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Bronx, N.Y. – Head coach Mike Magpayo officially started the 2026-27 season this week with the first official practice of the season last week.
 
The Rams welcome back five veterans from last year: sophomore forward Roor Akhuar, redshirt sophomore forward Abass Bodija, senior forward Akira Jacobs, senior forward Rikus Shulte, and junior center Jack Whitbourn.
 
Last year, Schulte, the lone Ram to start all 32 games, averaged 10.7 ppg and 9.1 rpg. He led team in rebounding and blocks (18), was second in steals (48), and third in scoring. Jacobs, one of two Rams to appear in all 32 games in 2025-26, starting 30, averaged 7.2 ppg and 4.8 rpg. Bodija, who appeared in 26 games last winter, averaged 7.3 ppg and 5.0 rpg, while Akhuar saw action in 25 games in 2025-26, and averaged 6.1 ppg and 3.5 rpg. Whitbourn, who fought through injuries in his first year at Fordham, averaged 8.4 ppg and 8.4 rpg in eleven games.
 
The roster is ripe with newcomers, including four transfers and four true freshmen. Leading the transfers is senior guard Lateef Patrick, Jr., the 2025 Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-Southland Conference selection. He all 34 games at Stephen F. Austin last year, averaging 15.2 ppg, second best on the squad, and 3.1 rpg.
 
Junior guard Amir Lindsey was a First Team All-America East selection last year at UAlbany where he started 31 games, leading the Great Danes and the America East in scoring with 17.9 points per game.
 
Sophomore guard Kelvin Odih is a transfer from St. John's where he made 10 appearances off the bench as a freshman recording 1.5 points and 1.9 rebounds in 5.6 minutes per game. Prior to St. John's, Odih was a four-star prospect and the 66th ranked recruit in the class of 2025 according to 247Sports.
 
Redshirt freshman guard JJ Laboy comes to Fordham after spending his first year at the University of Miami. He was a three-star recruit per 247Sports out of high school and named to the Houston Chronicle All-TAPPS Second Team in 2024-25.
 
The true freshman include one local product, guard Hassan Koureissi who led Archbishop Stepinac to four straight CHSAA titles, winning all four in the historic Rose Hill Gym. He was named 2026 First Team Class AAA All-State, averaging 14.4 ppg and scoring more than 1,000 points in his career.
 
Forward Frank Siaca Bey was named the 2025-26 MPSC Player of the Year at Fairfax Christian School where he averaged 17.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg, scoring more than 1,500 career points. He played for the Dominican Republic at the FIBU U19 World Cup.
 
Guard Desmond Bellot, Jr., was an Honorable Mention All-NEPSAC Class AA player at CATS Academy in 2024-25,. He was rated a three-star prospect and #6 player in Massachusetts by 247Sports.
Forward Omar Essam, a native of Egypt, played at Long Island Lutheran last year. He averaged 11.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game for Team Egypt at FIBU U17 World Cup.
 
The Rams also welcome back junior guard Aiden Crotty and Max Miller.
 
Fordham opens the 2026-27 season on Monday, November 2, as they travel to Lawrence, Kansas, to take on the University of Kansas.