2024-25 Roster Thread

Here we go again. Same format as last year. Hopefully with a little less action the first week. Not making any assumptions about who may be returning until they have either indicated that they are coming back or the portal closes on May 1st. I will edit this post daily if things are changing to keep the most recent info at the top. With that being said let's have a great off season and put together a roster that can win the A10!

2023-24 Roster

Fr. Michael Belle
RS Fr. Fats Billups
RS Fr. Obinnaya Okafor
So. Tobi Lawal
So. Christian Fermin
So. Jason Nelson
Jr. Roosevelt Wheeler
Sr. Max Shulga
Sr. Zeb Jackson
Sr. Connor Odom-Walk On
Sr. Joe Bamisile
Sr. Kuany Kuany
Sr. Sean Bairstow

Out Of Eligibility

Sr. Kuany Kuany
Sr. Sean Bairstow
Sr. Connor Odom-Walk On

Recruits Signed

Brandon Jennings
Luke Bamgboye
Terrence Hill

Portal Out

Jason Nelson - Youngstown State
Roosevelt Wheeler - ETSU
Tobi Lawal - VPI
Max Shulga - Villanova

Portal In

Jack Clark - From Clemson
Phillip Russell - From UTA
Jamarii Thomas - From Norfolk State

2024-25 Roster

Fr. Brandon Jennings
Fr. Luke Bamgboye
Fr. Martin Carrere
Fr. Terrence Hill
RS Fr. Obinnaya Okafor
So. Michael Belle
RS So. Fats Billups
Jr. Christian Fermin
Jr. Phillip Russell
5th Yr. Sr. Joe Bamisile
5th Yr. Sr. Zeb Jackson
5th Yr. Sr. Max Shulga
7th Yr. Sr. Jack Clark

12 of 13 Scholarships
 
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So I have been thinking about this for a few days. What if no one transfers? Today, we know for certain that we have two open spots. To me, a PG with 1 or 2 years left is the most important one to fill. 2nd, a 6’10” or better big. Preferably, European experienced
I think you're pretty much right on - bring in an experienced backup PG and a big man who can play as a true center and free Tobi and Fermin up to play the 4.
 
In order of appearance from the

upper left corner going counter clockwise?
@duncanlamb, @ramluvr99 , @HTTRams! , @Gopher+RamFan , Mrs. @Mistachill, Mrs and Mr @RowdyPkunk , Mrs. @rambunctiousrowdyram , @Mr X , and in the center square @SpiderRAM.

In this episode,

@Mr X tells @duncanlamb that Mason sucks, mr and Mrs @RowdyPkunk decide to make constructing next year's opponent tracking thread a couple building project, @ramluvr99 is taking over the recruiting sub forum, @Mistachill has decided to let Mrs. @Mistachill write all his vrn posts from now on., @httrams and @Gopher+RamFan won tickets to the 2025 final four and @SpiderRAM woke up upset because she realized that Chris Mooney is still the UR coach.

@rambunctiousrowdyram visits the proctologist and discovers his constipation is related to ppl still talking about MR on VRN.
I would comment, but I have no idea what I would be commenting about.
 
If we return the same roster I think we likely miss the tourney again. This team was very reliant on Max(I don't think we make the NIT this year if he didn't ball out in A10 tourney) A lot of the same weaknesses would remain.

We would be losing 15-20 pts a game. Bam would still be streaky. Zeb as a two is crazy considering he shot under 30% from three on high volume all year. JNel would still an unserviceable back up and no telling how much Fats/Belle develop.

A real quality big would change things, but we all know that's about the hardest thing to find in college basketball.

We got pieces with specific skills. Zeb has defense, speed. Bam has microwave scoring. Tobi is a massive athlete. what we need is a lead dog who can integrate us and help the other guys be in position to maximize these specific skills.
 
So I have been thinking about this for a few days. What if no one transfers? Today, we know for certain that we have two open spots. To me, a PG with 1 or 2 years left is the most important one to fill. 2nd, a 6’10” or better big. Preferably, European experienced
My count is 3: Sean, K2 and Okafor. And I think we are going to lose at least 2.
 
My count is 3: Sean, K2 and Okafor. And I think we are going to lose at least 2.
I am confused when you count Obi.

  1. You think he is having his Scholly pulled?
  2. You think he is leaving
  3. You think he didn't have a scholly?
RE: Losing two, I definitely don't believe that both Max and Zeb are back. Maybe one but not both.

For the record, Obi is an unknown quantity to the majority of the fanbase. We know that he was a state 2nd team player coming ut of high school. We know he turned down a D1 scholly to Hampton to come to VCU. I don't know what his status is or will be and that is the case for 9 out of 10 Ram fans
 
With Jennings coming in, how many do we have?
 
I am confused when you count Obi.

