Projo College Hoops

SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- The URI men's basketball team will have a full complement of scholarship players this season, after all.

The Rams have brought in two new players, both apparently ready to play this year, the school announced Thursday. They are Nikola Malesevic, a 6-foot-7, 200-pound wing from Uzice, Serbia; and Lisando Ruiz-Moreno, a 6-foot, 180-pound point guard from Panema, Argentina.

Both have begun attending classes at URI. The team previously had 11 scholarship players, two below the limit.

"We are excited to add two quality student-athletes in Nikola and Lisandro," said Rhody coach Jim Baron. "With these additions, we have our full complement of scholarships filled and look forward to beginning preseason workouts before official practice starts in October."

Malesevic, who just celebrated his 20th birthday, played four years of high school basketball for Uzicka Gimnazija and one season with KK Sloboda in the top Serbian amateur league. He averaged 14.5 points and 7.8 rebounds and was named MVP in 2008.

He is thin, runs well and has good range on his jumper. With URI having stiff competition at the wing spots this year, he likely will be a support player at the start. He is the third player from Serbia to sign with URI since Momir Gajic, who is from Europe, became an assistant coach with the team two years ago, but the first to enroll in classes. Shooting guard Stefan Perunicic was not admitted to school, apparently because of his score on the English proficiency exam. He went to St. Francis of New York and led his team in 3-point shooting as a freshman.

The Rams signed Levan Shengalia, a rugged 6-9 inside player, last fall and hoped to have him now in school. However, he was not admitted, again apparently because of questions over the English proficiency exam. It is possible he could join the Rams next season.

Ruiz-Moreno is an interesting signee, one who could contend for immediate playing time. He spent last year at the South Kent School in Connecticut, along with fellow Rhody freshman Ryan Brooks.

Ruiz-Moreno ran the point and helped guide South Kent to a 27-3 overall record and a spot in the NEPSAC championship game. Ruiz-Moreno averaged better than 6.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game, while posting an assist-to-turnover ratio of better than 3-1. He becomes the seventh player from that team to earn a Division I scholarship. He originally signed with Miami, but later was freed from that commitment.

He is said to be a pure point, one who is a passer more than a shooter. With him, the Rams have four players on the 13-man roster who are 6-1 or shorter: Ruiz-Moreno, returning point guards Marquis Jones and Stevie Mejia, and Akeem Richmond, the fourth member of this year's incoming class.

Richmond is expected to be used more as an off-guard than at the point. He was a big-time scorer in high school, in North Carolina, and is expected to provide help where the Rams need it most for this season -- with outside shooting. That leaves the other three to contend for work at the point.

 Tags  Akeem Richmond Jim Baron Lisandro Ruiz-Moreno Marquis Jones Nikola Malesevic Stevie Mejia URI

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