2023-24 Top Teams in New England Preview

 #1 UConn

The reigning National Champions rightfully enter this year with title aspirations despite sharpshooter Jordan Hawkins, tough two-way center Adama Sanogo and defensive maestro Andre Jackson foregoing the remainder of their college eligibility to go pro.

Point guard Tristen Newton returns for his extra year of eligibility after finishing the year strongly averaging 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 4.1 free throw attempts per game with a 39.3 3P% and 82.9 FT%, making him one of the better closers in the Big East. If he can improve his efficiency from inside the arc, he will take another step in his development. 

With a three-point shot developing as part of his arsenal, sophomore 7’2 265 center Donovan Clingan is one of the most hyped breakout candidates in the nation after averaging 21.1 points, 17.1 rebounds and 5.5 blocks per 40 minutes in his freshman season behind Sanogo.

Ultra efficient sophomore power forward Alex Karaban is another underclassman looking to take a big step while Rutgers grad transfer Cam Spencer provides UConn with a big guard who can shoot, score, dish and generate turnovers. 

Major minutes will be expected from UConn’s freshman class that unanimously ranks amongst the best in the nation. The headliner is 6’7 combo guard Stephon Castle, UConn’s first five-star recruit since Kemba Walker. 

Castle, along with Newton and Spencer, provide UConn with a variety of playmakers in the starting lineup who look to parlay their 8th best assist-to-field goal ratio to another season of beautifully flowing offense. 

Their frontcourt depth is unproven, but UConn, along with Marquette, Creighton and Villanova, is a great bet to finish the season atop the Big East.

#2 Providence

A new chapter begins for the Friars with former George Mason head coach Kim English taking over the helm from Providence native and long-term Friars head coach Ed Cooley, who is now replacing Patrick Ewing at Georgetown.

While the shocking news shook Friartown, it is fair to evaluate the Providence program under Cooley as consistently respectable, but unable to achieve a higher level of success after earning just one Sweet Sixteen in Cooley’s twelve season tenure. 

Under English, there’s obvious risk in hiring a coach with just two years of head coaching experience, but his talents as a recruiter and a retainer of talent is clear after both of the program’s best returning players, unanimous All-Big East First Team selection Bryce Hopkins and Honorable Mention Devin Carter, chose to remain with the program.

Both Carter and Hopkins will lead the scoring attack while a trio of George Mason transfers will join English in Providence. Most notably, 6’9 grad transfer Josh Oduro is a versatile, two-way big and finished last year as an A-10 All-Conference First Team selection after averaging 15.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and nearly a block per game. 

Joining Oduro is Ticket Gaines, a 6’7 grad transfer who was George Mason’s best defender and provides good secondary three-level scoring and rebounding to either forward position. Sophomore 6’5 guard Justyn Fernandez brings upside as a former four-star recruit with exciting athleticism.

The biggest question for the Friars is whether sophomore Jayden Pierre is ready to step into the starting point guard role with last year’s starter Jared Bynum now at Stanford. Top-50 recruit Garwey Dual looks to become an immediate impact weapon in the backcourt, possibly to the tune of a starting role alongside Carter and Pierre. 

The Big East is deep this year, but few new head coaches this year have weapons like Hopkins and Carter atop their depth chart, making a tournament appearance is a fair goal for the Friars this season.

#3 Yale 

In the wake of their third Ivy League regular season championship in four seasons, Yale’s season would have been deemed a success for many mid-major programs, but after their loss to Princeton on Princeton’s home court in the final of the Ivy Tournament, followed by a first round oust at Vanderbilt in the NIT, best guess is that head coach James Jones and his players wanted more.

That is because over the last decade, Jones has helped transform the Yale basketball program into arguably the best in the Ivy: case in point, since the 2014-15 season Yale has earned five Ivy League regular season championships and three tournament selections.

Last year, considering that many of Yale’s best players were sophomores and juniors, Yale’s championship expectations will continue into this season as the Bulldogs are projected to have the best team in the Ivy.

The Bulldogs are led by senior power forward Matt Knowling, a unanimous First Team All-Ivy selection, whose efficient post play (13.6p, 2.4a, 1.4 TO, 63.7 2p%) is the front and center of opponents’ game plan.

Fellow senior August Mahoney finished the season with a scoring average nearly tripling his previous season high, averaging 10.9 points, 1.9 three pointers made and with incredible efficiency (56.3 2p%, 46.7 3p%, 93.1 ft%). According to KenPom, Mahoney’s 129.9 offensive rating was good for fifteenth in the nation.