  1. You think he is having his Scholly pulled?
  2. You think he is leaving
  3. You think he didn't have a scholly?
RE: Losing two, I definitely don't believe that both Max and Zeb are back. Maybe one but not both.

For the record, Obi is an unknown quantity to the majority of the fanbase. We know that he was a state 2nd team player coming ut of high school. We know he turned down a D1 scholly to Hampton to come to VCU. I don't know what his status is or will be and that is the case for 9 out of 10 Ram fans
What I know: (a) scholarships are one-year deals; (b) he was brought in as a walk-on, not a scholarship athlete; and (c) he only got a scholarship last year because Odom decided he didn't need 13 scholarship athletes. It was a use-it-or-lose it asset that otherwise would have been lost.

What I don't know: whether Odom will again leave scholarships fallow and decide he has no better use for them that to give them to a walk-on(s).

What I suspect: if he has a good use for "Okafor's" scholarship, he won't let last year's "precedent" deny the scholarship to someone more useful.

Odom said he was looking forward to having Zeb "continue" with the team in his presser before the Utah game, and that seems like pretty good evidence that he'll be back.

On the other hand, I suspect (next door neighbor to speculate) that there are at least 2 more players who will be encouraged to move on or be confronted with significantly diminished roles.

Net-net, I think Odom will have +/- 5 scholarships at his disposal, should he decide to use them
 
I am confused when you count Obi.

  1. You think he is having his Scholly pulled?
  2. You think he is leaving
  3. You think he didn't have a scholly?
RE: Losing two, I definitely don't believe that both Max and Zeb are back. Maybe one but not both.

For the record, Obi is an unknown quantity to the majority of the fanbase. We know that he was a state 2nd team player coming ut of high school. We know he turned down a D1 scholly to Hampton to come to VCU. I don't know what his status is or will be and that is the case for 9 out of 10 Ram fans
I hear that Obi is a smart kid and hard worker (hint not all are hard workers). I don’t think he’s as athletic or jumps as high as some, but he may stand a better chance at being serviceable or even effective.

I’d like to see him get a chance. I don’t think he deserves to be written off so quickly.
 
It is almost exactly like that, except the school has no enforceable contract rights in the arrangement.

It's the penalty for the NCAA not being willing to figure it out previously and instead allowing the courts to dictate.

I'm reminded of the comment made by Arbitrator Peter Seitz during the McNally/ Messersmith free agency grievance in the mid 70s. "The owners were too stubborn and stupid. They were like the French barons of the 12th Century. They had accumulated so much power and wouldn't share it with anybody."

NCAA was the same way...and now it's totally outside their control.
 
It's the penalty for the NCAA not being willing to figure it out previously and instead allowing the courts to dictate.

I'm reminded of the comment made by Arbitrator Peter Seitz during the McNally/ Messersmith free agency grievance in the mid 70s. "The owners were too stubborn and stupid. They were like the French barons of the 12th Century. They had accumulated so much power and wouldn't share it with anybody."

NCAA was the same way...and now it's totally outside their control.
All of this is true. I do wonder whether a more proactive NCAA could have pieced together a solution that would have survived legal challenge.
 
All of this is true. I do wonder whether a more proactive NCAA could have pieced together a solution that would have survived legal challenge.
Maybe, maybe not. I'd bet they could've cooled the temperature enough to not necessitate litigation, though, or at bare minimum delayed it. Instead they chose the paternalistic rule-by-fiat approach.
 
What I know: (a) scholarships are one-year deals; (b) he was brought in as a walk-on, not a scholarship athlete; and (c) he only got a scholarship last year because Odom decided he didn't need 13 scholarship athletes. It was a use-it-or-lose it asset that otherwise would have been lost.

What I don't know: whether Odom will again leave scholarships fallow and decide he has no better use for them that to give them to a walk-on(s).

What I suspect: if he has a good use for "Okafor's" scholarship, he won't let last year's "precedent" deny the scholarship to someone more useful.

Odom said he was looking forward to having Zeb "continue" with the team in his presser before the Utah game, and that seems like pretty good evidence that he'll be back.

On the other hand, I suspect (next door neighbor to speculate) that there are at least 2 more players who will be encouraged to move on or be confronted with significantly diminished roles.

Net-net, I think Odom will have +/- 5 scholarships at his disposal, should he decide to use them
I don’t disagree with anything you said. All, I am saying is its impossible for me to to make an assessment on a guy that had a D1 scholarship offer, had an Ivy League school that wanted him to prep and then attend that I haven’t seen play. The Dukes just won the A10 championship with a Walk on starting 21 games. I am not saying what he is or is not, only that I dont have any information to form an opinion.

Now for the two being encouraged to move on or have diminished roles. I think it’s pretty obvious who they are so no need to name them but I will say this. One of them is probably making max NIL money and probably doesn’t have a lot of suitors. The other one probably holds out at least another year, even in a diminished role. Just my opinion
 
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