La Salle transfer Galloway happy to be home
RAMON GALLOWAY
By AARON BRACY
On Twitter: @philahoops
Ramon Galloway is happy to be home.
The Philadelphia native officially transferred to La Salle on Wednesday and is excited to spend his final two seasons in an Explorers uniform after playing his first two years of college ball at South Carolina.
“I’m glad to be home,” Galloway said in an interview with Philahoops Wednesday night. “We’re going to be doing some great things – great.”
A 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard, Galloway averaged 10.7 points last season for the Gamecocks, ranking third on the team. He scored in double-figures in 17 games, including a career-high 22-point outburst against Western Kentucky on Nov. 22.
Galloway made just four starts last season and decided to transfer after a postseason meeting with Gamecocks coach Darrin Horn.
“Coach just said that moving forward he didn’t see me fitting in sort of kind of what he was trying to do next year and stuff like that,” Galloway said. “After that I started opening up doors to try and get back home.”
He said La Salle was a perfect fit because of his comfort level with the coaching staff and its closeness to his Germantown home. He looks forward to assisting his family, particularly his blind father and ailing grandfather.
“There are a lot of sad times in my family right now and I want to be close,” he said. “I’m sort of a good light for them because I’m in college and playing basketball. When I’m around everybody seems much happier.”
He will meet with the NCAA on Monday to request of waiver of the rule that requires transfers to sit out a year based on his family circumstances. If granted the waiver, he’ll be eligible to play this season. Otherwise, Galloway will be eligible beginning with the 2012-13 season.
“I think I have a good chance, but you never know with NCAA,” he said.
Once he gets on the court, the Explorers will get a player with proven ability to compete at the highest level.
“I see myself bringing toughness, aggressiveness, leadership, having fun, enjoying the game, a lot of highlights,” he said.
“I believe Ramon will greatly strengthen our guard play both defensively and offensively,” La Salle coach John Giannini said in a statement. “…He will be a major part of a strong group of quick, skilled and unselfish young perimeter players to produce a winning and exciting style of play.”
Of Galloway’s highlights, La Salle fans will want to check out this”>
YouTube video, an indication of Galloway’s leaping ability and the highlight-reel dunks he’ll bring to Gola Arena.
“When I moved down south I just started jumping out of nowhere,” said Galloway, who spent his first two years of high school at Philly’s Freire Charter before transferring to Dwyer in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. “I’m very athletic and I can add that to my game now. When I was younger I couldn’t really say that too much.”
Galloway said he won’t come in and throw his SEC weight around. Rather, he’ll learn from his teammates.
“Even though I’ll be a junior I still have to learn from them,” he said. “They played in the A-10 and know what the coach wants. I have to learn from them.”
What he will bring to the table is experience playing against some of the country’s best night in and night out in the SEC.
“The amount of talent that we played against in the SEC, having to lock down on defense that was a big thing in the SEC,” he said. “You played against a lot of big name people and you have to lock them down and play great defense and that’s one major thing I can bring to the Atlantic 10.”
Galloway is the third highly regarded player to join the Explorers, along with Dobbins High standout Jerrell Wright and Lee Prep wing D.J. Peterson. Add in a decent core, led by guards Tyreek Duren and Sam Mills, and Explorers fans might quickly get over the transfer of talented big man Aaric Murray to WVU.
“We have a lot of talent coming in,” Galloway said, “and a lot of good, young players who already know the system that can help me out. There’s a lot of upside for La Salle basketball.”
There’s also a lot of upside for the La Salle ticket office, considering Galloway is one of 10 children. Along with a large extended family and numerous friends, Galloway will have a huge following at Gola Arena.
“I know a lot of people in Philadelphia and I don’t think I’m going to have enough tickets for everybody,” he said, before jokingly adding. “A lot of people are going to have to pay. It should be great, a lot of support.”
He said there’s no added pressure about playing in front of friends and family, and is particularly looking forward to having his parents at every game.
“Obviously, my mom and dad couldn’t go down to South Carolina and watch every game,” he said. “Just seeing them makes me strive and work harder.”
Galloway is glad to be home. And La Salle is happy to have him.
–
Related stories:
Aaric Murray discusses his transfer with Philahoops
La Salle coach John Giannini reflects on season.
Prep standout D.J. Peterson excited to join Explorers.
Aaron Bracy covers Philadelphia college basketball for philahoops.com. Reach him at philahoops@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @philahoops
