On Quentin Diboundje, Rhode Island's Newest Addition
The Rams are adding a versatile wing to the 2024-25 core.
In an offseason marked by considerable roster overturn, Archie Miller and the Rhode Island Rams are finally starting to make some moves.
On Thursday, the team announced the signing of Quentin Diboundje, a 6'5'", 220-pound guard born in Montpellier, France. The redshirt junior was a three-star recruit in the 2021 high school class, spending the 2021-22 season at Tennessee before transferring to East Carolina after appearing in just seven contests as a Volunteer. He marks Rhode Island's fourth transfer portal addition of the offseason- the others being Jamarques Lawrence (Nebraska), Drissa Traore (St. John's), and Sebastian Thomas- who spent his junior year at Albany after donning the Rams uniform for his first two collegiate seasons.
Diboundje averaged 7.1 points per game across 30 contests (19 starts) in 2022-23. Expectations were again high for the 2023-24 season, yet he was limited to just 17 games (8 starts) due to an ankle injury suffered in January. Despite this, he showed flashes when he saw the floor, shooting a career-best 55.6% from two-point range while averaging 6.8 points and 2.4 rebounds a night. While not much of a three-point shooter (31% (48/155) from behind the arc for his career), he exploded for a career-best 27 points vs. Georgia Southern on November 20th, 2023, with seven triples on ten attempts in an 82-64 win.
With Rhode Island's top two scorers from 2023-24 in David Green (14.3 PPG) and Jaden House (14.1 PG) each set to return, and both Thomas and Lawrence expected to offer additional sources of offense in the backcourt, meaning URI’s newest addition is not in line to be a primary scorer. However, there's been a recurring question as to who will offer size and defensive instincts to a Rams team that was 261st in adjusted defensive efficiency last season, allowing opponents to average 110.5 points per 100 possessions in 2023-24- and that's where his services come in handy. Diboundje's frame and elite athleticism should allow him to comfortably slide into an off-ball role on offense while being entrusted as a ball-stopper on the defensive end.Â
Rhode Island now has three open scholarships for the 2024-25 season. While the NCAA Transfer Portal officially closed May 1st, those who entered their name before the deadline are eligible to find a new home for the upcoming season up until the start of the Fall 2024 semester- meaning the Rams will have plenty of time to fill the open slots.Â
While there are still needs for the club- a reliable big man and three-point specialist being chief among them. In that same breath, however, there was a need for a player willing to play up on the perimeter and stick their hand in passing lanes.
And so, enter Diboundje, who has the intangibles to leave his mark on a program that has been reeling in recent years.
Check out our social media accounts for all offseason coverage- transfer news, highlights, and plenty more:
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