Ryan Rhoomes left the comfort of the only home he ever knew in Middletown, N.Y. for a day just like this. He made stops in Queens, Tennessee, Mississippi and New Jersey over the last three years, spending thousands of hours in gyms and weight rooms with a college scholarship in mind.
On Friday that leap of faith paid off as Rhoomes, the former Cardozo standout, signed his National Letter of Intent with Texas Christian University.
“It makes it all worth it,” the long-armed 6-foot-9, 240-pound power forward said. “If I would’ve stayed home, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Rhoomes joins coach Jim Christian’s program in transition, the year before it makes a grand leap, from the Mountain West Conference to the Big East. Rhoomes turned down other Big East schools, like Seton Hall and Providence, along with Oklahoma State of the Big 12, to help build something at T.C.U.
“That was a big thing, I always wanted to go to the Big East,” he said. “I’m pretty confident in my decision. They were struggling for a few years, but the new class coming is going to be all right. We can accomplish a lot.”
At the top of the list was Christian, the St. Dominic (L.I.) product who just finished his second year at the helm. Whereas other coaches made promises and lavished Rhoomes with compliments, Christian took a direct approach. He told him there was a need and an opportunity to play right away depending on how much he worked.
“He was real,” said Rhoomes, Christian’s first metropolitan area recruit. “I liked that about him.”
The commitment caps a whirlwind season for Rhoomes. After leading Cardozo to the PSAL Class AA title game last March, he enjoyed an impressive spring with the New York Panthers.
He was all set to attend the New Hampton School (N.H.), but that fell apart, Rhoomes spent much of his summer working out in Memphis and started the fall at St. Stanislaus College Prep (Miss.). He left the Mississippi school for NIA Prep in late October and was a focal point of the elite prep school this past year, averaging 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks per game.
“It was a crazy year,” he said. “I kind of regret some of the things I did in the past, but the bottom line is everything is good now.”
NIA Prep coach Rudy King lauded Rhoomes for his maturity and understanding of his ability. He said they looked at schools that not only would help foster his basketball ability, but prepare him for life. King also things T.C.U. could become a popular destination for city kids because it is close to a big city in Houston and offers them the opportunity to come home to play local Big East foes.
“A lot of kids are gonna start considering this school,” King said.
It was a perfect fit for Rhoomes, the prep school coach said, because of the available playing time and Christian was a big man in his playing days.
“I think Ryan is gonna be a big-time player there,” King said. “He wants to get better, he’s a great teammate, he’s not really into complaining. Of all the kids I’ve coached, he has the maturity of an older person.”
Rhoomes was simply excited to begin the next stage of his life and put this roller-coaster year behind him.
“It was relieving,” he said. “It’s one less thing off my shoulders.”