Hiring alums with little to no head coaching experience (Chris Mullin, for example) yield mixed results, at best, but Speedy Claxton has bucked that trend. After spending nine seasons at Hofstra as an assistant coach, the Claxton-led Pride went 21-11 last season, headlined with a win over Arkansas in December.
Last season, the Colonial Athletic Association was one of the more competitive mid-major conferences in the nation with six teams ranking within the top-155 of KenPom’s end-of-season rankings. In adding Monmouth, Stony Brook, North Carolina A&T and Hampton this season, the CAA looks to be even deeper this year, but that will not stop the Pride from competing atop the conference.
KEY DEPARTURES
Jalen Ray - 6’2 175 fifth-year graduated, 13.4p, 3.3r, 1.7a, 1.1 to, 44.6 2p%, 39.7 3p%, 84.1 ft%, 1.0s, 0.2b, all-time leader in games played
Zach Cooks - 5’10 165 fifth-year graduated, 12.2p, 2.4r, 3.0a, 1.6 to, 47.6 2p%, 28.6 3p%, 75.0 ft%, 1.6s, 0.0b
Omar Silverio - 6’3 200 grad transferred to Manhattan, 10.9, 3.3r, 1.1a, 1.2 to, 40.9 2p%, 35.8 3p%, 91.9 ft%, 1.1s, 0.1b
Abayomi Iyiola - 6’9 230 senior transferred to Kansas State, 7.1p, 7.1r, 0.5a, 0.6 to, 63.2 2p%, no 3pa, 0.8s, 0.6b
Kvonn Cramer - 6’6 205 junior transferred to Bryant, 5.1p, 3.0r, 0.5a, 71.9 2p%, three 3pa, 0.5s, 0.8b
Jared Simmons - 6’8 205 fifth-year graduated, 4.2p, 3.9r, 0.8a, 0.7 to, 75 2p%, no 3pa, 0.8s, 0.6b
Caleb Burgess - 6’3 170 senior transferred to UNC-Asheville, 1.9p, 1.2r, 2.5a, 0.8 to, 42.9 2p%, 21.9 3p%, 61.5 ft%, 0.5s, 0.1b
This group represents 61% of last season’s scoring and seven of the top nine rotation pieces, providing Claxton a major selling point this offseason for recruits to join a consistently competitive mid-major program with open opportunities for playing time.
Last year’s team ran a lot, averaging 16.9 seconds per possession, which ranked 84th nationally and overall the Pride were a very good offensive team. The bedrock of their offense was their prevention of turnovers (14.7 turnover % ranked 13th lowest in the nation), efficiency inside the arc (55.6 2p% ranked 15th in the nation) and accuracy on the charity stripe, albeit not getting to the line often (79.7 ft% ranked 6th in the nation, but their 21.7 FTA/FGA ratio was 8th worst in the nation.
They shot a lot of threes (44.6% of their FGAs were from deep (38th in the nation), but at an underwhelming 33.8 3p%) and were a poor offensive rebounding team (313rd best offensive rebounding rate, 23.3%).
On defense, they were good at generating steals (64th best steal rate), but were abysmal defending the perimeter, allowing opponents to convert three-pointers at 38.3% (13th highest in nation). Their interior defense wasn’t much better, allowing opponents to convert two-pointers at 52.1%, which ranked 272nd in the nation.
Overall, with so much roster turnover, Claxton and his staff has the ability to rectify some of their deficiencies while continuing to develop the signature of the team.
Projected Starting Lineup
PG - Jaquan Carlos - 6’0 185 sophomore
0.9 points, 0.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 turnovers, 0.3 steals, 0.1 blocks, 40.0 2p%, 1 for 16 from three, two for three from the line in 8.6 mpg
G - Aaron Estrada - 6’3 196 senior
18.5 points. 5.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.6 turnovers, 1.5 steals, 0.2 blocks, 56.9 2p%, 33.0 3p%, 1.9 threes made per game, 93.5 ft% in 35.2 mpg
G - Tyler Thomas - 6’3 200 senior transferred from Sacred Heart
16.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.5 turnovers, 1.2 steals, 0.6 blocks, 48.1 2p%, 33.7 3p%, 2.2 threes made per game, 80.0 ft% in 33.1 mpg
F - Darlingston Dubar - 6’8 211 junior
11.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 turnovers, 1.1 steals, 0.8 blocks, 68.4 2p%, 33.9 3p%, 1.2 threes made per game, 70.5 ft% in 29.8 mpg
Big - Warren Williams - 6’9 247 grad transferred from Manhattan
8.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 1.6 turnovers, 0.5 steals, 0.6 blocks, 61.2 2p%, no 3pa, 64.3 ft% in 18.5 mpg
OR
Nelson Boachie-Yiadom - 6’8 216 grad transferred from Davidson
2.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.4 turnovers, 0.4 steals, 0.4 blocks, 55.8 2p%, 1 for 9 from three, 13 for 20 from the line in 17.1 mpg
The foundation of this starting lineup is obviously reigning CAA Player of the Year Aaron Estrada and also Darlingston Dubar, two versatile pieces who are assets on both sides of the floor. Playing about half of his minutes last season as the team’s de-facto point guard and best scoring guard, expect Claxton to provide Estrada more off-ball opportunities
My pick to pair up with Estrada in the backcourt is sophomore Jaquan Carlos, a point guard from Brooklyn who was a three-star recruit out of Thomas Jefferson High School. With offers from eight high-major schools, Carlos is a heady point guard with elite handle, high IQ with vision and ability to finish through contact. He was a strong on-ball defender in high school and has improved his strength, gaining 25 pounds over his first season at Hofstra. Not yet a strong shooter, most of Carlos’ scoring comes from breaking down the defense and slashing to the basket.
