Russell to Return for 2020-21 Season

KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island senior Fatts Russell announced via social media Wednesday night that he will return to the Rams for his senior season.

Via his Instagram account, Russell wrote, "One last go around!!! Let's make it special" Wednesday night. He had entered his name for the 2020 NBA Draft pool in March, but maintained his final season of eligibility while testing the professional waters.

Russell is an All-America candidate heading into his senior year at Rhode Island. He'll enter 2020-21 with 1,255 career points, leaving him with 745 to become the second player in program history to reach 2,000. Carlton "Silk" Owens - who scored 2,114 points from 1984-88 - is the only current member of the 2,000-point club.

Russell emerged as was one of the nation's best players in 2019-20, leading the Rams and finishing third in the Atlantic 10 with 18.8 points per game. He also was second in the country with 2.87 steals per game, and his 86 steals were the second most in a single-season in program history. With 169 career steals entering 2020-21, Russell needs just 38 in his final year to tie Keith Cothran's program record of 207, set from 2006-10.

A First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection and a member of the league's All-Defensive Team, Russell was one of 30 players nationally named to the Citizen Naismith Trophy 2020 Midseason Team. He was one of just 15 players nationally named to the Naismith Trophy Midseason Defensive Player of the Year Team. Russell was the U.S. Basketball Writer's Association District I Player of the Year, as well as a member of the  National Association of Basketball Coaches 2019-20 Division I All-District 4 First Team.