Projo Sports Blog

SOUTH KINGSTOWN — A busy summer spent on the recruiting trail is now paying off for the Rhode Island Rams.

The Rams secured their second verbal commitment for the class of 2012 this week on Thursday when Philadelphia swingman Jamal Wilson told Jim Baron and his staff he wants to come to Rhody. Earlier this week Canadian Randy Dezouvre committed to the Rams.

Scout.com, a recruiting Web site, reported Thursday that Wilson will visit the Kingston campus this weekend. URI’s coaches are forbidden by NCAA rules to discuss any recruits who has not signed a letter-of-intent. Wilson, Dezouvre, Boston guard Stevie Mejia and 7-foot center John Hagarty may all sign with URI in November.

Wilson is a 6-4, athletic wing player who averaged 11 points and 7 rebounds for Neumann-Goretti High in Philadelphia. The team won the city’s Catholic League title in 2005 and ’06 and lost in the finals last March to Roman Catholic. Neumann-Goretti was led by two All-State players in center Rick Jackson and guard Antonio Jardine, both of whom are headed to Syracuse next month. Wilson served as the team’s “garbage man” who frequently guarded the opposition’s best player. He also won a reputation as a big game player who helped secure several big wins not only against city competition but in regional showdowns such as a victory over DeMatha of Washington, D.C., when he scored 20 points.

URI is in position to sign a large crop of players. The Rams should graduate three players in forwards Will Daniels and Joe Mbang and guard Parfait Bitee. That will leave Baron with seven scholarship players so the Rams could sign as many as six new faces in this recruiting cycle. Rhody’s top need now will be to land an athletic frontcourt player and rebounder.

--KEVIN McNAMARA

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