Rhode Island Basketball: Rams adds international 2022 commit Rory Stewart

Coach Archie Miller and Rhode Island Basketball made another splash on the recruitment trail following the commitment of London native Rory Stewart.

Rhode Island Basketball added a fourth recruit to their incoming class on Saturday afternoon. Rory Stewart is a six-foot-nine shooter who hails from London and most recently played for Orangeville Prep in Toronto, Canada. He joins George Washington transfer Brayon Freeman, Long Island Lutheran forward Louis Hutchinson, and fellow teammate Jeremy Foumena in Kingston next Fall.

Stewart is the first England native to join the Rams since Ben Eaves who played three seasons (2008-11) in a Rams uniform. Eaves helped the program reach the NIT his junior season.

Stewart attracted interest from other mid-major programs around the nation such as Pacific and Coastal Carolina. He also had been in contact with Mount St. Mary’s, Holy Cross, Portland, and Eastern Michigan.

He amassed 25 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in a victory over Hamilton Heights (Tennessee) in the Lighthouse Classic. Foumena had an impressive performance as well recording a double-double as he grabbed 14 rebounds and 12 points.

Rhode Island assistant Duane Woodward has been a pivotal factor in the recruitment of Stewart and Foumena at Orangeville Prep this offseason. The academy has produced a lot of notable players at the professional level over the years such as Jamal Murray, Luguentz Dort, Thon Maker, and Ignas Brazdeikis.

Despite eight players leaving the program following last year, Rhode Island still has four open scholarships heading into the 2022-23 season. The program is working to replace Allen Betrand (Rider), Makhi and Makhel Mitchell (Arkansas), Antwan Walker (Bryant), Ileri Ayo-Faleye (Vermont), Tres Berry (Charleston Southern), Ishmael El-Amin (graduation), and Jeremy Sheppard (graduation).

The Rams have been linked to several players in the transfer portal including, Missouri forward Sean Durugordon, Pittsburgh guard Femi Odukale (recently committed to Seton Hall), and Norfolk State guard Jalen Hawkins.

Coach Miller and his staff will prioritize recruiting over the next few weeks to bolster the Rams’ depth on both ends of the floor which will benefit the program’s future.