Oregon State transfer Ahmad Rand's history with coach Bart Lundy led him to UWM

It took much longer than expected.

But finally, Ahmad Rand and Bart Lundy are on the same side with Rand, a 6-foot-8 senior forward, expected to play a big role this season for Lundy's inaugural UW-Milwaukee men's basketball team.

Rand, a native of Lincolnton, Georgia, joins the Panthers after a circuitous collegiate route that saw him play his freshman and sophomore seasons at USC-Salkehatchie in Allendale, South Carolina.

He played three games at the University of Memphis during the pandemic season of 2020-21 and then transferred to Oregon State, where Rand averaged 13.5 minutes over 29 games for the Beavers last year.

Rand averaged 5.3 points on 53.8% shooting, 2.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game for the Beavers.

Now with the Panthers, Rand is in position to make a big impact.

"It's funny," said Lundy on Tuesday at UWM's annual media day. Lundy first recruited Rand while he was coaching Division II Queen's University in Charlotte.

"I brought him in as a high-schooler; we were the only ones recruiting him. I didn't take him. He went to junior college. Could have gotten him after his freshman year, didn't take him.

"He kind of blows up his sophomore year, goes to Memphis. Goes to Oregon State, didn't like his experience there. And so, when he decided to transfer here, I'd had him in for official visits twice and he was like, "Coach Lundy, I always wanted to play for you.

"So, it kind of worked out."

Rand is one of an eye-popping 13 players new to UWM this season and one of a handful who could make a real impact in a Horizon League that returns some top-shelf talent elsewhere but also lost quite a bit to transfer.

"He's super-athletic," Lundy said. "He could be the most athletic kid in the league. Can really block shots. His offense is all around the rim. He can step out and shoot a little bit, but he's more of a defensive presence."

How much did finally linking up with Lundy mean to Rand?

Enough that he's paying his own way to do so.

"He said, 'I'd rather pay my own way and play for you guys than take a chance on other people I don't know for one year,'" Lundy said. "He would have gone high-major.

"I wish we had him for more than a year."

Lundy had one scholarship remaining after the unexpected departure of another signee, point guard Eden Holt, but Lundy had to utilize that to land Holt's replacement in Kentrell Pullian.

"(Rand) was like, 'I understand.' You don't find that very often." Lundy said.

With Rand and 7-1 returnee Moses Bol roaming the paint this season, UWM's interior defense should be formidable indeed as the Panthers seek a quick turnaround from their 10-22, 8-14 finish in 2021-22.

"We've got unbelievable rim protection," Lundy said. "If anybody has, at our level, better rim protection in the country, I'd like to see it."

What's the point

Pullian, a 6-0 sophomore from Benton Harbor, Michigan, received UWM's final available scholarship and joins a large pool of players capable of playing point guard.

"That's the one spot where we have five guys that could probably play point guard," Lundy said. "I just don't think you can win in college basketball if you don't have a point. Maybe I was over-recruiting.

"Guys can do other things, but they can play point, too."

Pullian is a junior-college transfer like Angelo Stuart and Justin Thomas. Elijah Jamison, who finished with the fifth-most career points in North Carolina high-school history with 2,664, and Brian Taylor are also in the mix.

"He's a big, strong point guard," Lundy said of Pullian. "Can really shoot. Has got good speed and quickness. Good IQ. We really fell into a good player. We were recruiting him in the summer and he was our No. 1 guy for next year.

"He was going to Northwest Florida Junior College and came on an unofficial visit, he and his mom came over here, and at the end of the visit they go, 'How about this year?'

"Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good."

UWM has suffered one hit in the backcourt already with UNC-Pembroke transfer Jordan Ratliffe suffering a torn ACL in practice.

"That hurts us," Lundy said. "It was about three weeks ago. His toughness, his game experience. We still have his voice around, which is important because he's a great kid, a great leader.

"He's going to have the surgery and come back."

The 5-10 Ratliffe, who played his freshman year at Virginia Military Institute and the last three years at UNC-Pembroke, is an entrepreneurship major who's already earned a master's degree and is now seeking a PhD.

Grizzled veteran

If it seems as though Megan Walstad has been at UWM forever, you wouldn't be too far off.

The 6-2 forward is beginning her fifth season in the program but is still technically only a redshirt junior. Walstad played as a freshman in 2018-19 and redshirted the following year after blowing out her knee before blossoming into an all-Horizon League force in the pandemic season as well as last year.

"It is kind of crazy," said Walstad, who earlier Tuesday was named.to the preseason all-Horizon League team after averaging 14.4 points on 58.8% shooting, 9.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 30 games.

"Last year as a redshirt sophomore I was like, 'I might be the oldest sophomore there ever was.' But it's just a great opportunity to have extra years, extra time to be on the court, and I'm excited for this year."

What's the next challenge for Walstad?

"A big thing we've been talking to Megan about is increasing her leadership on the team," said coach Kyle Rechlicz, whose team was picked to finish fifth in the 11-team league. "I really think our team follows her lead and when she's confident, we're really confident.

"We've been drilling into our guards' heads the need for an inside-outside game and making sure we're getting Megan, Emma (Wittmershaus) and our other post players the touches that they need."

Sideline legends

Both the women's and men's teams at UWM will have former highly decorated high-school players from the state and the area on staff.

Anna DeForge, a Niagara product who graduated in 1994 as the state's all-time girls leading scorer joins Rechlcz's staff after four years at Nebraska and then a long and distinguished professional career that included eight seasons in the WNBA and two as an all-star.

"She's a legend in the state and had such a successful professional career," Rechlicz said. "When we had the position open, I couldn't think of a better person to fill it. She brings a wealth of knowledge – especially from the player development side, because she was such a good player herself, and she's also brought a lot of new ideas to our staff."

Joining Lundy's staff are a couple of well-known former guards from the area in Jose Winston of Milwaukee Vincent and Ben Walker of Oak Creek.

Winston was Wisconsin's Mr. Basketball in 1998 after leading the Vikings to three straight Division 1 state titles and finished his collegiate career on UWM's first-ever NCAA Tournament team in 2002-'03.

He also coached Kenosha St. Joseph's and most recently Brown Deer.

Walker graduated Oak Creek High School in 1997 after a decorated career there, then went on to play four years at Creighton and has spent the last 20 years coaching both at the junior-college and Division I levels.

"On the outside, it's guys that are native to Milwaukee, and they have automatic recruiting ties and connections," Lundy said. "But I think if you ask (the players), those two are such high-character, strong, good people. Good men. It goes so far beyond them just being from Milwaukee."

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ahmad Rand's history with coach Bart Lundy led him to UWM