Juniors will fill the remainder of the two backcourt spots with Yale’s second leading scorer John Poulakidas bringing shot-making ability, creating offense on his own inside the arc while providing efficiency in the perimeter and on the charity stripe (12.0p, 2.2 3PM, 40.1 3p%, 81.0 ft%).

Point guard duties will again be shared between juniors Bez Mbeng and Yassine Gharram, who provide Yale with two aggressive defenders and enough length to guard multiple positions. Gharram is more of a pass-first option while Mbeng, the Ivy Defensive Player of the Year, has made strides increasing his scoring (10.4 ppg), ability to break down defenses and improve his perimeter shot (26.9 3p% to 32.3 3p%).

The big question for Ivy is how will they best replace graduating forwards EJ Jarvis and Isaiah Kelly, but senior Yussif Basa-Ama, junior Jack Molloy, sophomore Danny Wolf and freshman Samson Aletan, the program’s highest-rated recruit in program history, will all compete for frontcourt minutes alongside Knowling. 

#4 Vermont 

Over the last two decades, the Vermont Catamounts have been a paragon of excellence in the America East with twelve regular season championships and nine tournament selections to their name. Focusing on just the last seven seasons, head coach John Becker has led the Catamounts through quite a run: seven consecutive regular season championships, four conference championships and two straight tournament selections.

However, with four fifth-year senior guards graduating, there is a lot of talent and leadership to replace: Kevin Roberson Player of the Year honoree Finn Sullivan, rebounding and assist leader Robin Duncan, leading scorer Dylan Penn and perimeter weapon Kameron Gibson. 

While the bedrock of Vermont’s success is from Becker and his staff’s ability to develop homegrown talent, most of the available minutes from the departing backcourt quartet will be filled by fifth-year returnee Aaron Deloney (11.6 ppg, 40.3 3P%), sophomore TJ Hurley (5.1 ppg, 41.2 3P%) and the four transfer additions. 

Junior TJ Long (Fairfield) and grad transfer Brenton Mills (Bowling Green) are perimeter threats while 6’5 senior Jace Roquemore (UC San Diego) and 6’4 senior Shamir Bogues (Tarleton State) are lengthy, versatile two-way options who are also capable distributors. 

Vermont’s frontcourt, on the other hand, is flush with familiar faces: 6’8 sharpshooter Matt Veretto returns for his extra year of eligibility while the efficient three-level shooting and strong defensive rebounding 6’7 senior Nick Fiorillo looks to stay healthy after playing just 14 games last year. Junior 6’8 forward Ileri Ayo-Faleye is one of the team’s X-factors as his athleticism and length provides an enticing upside and dynamic wrinkle to the Catamount roster. 

Despite the changes, expect the Catamounts to continue their trademark efficient offense and strong interior defense under Becker as Vermont is yet again the presumed favorite in the America East Conference.

#5 Boston College 

Even though the ACC had a down season, Earl Grant should still be commended for finishing  his second season at Chestnut Hill winning eight of their last fourteen games, which in turn helped the Golden Eagles finish with their best conference record in over a decade. 

Fifth-year returnee Quinten Post, a 7’0 250 big who earned an ACC Honorable Mention selection after averaging 15.1 points-per-game and developed a legit perimeter game, is Boston College’s best returner while senior guard Jaeden Zackery is a safe bet to average double-digits per game.

For Boston College to take the next step, returning sophomores Devin McGlockton, Prince Aligbe, Donald Hand and Chas Kelly need to continue their development but Charleston Southern junior transfer Claudell Harris is expected to provide a jolt to the offense after averaging 17.4 points-per-game last season.  

#6 Brown

While Yale is my expected champion in the Ivy, Brown will arguably be one of the biggest surprises in the Northeast mid-major scene. Mike Martin enters his twelve season leading the Bears in their “Bully Bull” style of play that centers around a tough, physical defense that rebounds hard and generates turnovers that leads to transition buckets. 

What makes Brown special is that their core has now had three years to jell. Their winning formula centers around incoming junior guard Kino Lilly, a First Team All-Ivy selection and now arguably the most dangerous offensive dynamo in the league after averaging nearly seventeen points and three three-pointers per game with impressive shooting efficiency (48.3 2P%, 39.9 3P% and 82.9 FT%).

