Schedule Update & Recruiting Roundup: Transfer Portal, Class of '25
The non-conference schedule for next season, plus where does Fordham go with the final scholarship spot, and who are they recruiting in the class of 2025?
2024-2025 Non-Conference Schedule
Fordham has added four games to the schedule for next season, with some dates and venues still to be finalized at a later date. As of 6/7, here is where the schedule stands:
This is shaping up to be one of Fordham’s stronger non-conference schedules in recent memory (the bar isn’t high). Clemson, San Francisco, and Penn State have the potential to be Q1 games, while Drexel finished last year as Kenpom’s #125 team, although they will lose a lot of outgoing talent in Amari Williams (Kentucky) and Justin Moore (Loyola-Chicago). St. John’s was announced yesterday, with an anticipated date of early November for St. John’s season opener. St. John’s will be looking to build off last year with a highly-touted incoming transfer class highlighted by Kadary Richmond, Deivon Smith, and Aaron Scott. The venue for this matchup is still to be announced, hopefully, Fordham’s poor showing at MSG last season is not too influential.
The Final Scholarship Spot
As things stand currently, Fordham has one remaining scholarship available for the coming season.
The most glaring need is a lead guard & primary scorer who can facilitate the offense and be relied upon to get a basket when needed. Fordham has tried to fill that spot so far this offseason: Albany transfer and eventual URI-signee Sebastian Thomas, and Garden City CC transfer Brody Robinson, who would commit to UT-Arlington, both visited in early April.
Prior to committing to Stanford last week, I heard New Jersey native Jaylen Blakes also visited Fordham after DePaul and Seton Hall (the latter two, according to CBB insider Trilly Donovan). A player with his pedigree and skillset would have been a near-perfect fit, but Blakes opted to stay in the ACC and go for the benefits of a Stanford MBA.
Where next? Luring local talent back to NYC is and has been one of Fordham’s better recruiting pitches. They could continue to pursue a lead guard, otherwise, one of Jackie Johnson III, Will Richardson, or Japhet Medor will need to take a big step into that role. With six open spots for next season, perhaps an uncommitted high school senior. Qinfang Pang (Christ The King) and Maurice Vassel (St. Benedict’s Prep) are both local forward prospects who held Fordham offers at one point during their recruitment and have not found a home for next year. Last year, the final scholarship was not filled until Ogheneyole Akuwovo committed on July 1st.
At this stage in the offseason, larger schools are getting desperate to fill their remaining spots, which is only going to make it more difficult for Fordham.
High School Class of 2025
With the 2024-2025 season set to be the final year of extra eligibility, the high school class of ‘25 is one of the most important in many years due to so many players exhausting eligibility. While so much recruiting attention has shifted to the transfer portal in the last two years, this high school class is not to be overlooked. Here are some players that Fordham has offered in 2024:
Kyle Waltz | 6’7” Wing | Spire Academy (OH) | Team Breakaway UAA
Also holds offers from American, Vermont, Penn, Western Michigan, Miami (OH), and Loyola (MD)
Amari Evans | 6’5” Point Guard | Overtime Elite | NH Lightning EYBL
Also holds offers from Pittsburgh, Georgia, Illinois, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Providence, +more
Played with Jahmere Tripp at Our Savior Lutheran
Consensus top-115 player in the class of 2025, exceptional athlete + defender
Tim Walker | 6’3” Shooting Guard | Bishop O’Connell (MD) | Team Durant EYBL
Also holds offers from UMass-Lowell, Loyola (MD), College of Charleston, and Nicholls State
Strong perimeter defender + shooter
Jaden Vance | 6’6” Combo Guard | Bella Vista Prep (AZ) | Vegas Elite EYBL
Also holds offers from West Virginia, UC Santa Barbara, San Jose State, and Montana
Efficient scorer who recently grew a few inches
Asher Elson | 6’10” Wing/Forward | South Shore High School (NY) | NY Gauchos 3SSB
Also holds offers from Syracuse, Georgia Tech, St. John’s, Creighton, Illinois
Very athletic, lengthy NYC wing
Jake Blackburn | 6’5 Shooting Guard | Worcester Academy (MA) | House We Built HGSL
Also holds offers from Holy Cross, Boston University, and Stonehill
Worcester Academy teammates with incoming walk-on Max Miller
Urgo has made recruiting his alma mater a priority, as three players from Gonzaga College HS hold offers: Alex Touomou, Derek Dixon, and William Harper. You can visit Fordham’s Verbal Commits page to see a full list of players who have an offer. I try to repost all offers as players post them on my X feed (@fordhamhoopsfan). It will be interesting to see who Fordham is able to get on campus for visits this summer.
Next article: Jackie Johnson III & Matt Zona