Alex Tchikou is latest player to leave Rhode Island basketball

Alex Tchikou could wind up spending just a lone season at the University of Rhode Island.

Verbal Commits reported Wednesday the third-year forward has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Tchikou confirmed the development with an affirmation on his personal Twitter account.

The former four-star recruit joined the Rams from Alabama for the 2022-23 campaign. Tchikou started in 13 of his 28 appearances, averaging 4.1 points and 3.5 rebounds. He collected 19 blocked shots, second on the team, and entered the offseason seemingly set for a larger role going forward.

Tchikou reached double figures in scoring twice, including 11 points in an Atlantic 10 road win at Loyola Chicago. It was the lone conference victory of the season away from Kingston for URI, which struggled to a 9-22 mark overall. Tchikou also reached eight rebounds three times and blocked three shots in an overtime home victory against UMass Lowell.

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Tchikou spent two years with the Crimson Tide before departing. A ruptured Achilles tendon cost him the 2020-21 season and Tchikou played just three games in 2021-22. He was a coveted 6-foot-11-inch prospect out of an Arizona prep school, claiming offers from the likes of Arizona, Florida State, Illinois, Mississippi State, Oregon, USC and others.

More: Will this transfer from Bradley give Rhode Island basketball the scoring boost it needs?

Offensive production and some paint strength were two of the primary targets for Archie Miller and his staff entering the offseason. The Rams shot just 43.6% from 2-point range, ranked 230th nationally in defensive rebound percentage and closed in the national bottom five in opposing blocked shot percentage. Fellow forward Abdou Samb isn’t expected to return after entering the transfer portal and Josaphat Bilau won’t start the season on time after undergoing major knee surgery in January.

URI is hoping for solutions both internally and on the recruiting trail. Jeremy Foumena will debut in 2023-24 after taking a redshirt year last season. Junior college forward Tyson Brown signed with the Rams during this spring period and freshman forward Rory Stewart will return with a year of experience.

Three open scholarships remain for URI, and the program is involved with multiple remaining prospects. Junior college forward Buru Naivalurua visited campus last weekend and junior college shooting guard Always Wright was welcomed by the Rams this week. URI also remains in contact with Bryant wing Charles Pride, Boston College forward DeMarr Langford and others.

bkoch@providencejournal.com  

On Twitter: @BillKoch25 

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island basketball's Alex Tchikou enters transfer portal