Surrounding Lilly are a bevy of physical, two-way yeomen led by senior forward Nana Owusu-Anane, senior wing Aaron Cooley and sophomore forward Kalu Anya. Some of Brown’s ceiling is hinged on the ability of senior guard Kimo Ferrari to step up in a scoring role after Paxson Wojcik graduated, taking his extra year of eligibility at North Carolina. However, Ferrari’s career 34.3 three-point percentage hints to a breakout year for the expected starting shooting guard.

To simplify it, Brown’s defense is rock solid — the question is whether they have enough scoring to truly threaten Yale for the Ivy title. 

#7 Bryant

Ever since taking over the program prior to the start of the 2018-19 season, Jared Grasso’s Bryant Bulldogs are known for two things: a quick-paced, free-flowing offense and a liberal recruiting style that doesn’t believe that any athlete is out of reach. 

That aggressive recruiting style has helped Bryant to build consistently talented teams, highlighted by a Northeast Conference Championship the year before their first season in the America East last season.

This season, expect a veteran rotation that will likely feature a starting lineup of interchangeable pieces whose height is somewhere between 6’4 and 6’7. Of the three America East teams on this list, Bryant is the only one that returns two All-Conference selections: Sherif Gross-Bullock and Earl Timberlake. 

At 6’5 215, Gross-Bullock is the team’s de facto point wing, averaging 17.1 points, 2.2 three-pointers made and 2.8 assists per game while the 6’6 220 Earl Timberlake will be Bryant’s small ball five, averaging 13.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists last season. In addition to his talents on offense, Timberlake is one of the more switchable defenders on the roster and possesses comfort from the mid-range. 

Amongst their other returning veteran rotation pieces, senior forward Kvonn Cramer does most of his work under the basket, fifth-year returnee Doug Edert stretches the floor, senior Tyler Brelsford brings shooting and distributing while senior Miles Latimer is an efficient wing who will look to convert threes more similar to his previous career average of 36.5% than his 24.2 3P% last season.

Even though last year’s #2 scorer Charles Pride transferred to St. Bonaventure, St. John’s transfer Rafael Pinzon could provide more versatility and balance offensive-centric Bulldogs. At 6’6, Pinzon played point guard in high school, has a career 36 3P% and has the athleticism and basketball IQ to develop into one of the best defenders in the league.

Transferring over from UMass Lowell, Connor Withers played a rotational stretch forward role last season, but was a full-time starter in his first two seasons before succumbing to an injury that caused him to miss almost all of the 2021-22 season. Averaging ten points, six rebounds and nearly two assists per game across his first two seasons, there is certainly upside potential for Withers to return back to a versatile, two-way secondary scorer this year.

If their defense can improve upon last year, Bryant certainly has the talent and athleticism to finish this season as conference champions. 

#8 UMass Lowell 

Last season, UMass Lowell had their best season in program history after finishing with 26-8 record and playing their way into the America East title game, losing to conference juggernauts Vermont, which parlayed with long time head coach Pat Duquette earning America East Coach of the Year honors in March and a contract extension in April. 

Even with leading scorer Everette Hammond graduating, UMass Lowell expect again to rank as one of the best teams in the America East, led by their dynamic frontcourt of graduate 6’9 big Abdoul Karim Coulibaly (11.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 58.5 FG%, Second Team All-Conference selection) and 6’7 senior forward Max Brooks (8.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, All-Defensive Team selection).

In addition to Coulibaly, starting point guard Ayinde Hikim (10.6 points, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals) returns for his extra year of eligibility while sharpshooter Yuri Covington (7.3 ppg, 40.0 3P%) will look to secure a starting backcourt spot vacated by Hammond.

With Duquette’s liberal rotations, there is room for the River Hawks’ transfer reinforcements to earn valuable minutes right away. All three are of the non-D1 variety with 6’1 senior JUCO guard Jordan Thompson (Northern Oklahoma Enid), 6’2 senior guard Andres Fulgencio (Bloomfield, D3) and 6’6 Xzavier Lino (Whitman, D3) all shot better than 36% from three last season as the River Hawks look to continue their excellent shooting from last season.

In what looks to be an improved conference, the River Hawks have the coaching and talent to contend in the America East.

#9 UMass

In his first foray to mid-major basketball after five seasons at Kansas State and ten seasons at South Carolina, veteran head coach Frank Martin transformed the UMass program into the type of team we typically see from Martin: quick pace, aggressive on the offensive boards and a consistent shot blocking threat. 

