Throughout the summer, GoRhody.com will run a weekly feature series introducing the members of the 2025-26 Men's Basketball team. The series will focus on their respective basketball journeys.

KINGSTON, R.I. - This time just one year ago, Moek Icke was fairly certain he was staying in Germany to continue his basketball journey. Despite several offers from both college and prep programs in the United States, he planned to stay with Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg in the German ProB league.

As the summer of 2024 drew to a close, things changed rapidly. Icke found himself making his way to Kingston, moving stateside right as the 2024-25 school year was getting underway. 

"It was actually a very last-minute decision. I was in Germany, and the plan was to stay there. I had declined pretty much all interest from schools in the United States," Icke said. "Toward the end of the summer, a lot of stuff happened with the club that I was part of, so I decided it would be best to leave and come to the United States. I had some prep schools lined up, but it wasn't really the best situation for me. Right around September, Rhode Island called and said they had a spot left. I was like, 'Let's do it!' It was a last-minute decision, but I am really happy with how it turned out."

Thanks to some personal connections with Rhode Island assistant Duane "40" Woodward, Icke essentially committed blindly to URI. The 7-1 center from Purmerend, Netherlands was a Ram.

"When they reached out, I did research about the school and the program, and there were a lot of things that I liked," Icke said. "I watched some of their games that I found online, and I could see how it was a good fit. Because of how it came together, I never took a visit, so when I arrived for the start of the year, that was when I first saw the school."

A day after an overseas flight, Icke was on the court, running with his new team. It was truly a whirlwind arrival, as he had to learn his new surroundings, a new country, a new school system and a new basketball team, all in a matter of hours.

"It was hard for sure. In the moment, I wasn't really thinking about it, but when I look back, it was a hard time," Icke said. "School wise, everything was different than I was used to. Everything was online, and for a while I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't know the people, so it was pretty hard to get settled into a routine for a little bit.

"I arrived at the school, and the next day I was working out with the team. There was jetlag and it was hard, but day-by-day, everything slows down and you get a routine going. After a few weeks, I was really feeling like I was settling in, and then everything stopped because of medical reasons. That was hard again, but we have people here who really helped me through all of that."

Icke is open about the heart-related medical reasons that put his basketball career on pause just a few short weeks after he arrived. Last season he stayed with the team through the end of the Fall semester before opting to return home for a surgical procedure. The hope is that he'll be able to start full basketball activities in September after follow up appointments with his doctors. 

"It was hard to sit out last season, but I knew coming in that I wasn't going to be playing. That was always the plan, even before the other things happened. At first, I was learning all the plays and staying active in practice. My main focus was getting to know the team and staying mentally engaged. I was doing lighter workouts to stay healthy. The thing is, I love watching basketball. So going to practice every day was still fun for me. The atmosphere on game days was new to me, so I loved those days."

After being away from the program last Spring, Icke returned during the second summer session. It remains to be seen when Icke will be fully ready to go. Given the nature of the procedure, after he is cleared for full activities, it will take time to get his conditioning back. The key for Icke is patience.

Ask him what it meant to come back to Rhode Island this summer, and his smile is revealing.

"Getting back here this summer was amazing," Icke said. "When I was back home after the surgery, all I did was rehab. Coming back here for the second summer session kind of felt like a fresh start. Knowing that I would be around the team, getting involved with practice, it just felt so much better. Working out and getting in shape. Being around the coaches, it's what I want to do. It's why I decided to come here.

"I know the people here now, and I understand how the school works. Everything is a lot easier. I am not starting this year behind everyone else in terms of learning the school. It's just a fresh start for me." 

Also new to him was the physical nature of college basketball in the U.S. As an 18-year-old in Germany, he was playing against grown men. That presented its own challenges, but Icke learned quickly the level of athleticism in the U.S. was a higher level.

"The level of athleticism in college basketball may be better across the board than what you see in Europe," Icke said. "When I got here, I weighed 220 pounds and I was trying to adjust to the physicality. Since I arrived, I have put on 30 pounds, so the physical adjustments are getting easier.

"Going against Javonte Brown last year taught me the adjustments I needed to make. Going against someone that was my height and really athletic was difficult, but the more you see it, the more you go up against it, the more you get used to it. The American game is really physical compared to the German game, but I like it."

As is the case for many Europeans, Icke grew up playing soccer. He first started playing basketball when he was 10, and it more or less a fun activity to do with friends. Things changed when he turned 15.

"For the first five years or so, I mostly played basketball for fun. It was something to do with my friends," Icke said. When I was 15, I got connected with a trainer back home who began talking with me about the potential I had with basketball. They helped me understand what it meant to really work on the game. What it meant to be in the gym and focused on it, and from that point on, basketball has been an everyday thing for me."

Between his whirlwind arrival and the medical issues that altered his first season with Rhody, fans are left wondering about Icke's game. At 7-1 with a lot of length, it's not hard to see the potential presence he could bring to the paint.

"I have always been the skinny, tall kid. So I have always used my length and height to my advantage," Icke said. "I can shoot and I can play outside. You won't see me leaping, catching the ball and dunking like a couple of guys on the team who fly, but I can definitely finish at the rim. I am a true big. I can rebound.

"Playing off the pick-and-roll is a strength in my game. When I have the ball, I can see the whole floor. I am always working to improve on my passing. With my height, I should be able to see everything. The way we play here, I'll have the ball in my hands more, which I like. The better I am with passing in those situations, the more versatile we can be."

Asked what he does well defensively, a wry smile forms on his face. Obvious questions get obvious answers.

"I mean, I am pretty tall," Icke said. "If I am getting my hands up and active, I can disrupt passes and shots, and I am an effective rebounder. In the paint, I can block shots. My job is to be a big presence."

Check back on Thursday, Aug. 7 for a feature on guard Barrett Loer. To order tickets for the 2025-26 Men's Basketball Season, click here.

Summer Series
6/12 - Hinton Brings Strategic Mind to Rhody
6/19 - Johnson Leads With the Spirit of the Wolf
6/26 - Itejere Offers Explosive Presence in the Paint
7/1 - Cochran's Versatile Production An Asset
7/3 - Tripp Ready To Work For Rams
7/10 - Early Patience Allowed Sow's Game To Grow
7/15 - Corey Brings Electric Ability to Backcourt
7/17 - Crawford's Reset Made The Game Fun Again
7/24 - Traore is the Glue for Rhody
7/24 - Traore is the Glue for Rhody
7/31 - Redshirt Season Has King Prepped for Impact