Jahmere Tripp commits to URI

Archie Miller, Duane Woodward and staff added another piece on Saturday evening as 6-foot-6, 230 pound wing Jahmere Tripp committed to the Rams. Last season he averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 boards, and 1.7 assists in 20 minutes per game, while shooting 34% from three-point range. He joins five other transfer portal adds (RJ Johnson, Keeyan Itejere, Jonah Hinton, Alex Crawford, and Myles Corey) as Rhode Island continues to restructure the team. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

I caught up with Tripp earlier this evening. Here’s what he had to say about his decision to join the Ocean State Rams:

Attraction to Rhode Island - “It’s a family environment and I’ve known Coach Forty (Duane Woodward) since middle school. He recruited my brother (Jahlil). I like the playing style as well. And when Coach Archie, when he called me, the first thing he said was player development focused… What we’d work on if I did make the decision, instead of telling me all the things I wanted to hear like everyone else does. It caught my attention. I’m a big development guy. My first year I averaged four points, I averaged eight last year, and I’m trying to make another jump this year obviously. My three-point percentage rose. The most important thing as far as finding a new school and how that’s going to help is development.

The playing style complements my game well… being able to be a big guard, push off the rebound, play in transition, and be all over the floor for a coach like that is going to help me be successful.”

Skill set he expects to use more at Rhode Island versus previously - “Watching film on how URI plays, being able to excel in transition… being bigger than most, having decent speed, and having the ability to pass the ball — that’s a place that players like me thrive.”

Personal player development - “One of my goals was to shoot over 35% from three, fell a little short… and hearing that they had similar goals for me, being the number one vocal point for them and the most important thing for us to get done — it showed that they’re on the same page as me as far as what I want to do, so why wouldn’t I…”

Other schools - “Main three were University of South Florida, Tulane, and Rhode Island of course.”

Rhode Island is getting - “A playmaker. I don’t always need a screen, or score off a back door cut… I feel like I can make a play with the ball in my hands. And getting someone who is going to play hard and wants to win. Coming from Fordham and seeing how easy it is to lose in the A10. I just want to win. That’s my main goal.”

Do you know any of the other incoming URI portal guys - “Jonah [Hinton]… seeing how he shoots the ball… he’s going to be a great addition also. That’s the main one.”

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Photo courtesy of Fordham Athletics