One of the most acclaimed transfers entering the CAA this season, Tyler Thomas was a scoring machine at Sacred Heart, ranking 77th nationally with a 30.4% shot rate per possession but, like Estrada, is also capable of dishing it out (18th best assist rate in the NEC). An average-at-best defender who is a good rim protector for his position, pairing Estrada and Thomas on the court at the same time will be a matchup nightmare with their scoring prowess and vision to find open teammates.
Similar to last season, the 5 spot will be mostly shared between two incoming transfers with Dubar playing the 5 in small ball situations. Manhattan’s Warren Williams is more of a classic low-post big whose 8.9% offensive rebounding rate will help replace Iyiola’s elite rebounding on the offensive end, as well as his rim protection.
Another nationally ranked rim-protector, Nelson Boachie-Yiadom is an athletic big who keeps things simple and limits mistakes. Anchored by his incredibly low turnover rate (1.0 per 40), strong passing ability (3.0 assists per 40) and ability to convert when given the opportunity to score, Boachie-Yiadom finished the season with a 117.3 offensive rating, which ranked 172nd nationally, according to KenPom. Given the fact that Claxton loves to run “responsibly” in transition offense, Boachie-Yiadom’s athleticism and efficiency could give him the starting nod over Williams.
Key Reserves
G - Bryce Washington - 6’4 187 grad transferred from Penn
Played a total 21 games since the 19-20 season. Averaged 7.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 1.0 turnovers, 0.4 steals, 0.2 blocks, 44.7 2p%, 39.8 3p%, 1.7 threes made, 82.9 ft% in 20.8 mpg as a freshman in 18-19.
G - German Plotnikov - 6’6 197 junior transferred from North Platte CC
20.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.8 turnovers, 1.7 steals, 0.5 blocks, 51.0 2p%, 40.2 3p%, 1.5 threes made per game, 89.3 ft% in 26.7 mpg
Playing mostly a rotation of eight or nine players last season, a few of the true and redshirt freshman certainly have the talent to be factors in this year’s rotation, but the duo listed above are the candidates to most likely play major minutes.
Originally a three-star recruit at Penn, Bryce Washington impressed in his freshman season but between injuries and the Ivy League shutting down the 2020-21 season, he has played a total of just 195 minutes since the 2019-20 season. Most likely, Washington will be first relied upon as a shooter off the bench who has some ability and willingness to break down the defense and attack the rim.
Picking Hofstra over five other D1 schools, Plotnikov is a Belarusan combo guard in a wing’s body, scoring at all three levels at North Platte CC in his freshman season. If Carlos is not up to the task to start at PG, a Estrada/Thomas/Plotnikov/Dubar/Big lineup intrigues while Plotnikov also has the length to play the 4 in small-ball situations when Dubar plays the 5.
The Bench (in no particular order)
G - Amar’e Marshall, 6’4 207 redshirt freshman from Montclair, NJ
Picked Hofstra over Bryant
G - Griffin Barrouk, 6’5 204 redshirt freshman from Glen Mills, PA
Hofstra was only D1 offer
F - Christian Tomasco, 6’9 190 redshirt freshman from Moorestown, NJ
Picked Hofstra over Rider and St. Francis (PA)
F - Lual Manyang, 6’10 212 freshman forward from South Sudan
A three-star recruit and ranked #323 in 247’s composite rankings. Picked Hofstra over Seton Hall, five A-10 teams, two MAAC teams and five others.
G - Khalil Farmer, 6’4 188 freshman guard from Philadelphia, PA
Picked Hofstra over twelve other schools including CAA teams Towson and Drexel
In Summary
Through his love for Hempstead, Hofstra and his team’s performance on the court and on the recruiting trail, there’s palpable reason to be excited for the Pride this upcoming season in spite of the team’s overall roster turnover.
The versatility of Estrada, Thomas and Dubar is an excellent base for Claxton to get creative with his rotations and it will be interesting which, if any, of the redshirt or true-freshman step up to preview what they can become when needed to be counted on bigger roles in future seasons.
The CAA is a deep and talented league, but Hofstra is certainly a candidate to be conference champs, along with Towson, UNC-Wilmington, Delaware and Charleston. It’s going to be a fun league, for sure.
An impressive non-conference slate will more than adequately prepare the Pride for conference play. A season opener visiting an improving San Jose, coached by Tim Miles, is a solid first test followed by an exciting local matchup hosting Iona. Visits to Purdue and Saint Mary’s will be major challenges while a visit to South Florida should be a very winnable game.
A neutral site matchup in Brooklyn against UMass will be a good challenge while a yet to be official MTE in Montreal could match up Hofstra against UC Irvine, UNC-Greensboro, Stephen F. Austin, MTSU and others.
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