The Paladins came agonizingly close to returning to the Big Dance for the second time in three years last season. Furman has become something of a regular in the championship game, having reached the final night in three of the last four tournaments. However, only once have they broken through to March Madness, something that will not fill the championship sized ambitions of Coach Richey and his program.
The level of roster retention Bob Richey achieved this offseason is nearly unheard of in the portal era, especially in a conference that consistently has its best players poached by high majors. The Paladins will return six players who appeared in over 30 games last season, as well as promising young talent, Mason Smith. Despite retention, there were some glaring needs after the departures in the way of shooting and filling the guard spots. Furman lost over 50% of scoring from last season. To build on the returning squad, Richey worked hard on the recruiting trail, bringing in five high quality freshmen, and a perfect fit from the portal.
Asa Thomas - 6’7 Wing
Asa Thomas committed from the transfer portal on April 14th, joining the Paladins from nearby Clemson University. As some may know, Coach Richey has a strong relationship with Brad Brownell and the Clemson program. The Tigers notably opened their doors to allow the Paladins to practice in their facilities during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The Clemson staff left positive reviews about Asa, who just couldn’t work his way into the lineup for the second place ACC squad aiming for another deep tournament run. Thomas redshirted in ‘23-34, and will come to campus as a redshirt sophomore with three years of eligibility.
As a redshirt freshman, Thomas saw action in 12 games, averaging just over a point per game. During his stints on the court, he shot 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. That small glimpse of shooting prowess, even after shoulder surgery. is what intrigued teams about Thomas as a prospect.
Coming out of high school, Asa was a 3-star prospect, ranked 216th in the nation and 7th in Illinois. Thomas set single season and career records at Lake Forest High School for three pointers made and ended his tenure second on the schools all-time scoring charts. Shooting was a need in the portal, and Bob Richey found it. At 6’7, Thomas will bring tremendous size to the wing on top of his scoring ability, something that has also been a factor for Bob Richey while building this year’s roster.
Freshman: Alex Wilkins
Alex Wilkins is a dynamic scoring guard, who will come into Furman ready to jump into the fray. Wilkins when through a growth spurt his junior season, jumping from 5’10 to 6’2, which helped him find his game at a higher level. Alex will walk onto campus at 6’5, giving him versatility to score and defend at either of the backcourt spots. On top of his scoring, he has a great eye for the best pass and is willing to find his open teammates across the court.
Wilkins committed to Furman out of the Brooks School in Massachusetts, where he put up impressive scoring numbers and won numerous honors. Averaging 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists on the season, he earned Class B Player of the Year honors, in addition to being name All-League and All-Region in New England.
Coach Richey is very confident in the abilities of Wilkins, and I’d expect him to play a big role during the season, whether it be starting at some point or being quick off the bench. Alex is definitively a Freshman of the Year candidate for the Paladins.
Freshman: Abijah Franklin
Abijah (Baba) Franklin is another big guard, and an extremely athletic finisher, getting up above the rim where he can finish with either hand. At 6’5, Abijah will bring more versatility in the backcourt and has the length to defend even 1 through 4, while being especially effective in Bob Richey’s 1-3-1. He attacks the rim fearlessly, and is not afraid of contact near the basket or in the open court. Franklin was an all-region high jumper in high school and might become a fan favorite from his dunk package alone.
“From the moment he stepped onto campus, our players and other recruits just loved being around him”
Bob Richey to FurmanPaladins.com
Baba is local to the Upstate, playing hoops for Wren high school and winning AAA player of the year honors as a junior. He led the team to a region championship and state runner-up finish that season as well. He comes in raw, but is a quick learner and has the physical tools to develop quickly. Abijah is a deft rebounder from the guard spot as well, which will help earn him playing time as he develops.
Freshman: Collin O’Neal
Collin O’Neal is yet another athletic and explosive addition to the strong backcourt class for Coach Richey. Collin is 6’4, but will likely slot in at the 2 or the 3, adding youth to the wing spot. What really stands out about Collin is his strength and he’ll have an easier time adjusting to the collegiate weight room. This can help shorten his adjustment period into a physical league, especially on the perimeter.
“He is a strong, athletic, and skilled wing with a college ready body. His athleticism and character are big differentiators for him and our program.”
Bob Richey
Collin excels at driving to the basket and can use his size well, using both hands to finish strong around the rim. Specifically, the potential is there for O’Neal to impact the game defensively in a way similar to Eddrin Bronson. The defense is the primary driver that got Ed on the court, and could be the same way for O’Neal.
Collin is a native of Tennessee, winning All-Region and All-State honors his junior year at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville. Furman has enjoyed recent successful production from Nashville with guys like JP Pegues and PJay Smith and hopefully O’Neal can follow in their footsteps.
Freshman: Owen Ritger
Owen Ritger came in rated as a 3-star in the recruiting rankings and the #4 PF in the state of Georgia. He has the potential to be that next great big man along the lines of Matt Rafferty or Clay Mounce. He has the added versatility and ability to stretch the floor from behind the arc. That shooting ability from the 4 spot is something Furman has leaned on, especially with Charles Johnston currently. Ritger already has a close to college ready frame and runs the floor well, which is essential in the fast paced Richey offense. Coach Richey is obviously excited about how Ritger fits the program for the future:
“He has a frame that will continue to grow and he fits exactly how we like to play and utilize the post.”
Ritger attended Marist School in Atlanta and earned 14 D1 offers in addition to Furman. He shows great shot blocking instincts, as well as rebounding his position very well. The development process that helped send Jalen Slawson to the NBA and has churned out numerous overseas pros will work wonders for Ritger as well as he is eased into the Paladin’s rotation.
Freshman: Cole Bowser
Obviously the Bowser name is now a household name for the Furman program. Cooper Bowser is ready to be Furman’s top guy, while his brother is coming in as a freshman. Cole is not quite as tall as his brother, but at 6’6, he fills a need on the wing. Bowser is likely a development project, coming in behind returning starter Tom House, and guys who have a head start in experience like Asa Thomas, Davis Molnar, and Mason Smith. But Cole brings a defensive, intense mindset, that could earn him the minutes he’s given.
Bowser played for highly touted high school program DeMatha, that has produced players like Markelle Fultz, Victor Oladipo, Jerami Grant, and more recently, Jordan Hawkins. Coach Richey has mentioned that Cole has a great shooting touch as well which is almost essential at the wing spot. He averaged 6.8 points and 3.5 rebounds for DeMatha, but had a season high of 31 points his senior year.
Freshman: Gunnar Lewis
Lewis is another native of Tennessee, playing his high school hoops for Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville. Lewis will be a walk-on for the 25-26 season, but has a great resume, earning All-Region honors three years in a row. He is a high character guy who will help push the development of the team and the program overall.