Rhode Island Basketball: 2023-24 season preview for the Rams

Key Reserves

Brandon Weston

One of the biggest returners for Rhode Island this season is redshirt sophomore guard Brandon Weston. The 6-foot-5 ball handler transferred into the program last season from Seton Hall, where he only appeared in one game. Since joining the Rams, Weston has quickly provided a spark off the bench for Coach Miller and his staff. Last season, he averaged 4.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and shot 37.1 percent. Weston also had a career-high 14 points on 42.9 percent shooting against George Mason at the Ryan Center.

We expect Weston to provide a similar spark off the bench for the Rams in 2023-24. I wouldn’t be surprised if he were the first player that Miller looks to off the bench. He provides a high basketball IQ and the ability to shoot from anywhere on the court. The guard excels in mid-range shooting and can be highly productive both with the ball in hands or off the ball. With Weston’s high ceiling, it will be exciting to watch his second season in Keaney Blue this year.

Cam Estevez

One of the newest Rams is freshman guard Cam Estevez from Harlem, New York, who recently played for the Canterbury School. The 6-foot-3 floor general is a three-star prospect who raised his stock with the Riverside Hawks club program. It will be exciting to see what Estevez can achieve in his first season at Rhode Island.

Always Wright

Not only do the Rams have one of the most talented incoming classes, but they have won the award for rostering one of the best names in college basketball this season. URI recruited JuCo guard Always Wright out of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.

Last season, he averaged 14.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game while starting all 29 games he played. Wright led NEO A&M to a regular season title and earned First Team All-Region honors.

While the sophomore guard may not necessarily be a starting guard, he will play a similar role to former URI backup point guard Sebastian Thomas. The Providence, RI, native spent the last two seasons with the Rams before transferring to Albany. During Thomas’s tenure in Kingston, he averaged 18.5 minutes off the bench. We could see a similar impact from Wright this season.

Connor Dubsky

Another new Ram is freshman guard Connor Dubsky from Woodbridge, Virginia, who recently played for Sunrise Christian Academy. He is a pure shooter from the perimeter as well as mid-range. It will be exciting to see Dubsky develop over the season and to see how Coach Miller uses the first-year ball handler down the stretch.

Rory Stewart

One of Rhode Island’s most impressive players last season was forward Rory Stewart. The freshman was relied on heavily during in-game situations when URI lacked frontcourt depth. Their rotation drastically changed when Bilau went down with an injury, and Coaching Miller and his staff needed someone to step up when starting forwards Samb and Tchikou were in foul trouble. During these scenarios, the Rams typically went to their small lineup, rolling out three guards, Martin and Stewart.

While Stewart did experience some growing pains, the 6-8 forward became more comfortable taking open looks as the season went on. The London, England, native averaged 2.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, and shot 39 percent from the field. Stewart will have a breakout season with a full year now under his belt and an increase in minutes as one of the team’s only returners this season.

Josaphat Bilau

One thing most Rhody fans are looking forward to the most is the return of Bilau. He was starting to perform well before suffering a knee injury on Dec. 13 in URI’s overtime victory over UMass Lowell.

In eight games, the 6-foot-10 forward was averaging 6.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and shooting 44.4 percent. Bilau had his best game against Providence, where he posted six points with five rebounds, two assists, and one block. He also recorded his first double-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks against Illinois State.

Once Bilau fully recovers from knee surgery and returns to Rhode Island’s rotation, we can expect the big man to put up numbers on both sides of the ball. I wouldn’t be surprised if the coaching staff eases him back into the lineup by increasing his minutes over time to avoid rushing his recovery; however, look out for Bilau to either be a starter or one of the first players off the bench in the second half of the season.

David Green

URI continued to bolster their frontcourt by adding Louisiana Tech forward David Green. The forward out of Apopka, Florida, played just six games, including two starts, before announcing he would be entering the transfer portal midseason. Last year, Green had one double-digit scoring performance, which came against Wyoming. The 6-foot-7 forward had 21 points and shot 7-of-9 from the field and 4-of-5 behind the arc.

Something to keep an eye on in the next few days will be Green’s eligibility, as he still needs to be granted his waiver by the NCAA. A reason for this is the junior’s decision to transfer for a third time in four seasons. Green spent his first year at Hofstra before moving to Louisiana Tech for the previous two seasons and is now with Rhode Island. We expect to hear about the forward’s status in the next few days.

Jeremy Foumena

One of the players to watch this season for Rhode Island will be redshirt freshman center Jeremy Foumena. The seven-foot big man sat out all of last season but was around the program at all times. He should be a major factor off the bench this year for the Rams to start the season.

Foumena is originally from Montreal, Québec, and played alongside current teammate Stewart in high school at Orangeville Prep before arriving in Kingston. His existing relationship with Rory should translate well when both take the floor for Rhody at the Ryan Center.

During the Rams exhibition game with Assumption, Foumena was the first man off the bench and was the sixth player on the team to finish in double figures. The big man posted 15 points on 60 percent shooting from the field and tallied six rebounds in URI’s 96-54 victory. It is just the beginning for Foumena, who will be dominant inside the paint and off the glass. We can expect this to be a consistent trend for the center as he continues to get opportunities to prove himself, either off the bench or eventually in a starting role.

Jimmy Ball

Jimmy Ball is a sophomore guard in his second season with the program. He hails from Medford, Massachusetts, and is one of Rhody’s three walk-on players this season.

Ray Allen III

Ray Allen III is a freshman guard from Miami, Florida, one of Rhode Island’s three walk-on players this season. He is also the oldest son of NBA legend Ray Allen.

Jameson Smith

Jameson Smith is a freshman guard from Falls Church, Virginia, one of URI’s three walk-on players this year. He is in his first season with the program.