However, that classic Frank Martin style did not immediately translate to wins as the Minutemen lost twelve of their last seventeen games, although injury woes to leading scorer and starting point guard Noah Fernandes was a major factor. 

With six of last year’s top-eight scorers either graduating or transferring, this season senior forward Matt Cross is expected to lead the Minutemen along with two-way junior point guard Rahsool Diggins.

Earlier this summer, I wrote a longer piece on UMass’ New Look Frontcourt that will feature a mix of freshmen and transfer additions. St. Francis (PA) transfer Josh Cohen finished last season as the Northeast Conference Co-Player of the Year after the 6’10 senior averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, after steadily improving as a low-post tactician and a high IQ facilitator from the elbow. 

South Carolina transfer Daniel Hankins-Sanford is a 6’8 230 sophomore forward who was originally recruited by Frank Martin during his time in Columbia.

Hankins-Sanford’s ability to crash the boards on offense (15.4% offensive rebounding rate, 5.5 offensive rebounds per 40 minutes) plus his athletic frame meshes well with Martin’s offensive style that puts emphasis on tempo and rebounding. 

The remainder of UMass’ rotations will consist mostly of underclassmen as UMass’ seven-man freshman class hint towards the team’s promising future, but probable need to take time to rebuild this season. 

#10 Rhode Island  

Archie Miller’s first season at Rhode Island was the program’s worst since Dan Hurley’s debut season in Kingston, but like Hurley’s tenure at Rhode Island, Rams fans hope that Miller’s slow debut will eventually build the program into a nationally ranked tournament contender. 

The Rams’ biggest issue last season was their dreadfully inefficient offense that was mostly generating scoring chances through the hero ball of Ish Leggett, who is now at Pittsburgh, and second chance shots.

High Point transfer Jaden House (17.3 points, 3.2 assists, 6.9 free throw attempts) is a lot like Leggett: he creates his own offense, but at 6’4 201, House brings a layer of physicality that sets him apart. House’s backcourt mates will include Quinnipiac transfer Luis Kortright (10.3 points, 3.9 assists) and returning 6’5 sophomore Brandon Weston, who will look to take another step in his offensive development after a strong defensive season.

Bradley transfer Zek Montgomery is a 6’6 three-and-D specialist while JUCO additions Tyson Brown, a 6’9 junior, and Always Wright, a 6’3 junior were two of the most touted JUCO recruits this offseason. 

Brown will look to team up with returning 6’10 junior Josaphat Bilau to create a steady tandem at the center position along with sharpshooting sophomore Rory Stewart, who is also expected to compete for the starting center role.

It is hard to expect a big jump for the Rams this season, but last offseason’s roster reset should help boost the offense.

Changes in Merrimack's Frontcourt Adds New Flavor

 In short order, Joe Gallo has quickly built a reputation as one of the best coaches in the Northeast after the Merrimack Warriors have become one of the most consistent and feared programs in the Northeast Conference.

Caught in the crosshairs of a four-year D1 transition, Merrimack were unable to reap the benefits of winning last year’s conference tournament, but entering their first year of postseason eligibility, Gallo and his staff had to work quickly to offset the loss of long-time starting forwards Jordan Minor and Ziggy Reid, who transferred to Virginia and Youngstown State, respectively.

It is not hyperbole to proclaim that Minor, the Northeast Conference Co-Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, and Reid, a Second Team All-Conference selection, were the bedrock of Merrimack’s smooth transition to D1 basketball. Since the team’s Northeast Conference debut, the pair rank alone atop the program leaders in total points, rebounds, blocks and minutes played. 

In their wake, graduate transfer additions Jacob O’Connell from Princeton and Samba Diallo from Manhattan look to be the best bets to make up Merrimack’s first new starting frontcourt since the start of the 2020-21 season. 

With 68 career starts between a pair of seasons at UMass and Manhattan apiece, Samba Diallo is the more seasoned addition out of the pair as he projects to replace Ziggy Reid as Merrimack’s next power forward. 

Listed at 6’7 195, Diallo does not match the strength of the 6’6 235 Reid, but his tenacity, athleticism and length will certainly fit in Gallo’s steal-centric and perimeter-smothering zone.

To get a better picture of Diallo’s potential impact at Merrimack, below are highlights from his per-40 minute stats across his two seasons at Manhattan:

10.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 2.4 three point attempts, 25.0 3P%, 4.3 free throw attempts, 73.5 FT%.

