Atlantic 10 Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season
6. Rhode Island Rams
Rhody is almost impossible to project after one of the craziest offseasons they have seen in a while. Rhode Island had an upsetting finish to an amazing year last season. Coach David Cox had to deal with the departure of essentially half of his roster over these last couple of months which will affect Rhody’s play this season. Cyril Langevine and Jeff Dowtin graduated, and Tyrese Martin, Jacob Toppin, and Mekhi Long entered the transfer portal.
Not all of the news has been bad for Rhody fans this offseason, however, even if most of it has. Fatts Russell will be returning to Rhode Island for his senior season after initially declaring for the NBA draft. Rhode Island has also recruited three highly respected freshmen for this incoming class in Tres Berry, Ishmael Leggett, and Illeri Ayo-Faleye.
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Leggett averaged 13.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steal last season as a senior while shooting 57 percent from the field. The Rams also added five transfers. The Mitchell twins, former top-100 big men Makhel and Makhi, transferred into the program from Maryland and will be eligible immediately. Jalen Carey, transferred from Syracuse, Malik Martin, transferred from Charlotte, and will also be eligible immediately.
The Rams will have to work with an all-new roster essentially but, I think they will be too talented to finish at the bottom-tier of the conference. It is too risky to put Rhody up there with Saint Louis and Richmond but, I certainly would not sleep on this team and may surprise a lot of people in March.