URI Basketball Announces Four Freshmen
James Malachowski, Sports Columnist
URI Basketball Announces Four Freshmen
The scholarship players who will redshirt are:
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Damonte King, whose signing was previously announced in August, is a 6’2” combo guard from Louisville, Kentucky. King was considering attending prep school but decided to continue his development as a redshirt at URI. In his senior year at DeSales High School, he averaged 20 points per game, 5.6 rebounds, a 50.6% field goal percentage, 40.9% on 3-pointers, and 87% from the foul line.
The non-scholarship freshmen are Arsenil Kolobov, a 6’4” point guard from Altea, Spain, and Jaymien Aponte, a 6” 3 guard from Cranston West.
During the off-season, head coach Archie Miller talked about the need to have an older, more experienced team. In speaking about adding freshmen, Miller said, “We are not just trying to add pieces, but also be strategic about what we are doing in recruiting,” Miller continued. “Redshirting high school players in today’s game is important. As old as you want to be, you also need the ability to develop your players. You can retain young, talented players by redshirting them, developing them, and working with them with an eye toward their future.”
Miller added, “What we are offering for some guys is the opportunity to develop and then step in the following year, more ready to contribute. Then, in years three, four, and five, as you become an older player, it becomes much more attainable to earn more money through better NIL opportunities.”
In basketball, there is something about a seven-foot-tall player that catches everyone’s attention. In speaking about his new seven-foot prospect, Miller said, “Moek has great length, and he runs the floor really well,” Miller continued. “He is the second biggest guy on the team behind Javonte Brownd, and he has a really good feel for the game. We can see he is a very hard worker who will be an impact player for us when the time comes.”
Damonte King is an interesting player who was recruited by other A-10 schools and made an interesting decision to forego prep school and agree to come to URI and redshirt. On King Miller said, “We had been recruiting Damone with an eye toward next year, but we really saw an opportunity to bring him in, develop within the program as a redshirt and then really start his career next year,” Miller continued. “He is a great kid with a high skill set and tremendous toughness. There is a lot to like about what Damone brings to the table.”
With the addition of these four, the roster now includes five freshmen. Tyonne Farrell, a 6’6’ forward from Baltimore, Maryland, committed to URI in July of 2023.
On Monday, Oct 14, URI will play an exhibition game against two-time defending national champion Connecticut in the Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Game at Mohegan Sun Arena. The game is also being billed as a charity event, with some proceeds going to Coaches vs. Cancer.