On offense, Diallo is a low-usage forward who mostly scores through slashes to the basket, putback shots off offensive turnovers and the occasional three-pointer. Like Reid, Diallo limits turnovers, but he is not expected to be one of the focal points on the offense like Reid was. Instead, it is fair to expect Diallo to become a consistent double-digit scoring threat mostly through his energy, athleticism and the occasional set drawn up for him to get to the basket cleanly. 

Diallo’s potential impact on defense is easy to imagine: he’s got the length, tenacity and athleticism to comfortably fit into Gallo’s scheme, generating steals and providing tough, on-ball defense.

With just 138 career minutes across three seasons at Princeton, there is not a ton of game film on the 7’0 245 O’Connell, but the New Jersey native shares one key similarity between former Princeton teammate and stud center Tosan Evbuomwan: passing.

“He’s a really skilled big [...] his passing is one of his biggest strengths and I think an area where he could make a big impact on Merrimack,” shares Princeton Associate Head Coach Brett MacConnell, “He’s a really unselfish teammate and I know will fit their culture well.”

Throughout his time at Merrimack, Jordan Minor developed into one of the best passing bigs in the Northeast Conference, so O’Connell’s shared mindset on offense should help the team transition smoothly into this upcoming year.

Regularly fielding one of the shorter rosters since moving up to D1 play, not only is O’Connell Gallo’s first seven-footer, he is also a full four inches taller than the 6’8 Minor, who was the tallest Warrior over the last four years.

With that size, Gallo will be able to add new wrinkles to the offense that best compliment O’Connell’s skill set:

“He’s got a good back to the basket game, and is also good in pick and rolls - both to the rim and in the short roll - and I know they’ll utilize him there as well, ” adds MacConnell, “he’s gotten much stronger during his time at Princeton and also has been developing his 3-point shot. I’m hopeful he’ll get to show this skill at Merrimack.”

As the two grad transfers will quickly assimilate into lead frontcourt roles for Merrimack, the next wave of frontcourt talent consists of underclassmen Bryan Etumnu, Elliott Black, Christian Foy, Brandon Legris and Edrick Quezada while senior Ryan Isaacson will return to a backup role after missing almost all of last season. 

As a whole, Merrimack’s frontcourt will make up one of the freshest units in the conference, but Gallo and his team have proven repeatedly that they are excellent at finding under-heralded talent and then coaching them up to the program’s standard, making this group one of the most exciting to follow this upcoming season. 

Teams I Want to Watch More This Year: Samford

 #BuckyBall

The hashtag commonly found on Samford’s social media accounts has been synonymous with Samford basketball since Bucky McMillan, their head coach and namesake of the Bucky Ball brand, was hired in the spring of 2020. 

A lifelong Birmingham, Alabama basketball area staple, McMillan has almost immediately led Samford to success after an incredible jump from a fourteen year high school coaching career at Mountain Brook High School, where he coached the Spartans to nine area titles. 

In just three seasons, McMillan has quickly helped transform Samford into one of the most exciting and feared mid-majors in all of college basketball. Case in point: in Samford’s dozen years in the Southern Conference prior to McMillan’s tenure, the program achieved just one .500 conference record, but over the last two seasons, Samford has a 25-11 SoCon record and the program’s first consecutive twenty win seasons since moving up to the Division 1 level five decades prior, with each season concluding with McMillan earning the SoCon Coach of the Year award. 

Last year, the Bulldogs earned their first SoCon regular season championship, so naturally the next step for Samford is to aim for their first SoCon tournament championship and first tournament selection since the 1999-20 season. 

Back to Bucky Ball: it’s a fast, ball-movement based offense where set plays are rare and three point attempts are plentiful. Spacing and unselfishness is paramount and the players have freedom, which in turn helps them to grow and build confidence. 

Like almost every team entering this season, Samford’s starting rotation will look quite a bit different with starters Logan Dye and Bubba Parham graduating and Ques Glover transferring to Kansas State.

However, despite this turnover, the Bulldogs will roster one of the most experienced squads in the SoCon, with nine rotation pieces playing on the fourth or fifth year of eligibility.

Fifth-year senior forward Jermaine Marshall, a Third Team All-Southern Conference selection, will look to step up as the team’s top player after averaging 13.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.9 free throw attempts per game last season, while finishing with impressive shooting efficiency (53.4 2P%, 37.5 3P%, 79.5 FT%). He is also one of the team’s best defenders. 

Other top returnees include defensive specialist and efficient interior scorer AJ Staton-McCray and three-point specialist Jaden Campbell, one of the four Bulldogs returning for their extra year of eligibility. 

