Rhode Island scores with Outerbridge

Jim Baron and staff are building an impressive class at Rhode Island as the Rams added a key prospect in the class of 2008. Boston native Orion Outerbridge officially visited the Atlantic 10 school over the weekend and decided to give a nod to the program.

Outerbridge, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward from New Hampton (N.H.) School, is the fifth player to pledge to the Rams in the class of 2008. Outerbridge said he

"Rhode Island was with me through the thick and thin," he said. "I really took that into consideration."

The athletic big man also considered offers and interest from a host of other Atlantic 10 schools including St. Joseph's, LaSalle, Duquesne, Fordham, Delaware and others.

"The coaching staff, especially coach Pat Skeery, has been on me since the start of my junior year and they really showed that they wanted me," Outerbridge said. "They are losing three of their best players and there will be plenty of playing time for me right away. That was one of the biggest things I was looking for. So, everything kind of just fell into place."

Outerbridge joins Ryan Brooks, Jamal Wilson, Randy Dezouvre and Steve Mejia in the 2008 recruiting class for the Rams.

The three-star big man said he believes his style of play will fit in perfectly for the team and likes his future on the floor at Rhode Island.

"They said they see me more as a face up four man that can get out there and knock down some jump shots and run the floor. In the league play in now, there are a lot of 7-foot, 6-foot-11 guys that are 250, 260-pounds so it is going to be nice to find a place where I can utilize my strengths."