heads

By Herbert Seward III

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 15: James Miller #33 and Marcel Boyd #5 of the Howard University Bison celebrate after defeating the Delaware State University Hornets during the Big Apple Classic at Barclays Center on December 15, 2013 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Bison defeat the Hornets 64-62 in overtime. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 15: James Miller #33 and Marcel Boyd #5 of the Howard University Bison celebrate after defeating the Delaware State University Hornets during the Big Apple Classic at Barclays Center on December 15, 2013 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Bison defeat the Hornets 64-62 in overtime. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Howard Basketball has a large incoming recruiting class that can vault the Bison into the top half of MEAC Basketball next season.

Kenny Blakeney had a bit of a dilemma coming off of a below-average season in MEAC Basketball this year; He and his staff needed to re-tool the existing roster with upgraded talent. It looks like he’s well on his way to doing just that by the looks of this nine-player recruiting class arriving at the Mecca next season. The 800-lb. gorilla in the room for anybody that takes on a Division I-level coaching gig in the DMV (the new ‘inclusive’ term for the greater D.C. metropolitan area) is whether they can actually tap into the tremendous talent pool and network that’s present in the region.

This is particularly true for mid-major programs and essential for programs in the area that are part of the MEAC. This recruiting class has a distinct DMV flavor to it, which is big for a program that’s historically had problems getting Division I level talent to the hilltop to play. Six of the nine incoming additions are from the talent-rich DMV/Baltimore corridor, either via High School, or transfers from other mid-major Division I and/or JUCO programs. Here’s the recruiting breakdown:

Rahim Ali, Jr. (Baltimore Poly/Baltimore, Md.) – PG, 5-11,150lbs
Sam Green (Drexel University/McNamara Catholic H.S./Bowie, MD) – PF, 6-6, 229lbs.
Spencer Hayes (St. Andrew’s Episcopal/Washington, D.C.) – PG/SG, 6-5, 175lbs.
Christian Johnson (Ron Brown H.S./Washington, DC) – SF, 6-7, 190lbs.
Amir Rahimzad ( The Edge School-Canada/Gorgan, Iran) – PF, 6-8, 225lbs.
Deven Richmond (Howard C.C./Dematha/Bowie, MD) – SG, 6-4, 190lbs.
Isaac Suffren (Lafayette College/Providence Day/Charlotte,N.C.) – PG/SG, 6-4,184lbs.
Thomas Weaver (Riverdale Baptist/Upper Marlboro, MD) – PG/SG, 5-10, 165lbs.
Jordan Wood (Cornerstone Christian/San Antonio,Texas) – SF, 6-9, 200lbs.

There’s a good deal of versatility and maturity represented among the incoming players, which bodes well for Coach Blakeney as he looks to blend some of these talents with the younger returning players on the roster. Issac Suffren and Sam Green have DI mid-major experience, playing on the Patriot League and the Colonial Athletic Association respectively.

Amir Rahimzad is a stretch 4 with fairly advanced perimeter skills to go along with post scoring. He’s also the only player in the class that has the benefit of international game experience, playing in the U19 FIBA World Cup Championship and the U18 FIBA Asian Championships for his native country Iran. Christian Johnson, Thomas Weaver, and Spencer Hayes come from the ultra-competitive high school and Prep basketball scene in the DMV. Hayes was part of a potent offensive backcourt with 5-Star Maryland Terrapin target Benny Williams.

The hidden gems of this class may very well be JuCo standout Deven Richmond. A product of storied DeMatha Catholic High School, and Baltimore Poly’s Rahim Ali Jr. Ali was a 4-year starter for multi-time Baltimore City Champs and state title contenders at Poly. Richmond has high-major athleticism and scoring potential, scoring close to over 800 points in his brief career at Howard Community College.

He has the potential to slide into the void left by one of the better players in HU’s recent basketball history in All-MEAC selection Charles Williams and become an instant contributor to a young guard rotation. The extra bodies mean extra competition, which is exactly what Coach Blakeney and his staff need to build a winning culture for the program.

dark. Next. Early top-25 mid-major power rankings

If this is any indicator of how Bison recruiting is going to go from here on in, the hilltop faithful has a LOT to look forward to as Coach Blakeney and staff start to mold the program into their own image.