The Rhode Back: How Rhode Island’s returners can turn the tide for the Rams
As summer workouts begin across college basketball, a clearer picture of each team’s roster for November is starting to take shape. Rhode Island had a successful run in the transfer portal and also managed to bring back two of its top three scorers—something that’s increasingly difficult in today’s landscape. With Archie Miller entering the final year of his contract, the Rams may have their most talented team since his arrival.
Bringing Jahmere Tripp and Jonah Hinton back to Kingston was a priority for the staff, and they got it done. Tripp emerged as an efficient three-level scorer this past season. The 6-foot-6 forward appeared in 27 games, averaging 12 points and 4.3 rebounds in just 25 minutes per night. He shot 46% from the field and 41% from three on just over three attempts per game. His frame allows him to post up and attack the rim with ease, underscoring his versatility as a scorer. Tripp scored a season-high 24 points in an overtime win at Dayton and reached double figures in eight of his final nine games. He should be one of the Rams’ most reliable offensive options this season.
Hinton’s return was just as crucial. While the guard struggled with efficiency—shooting 36% from the field and 32% from three—he showed flashes of high-level shot-making. He scored a season-high 29 points in a ranked win over Saint Louis, knocking down nine three-pointers, and added 23 points at Providence in December, going 7-for-14 from beyond the arc. Hinton is a volume shooter, but if he can become more consistent, he has the potential to develop into one of the conference’s top perimeter threats this season.
Rhode Island also brings back other key contributors in Mouhamed Sow and Jalen Harper, but Tripp and Hinton will need to anchor the offense as consistent scorers and leaders. For a program that has lacked a clear identity in recent years, their production could ultimately define the Rams’ ceiling.
Written By: Matt Colvin
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