NEW YORK — Ryan Rhoomes will play in two conferences in the next two years — and he won’t even have to transfer.
The 6-foot-9, 240-pound power forward from South Jamaica, Queens and Newark NIA Prep, will attend TCU, choosing them over Seton Hall, Providence and Oklahoma State.
Texas Christian will play next season in the Mountain West Conference before transitioning to the Big East beginning in 2012.
“It came down to that because I felt like going into the Mountain West will better me for the Big East instead of going to a Big East school and kind of struggling,” said Rhoomes, who averaged 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks as a postgrad at NIA Prep.
“I think I’ll go there and get with the program and progress from there.”
Since TCU was admitted to the Big East for 2012, Rhoomes is TCU coach Jim Christian’s first recruit from the New York metropolitan area .
“I think I’ll bring a lot of intensity to the program because they’ve been struggling for the past couple years, so I think with my talents, I go in there with an offensive and defensive presence so I think it will be a good, fun situation for me,” he said.
NIA Prep coach Rudy King says Rhoomes has “a lot of potential, a lot of upside.”
“We haven’t really seen all of his skill development yet,” King said. “He has a nice, soft touch. He rebounds the ball very, very well. He’s aggressive. Great practice guy. He brings a lot of intensity to the floor, as far as the game and he’s positive mentally.
“Off the court he’s a great kid. I just think that he’s a great player for Jim Christian to pick up from the New York area because he’s going to be a great ambassador, too.”
Rhoomes said he hopes to recruit other area players to TCU, including Lincoln point guard Shaquille Stokes.
“Most definitely, as soon as I get done with this I’m going to try to bring Shaq Stokes to this picture,” Rhoomes said.
Even though he’ll play in Texas, Rhoomes will come home for the Big East Tournament and games at Rutgers, Seton Hall and St. John’s.
“I think going away will just better me in my career,” he said, “so I think coming home will make it even better.”
