Rhode Island Basketball: 2022-23 season preview for the Rams
Potential Starting Five
The Rhode Island Rams starting five is subject to change, however, we will assume they will be rolling out a lineup of two guards, two forwards, and a center.
Brayon Freeman – Point Guard
You don’t see college basketball players transfer within the same conference all that often, however, when it occurs it is special.
Last season, Brayon Freeman averaged 10.2 points, 3.7 assists, shot 43.3 percent, and reached double figures 18 times with the George Washington Colonials. He received recognition around the conference with an All-Rookie team honor.
Freeman enters with a year already under his belt in the Atlantic 10 Conference and understands Rhode Island’s coaching staff. He played for assistant Kenny Johnson at National Christian Academy.
Brayon Freeman was recently named to the Atlantic 10 preseason all-conference third team.
Coach Archie Miller could also rely on returning guards Sebastian Thomas or Jalen Carey, who played significant minutes last year, to step up their role this season for the Rams.
Ishmael Leggett – Shooting Guard
Ishmael Leggett has been a familiar name in Kingston the last two seasons and should be one of the Rams’ most impactful players this season.
He is one of four players on the roster to hail from the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) area including, Brayon Freeman, Abdou Samb, and Louis Hutchinson. Leggett attended St. John’s College prep which is the alma mater of Rhody legend Jeff Dowtin and former head coach David Cox.
Last season, he averaged 8.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, shot 37.1 percent, and stood out in several games. Leggett set a career-high 21 points against UMass on February 5th and drove in for the game-winning layup with 23 seconds left on January 19 against La Salle.
Malik Martin – Small Forward
Rhode Island is going to rely heavily on its veteran leadership this season to balance out its younger roster. This means that the Rams’ leadership is going to be in the hands of their lone senior Malik Martin.
Although he has only spent half of his collegiate playing career at Rhode Island, he understands the program. Malik is the brother of URI great Hassan and essentially grew up around the team.
After initially entering his name into the NCAA transfer portal, Coach Archie Miller can be extremely thrilled to have the fifth-year forward back at the Ryan Center for one more season.
Last season, Martin averaged 7.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.7 blocks, and shot 50.9 percent in 30 games. He started four games and contributed off the bench on both ends of the floor during high-pressure situations.
Abdou Samb – Power Forward
With Rhode Island being primarily a ‘guard-heavy’ team, we can expect Abdou Samb to lead the Rams’ frontcourt heading into this season.
The 6-foot-8 redshirt freshman is one of six returners from last year. The Maryland native only saw the court once last season which was an exhibition victory over Johnson & Wales at the Ryan Center.
Samb will be changing his number to 1 which was last worn by Fatts Russell. He becomes the 11th player to wear the number 1 in program history.
He is a significant part of the current Rams’ roster and has helped set the foundation for the future of Rhode Island basketball.
If Coach Archie Miller and his staff do not use Samb this season as a starter, they may give freshman Rory Stewart or redshirt sophomore Josaphat Bilau the nod.
Alex Tchikou – Center
Alabama transfer Alex Tchikou has a lot to prove and could be one of the most impactful newcomers this season.
The 6-foot-11 forward is a native of Paris, France. Tchikou was rated as the No. 65 player in the Class of 2020 before choosing the University of Alabama.
He missed his entire freshman season with the Crimson Tide due to an Achilles-related injury. Last season, he averaged just 1.3 rebounds in three games played.
Although his collegiate career may not be the way he anticipated it, Alex Tchikou joins the Rams with something to prove and it couldn’t be a better time for Coach Archie Miller.