Syracuse Basketball: Jalen Carey joins transfer-filled roster at URI
By Neil Adler
Former Syracuse basketball player Jalen Carey will compete for Rhode Island out of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Syracuse basketball transfer Jalen Carey revealed on Friday that he will become the second former Orange player from the ‘Cuse 2019-20 roster to make a move to the state of Rhode Island.
Carey, a 6-foot-3 combo guard who hails from Harlem, N.Y., will next compete for the University of Rhode Island, a high-quality program out of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
His decision comes after former Syracuse combo guard Brycen Goodine, a rising sophomore, committed to Providence in mid-March. Another Orange guard, Howard Washington, just finished up his junior campaign on the Hill and is exploring transfer options.
The recruitment of Carey stayed close to the vest. The rising junior, who announced his commitment to Rhode Island on Twitter, reportedly had received interest from other teams such as Marquette, Creighton, UConn, Georgetown, Alabama and BYU.
RIP to George Floyd and all my fellow brothers & sisters that we lost to police brutality! Being able to play for a black coach (especially in today’s world) was a no brainer and I am glad to announce that I will be committing to the University of Rhode Island!! #GoRams🐑 #BLM pic.twitter.com/Sx1xLQWbpD
— Jalen Carey (@yungswae5) June 5, 2020
Adam Zagoria of Zagsblog first reported the Carey news, saying that he chose the Rams over Alabama.
“Just coming from Syracuse and talking with the coaching staff at Rhode Island, they want me to come in and be that guy and play with [junior guard] Fatts Russell,” Carey told Zagoria. “Hopefully I’m able to come in right away. I feel like I can help that team a lot.”
Hopefully, the NCAA will grant former Syracuse basketball player Jalen Carey a medical redshirt at Rhode Island.
In the 2019-20 stanza, Carey only suited up for two contests because of an unfortunate thumb injury. Per various reports, Carey is expected to apply with the NCAA for a waiver to have the ability to immediately play, as well as possess three years of eligibility remaining.
The NCAA fumbles these sorts of transfer-waiver issues all the time. It should do the right thing here and let Carey compete this fall, with three terms of eligibility left, considering that he only got into two games in 2019-20.
Carey comes on board to a Rhode Island line-up with “up to seven newcomers for the 2020-21 season, and Carey is the fifth transfer among that group,” writes Bill Koch of the Providence Journal.
The Rams have made the Big Dance on a couple of occasions in recent campaigns. In 2019-20, Rhode Island wrapped up at 21–9 overall and 13-5 in the Atlantic 10, good for third place in the league.
Depending on whether Carey and other transfers receive immediate eligibility from the NCAA, the Rams could prove a strong contender in the Atlantic 10 during the upcoming stanza. Best of luck, Jalen, we’re rooting for you!