The University of Rhode Island is on the board to begin its 2025 men’s basketball recruiting class.
The Rams received a commitment Thursday afternoon from Massachusetts guard Barrett Loer. He trains at St. George’s and races on the Under Armor grassroots circuit with the Middlesex Magic.
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Loer claimed offers from the likes of Minnesota, Penn State, Xavier, Indiana State and others. He also received interest this spring from Notre Dame, Creighton and other programs looking for a shooter on the wing.
Loer has missed time twice in 2024 due to injury. A pair of foot fractures cost him part of the season with the Dragons and the end of the summer circuit with the Magic. URI remained in constant contact with Loer throughout, and assistant coach Austin Carroll served as his primary recruiter.
Loer returned to action briefly in the spring and played eight games for Middlesex. He shot 46% from the field, totaled 21 assists against nine turnovers and grabbed eight steals. Loer has reached double figures in three of his first five games, including 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting in an April win over Allball 17U.
According to Verbal Commits, Loer’s first offer came from Holy Cross in April 2023. Albany, Bryant and Siena followed him over the next two months before the Rams began their recruitment. Loer’s options reached the power conference level that fall, with the Golden Gophers extending an offer in September.
Loer’s breakout came at the NEPSAC showcase in June 2023. URI hosted him for an unofficial visit after a strong performance against some of the best prep programs in the region. The Rams formally tendered Loer after his trip to Kingston, and the 6-foot-4-inch prospect finally committed about 14 months later.
The Magic have produced several notable local alumni, including Cumberland native Tyler Kolek. He played youth basketball with Middlesex before continuing with George Mason, Marquette and the New York Knicks. Matt Knowling (Yale), Aidan Cammann (Stanford), JP Estrella (Tennessee), Luka Toews (Boston College) and Ryan Mela (Providence) are among recent Middlesex alumni who have helped contribute to multiple UAA championships at the 17U level .
Loer figures to help replenish a backcourt that’s about to lose Sebastian Thomas, Jaden House and Quentin Diboundje (pending a retroactive redshirt request). URI is entering its third season under head coach Archie Miller and is looking to jump from a 12-20 overall mark in 2023-24. The Rams started 3-0 in Atlantic 10 play before fading the last two months and losing to Saint Louis in the opening round of the conference tournament.
URI appears poised to offer two open scholarships for the 2024-25 season. The Rams will play several games during a trip to the Bahamas next week before wrapping up summer sessions on campus. URI added Thomas (Albany), Diboundje (East Carolina), Jamarques Lawrence (Nebraska), Javonte Brown (Western Michigan) and Drissa Traore (St. John’s) through the transfer portal and Baltimore freshman forward Tyonne Farrell.
The Rams made a number of new offers for 2025 coming out of the summer live periods, focusing primarily on the backcourt. Point guards Arness Lawson, Jalen Harper, KJ Cochran, Adriel Nyorha and Damone King claimed offers from URI along with guards Gabe Tanner, Kruz McClure and Kai Shinholster. The Rams have also been in contact with potential frontcourt candidates Javon Perry, JJ Kelly, Abdou Yadd and Spencer Ahrens.
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared in The Providence Journal: URI men’s basketball gets guard from Massachusetts to fill gap in backcourt
