The word “rare” doesn’t even begin to describe how uncommon it is to see a player transfer from high-major to Division II. Not negative or a bad thing—just incredibly atypical. Well, that’s exactly what happened when Jaylon Gibson announced his decision to transfer from North Carolina State to Winston-Salem State. This initial domino was the first, and possibly most shocking, subplot of the Rams’ recruiting trail. The surprise comes mostly from their ability to net a player with so much still left to offer. Understandably, Gibson did not dominate at NC State, but we are being naive to think he’s going to be anything other than spectacular at his new home. For those who don’t remember, the 6-foot-9 post prospect possesses length, touch, skill, and useful instincts as a defender and rebounder. While he can continue to add strength, Gibson should be a colossal matchup problem. This opportunity should present him with a chance to become reinvigorated and establish his former dominance.
However, the excitement doesn’t stop there. Following Gibson’s announcement, 6-foot-10 Nate Springs left Kennesaw State (also formerly at Ohio) to also join the Rams. Similar to his new frontcourt mate, Springs never really received a ton of opportunities to prove himself at his previous endeavors. Regardless, he joins Winston-Salem State and should immediately become one of their most talented players. In high school, Springs offered a modernized identity of a power forward/center who can finish, rebound, block shots, and shoot three-pointers at a high percentage. These attributes should be expected to be transcend any expectations folks could possibly have of this interior duo.
Though it should be pretty obvious by now, the Rams are going to be a problem for opponents next season. They are coming off of a 17-9 season and, despite losing multiple pieces, should be poised to improve over the foreseeable future. This team has a slew of talented returners, including Isaac Parson and Samage Teel—two young guys who already play over twenty minutes per game. Things could go a number of different ways, but the masses should hedge their bets on the Rams enjoying a ton of success going forward.