Rhode Island Basketball: Impact of Rams landing JUCO guard Always Wright
After another Rhode Island Basketball player entered the portal, Coach Archie Miller responded with a splash in the commitment of Northeast Oklahoma A&M guard Always Wright.
On Wednesday evening, Rhode Island Basketball fans learned that forward Alex Tchikou would enter his name into the transfer portal after just one season with the program. Less than 24 hours later, the Rams filled one of their open scholarships with the commitment of JUCO product Always Wright.
Wright joins the program after his freshman season with Northeast Oklahoma A&M and comes to URI with three years of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot-3 guard hails from Carthage, Missouri, and previously played for Joplin High School, where he starred in football and basketball, and the Michael Porter Jr Elite on the grassroots circuit.
This past season, he averaged 14.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists,1.8 steals, and shot 43.4 percent from behind the arc. Wright also helped lead NEO to a 23-6 overall record, a 13-3 record in conference play and reached the NJCAA Division II tournament.
He announced his commitment to URI through a post on his personal Twitter page on Thursday late afternoon.
What’s happening Rhody Nation 💙🐏#committed pic.twitter.com/Y4b2nWNXiu
— Always Wright (@prettyboyways) April 20, 2023
Wright is the third JUCO recruit under Coach Archie Miller’s tenure in Kingston. The program brought in Josaphat Bilau from New Mexico Junior College last offseason and Tyson Brown from Florida Southwestern State College on March 29th.
Always Wright joins an incoming class that consists of FSW forward Tyson Brown, High Point guard Jaden House, Quinnipiac guard Luis Kortright, and Bradley wing Zek Montgomery. The Rams will also welcome freshmen guards Cam Estevez and Connor Dubsky to campus in the Fall.
The Rams have two open scholarships remaining and have been in contact with several players in the transfer portal, including Bryant wing Charles Pride, Garden City Community College forward Buru Naivalurua, and Buffalo guard Zid Powell.
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With the departure of Ishmael Leggett, Sebastian Thomas, Brayon Freeman, Jalen Carey, and Louis Hutchinson, Rhody fans wondered what the backcourt would look like next season. With the addition of point guard Always Wright, it appears that Coach Archie Miller and the Rams finally landed the true floor general they were looking for.