A four-man transfer haul brings in a mix of proven veteran options with enticing upside. Amongst the more known additions, fifth-year Rylan Jones, formerly of Utah and Utah State, is a pass first, savvy two-way point guard who has shot over 34% from three throughout his career while Alabama A&M grad transfer Garrett Hicks has scored over 1300 points and hit over 200 three pointers in his career, making him a perfect fit with the team.

Their less proven additions bring a championship pedigree vital to the team looking to take the next step. Zach Loveday is a seven-foot senior and former National Champion who played  sparingly throughout three seasons at Baylor. Never playing more than sixty minutes in a season, Loveday is poised to show his three-and-D potential, hopefully to the tune of a starting role vacated from Logan Dye’s graduation.

Fresh off his Division II national championship with Nova Southeastern, sophomore Dallas Graziani stands at just 5’7 and averaged 11.3 points, 6.7 assists and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 35.6% from three. Graziani is expected to back up Jones, but as the underclassman most likely to earn rotation minutes this season, he is a very important foundational piece. 

Rounding up Samford’s rotation is Australian senior backup big man Achor Achor and fifth-year returnees Nathan Johnson and Brody Boyer, both of which are perimeter shooters with good size. 

6’11 center Riley Allenspach is the headliner of Samford’s three-man freshman class, who picked the Bulldogs after receiving fifteen other offers earlier in his recruitment. A consensus three-star recruit, Allenspach is ranked within 247’s top-250 prospects of the 2023 class and their database lists him as the fourth highest ranked recruit in program history. 

Although Furman returns a ton of talent from last year’s championship squad, Samford is on the short list of true title contenders in the SoCon with their talent, depth and veteran moxy. After three straight pillowy non-conference schedules, McMillan and his staff did a good job beefening up their tune ups to help prepare for conference play, highlighted by visits to Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma State.

With sustained success and respect throughout the SoCon, the Samford Bulldogs are no longer just a buzzy team with a unique style – they are a potent offensive machine that will be a team I will watch more this season as they search for their first tournament selection under Bucky McMillan.

2023-24 Hofstra Season Preview: Pride Looking for First CAA Title Under Hometown Kid Claxton

 Stories like Speedy Claxton are why we love college sports. 

Growing up in Hempstead, Long Island, Claxton finished his high school career alongside Lamar Odom and Erik Barkley at Christ The King, where he spurned late interest from high-majors to stay with his hometown Hofstra. 

Since then, Claxton has spent parts of the last four decades with the Pride as he enters his third year leading the helm after seven seasons as an assistant under Joe Mihalich. 

By nearly all accounts, Claxton’s start to his tenure has been a glowing success: a 46-21 overall record, a 29-7 finish in CAA play and an NIT victory last season over Rutgers. Under Claxton, the Pride play an electric, aesthetic and efficient offense with improved performance on defense.

However, despite their success under Claxton, the next step is to secure a CAA title and a berth to March Madness and they have the pieces for that to happen this upcoming season.

Hofstra returns a strong foundation, but will have to regroup the loss of Aaron Estrada, who was unanimously voted the CAA Player of the Year and will take his extra year of eligibility at Alabama. 

Fifth-year returnee Tyler Thomas, who averaged 16.5 points per game and shot over 40% from three, now becomes the Pride’s focal point on offense. In his first season after transferring from Sacred Heart, Thomas was one of Hofstra's true three-level shot makers, a team that mostly eschews the mid-range game. 

Darlington Dubar is a fellow double-digit scoring returnee, a 6’8 211 senior power forward who, alongside Thomas, finished the season as one of the most efficient offensive weapons in the CAA.

Both Thomas and Dubar embody the signature of Hofstra’s offense under Claxton: pace, shooting and preventing turnovers, but in order to maximize the potency of Claxton’s rotations, both are best to be paired with defensive-minded pieces.

Namely, German Plotnikov, a 6’6 wing from Belarus who, according to EvanMiya.com, ranks as Hofstra’s best returning defender and is poised to earn a spot on the starting lineup after averaging 17 minutes-per-game off the bench. 

Per the same source, junior point guard Jaquan Carlos ranks as Hofstra’s second best returning defender and most proficient generator of turnovers. Mostly a pass-first option on offense, Carlos shoots well enough from deep to keep defenses honest (32.1 3P%) and his shot charts show latent development of his three-level game that hints towards an offensive breakout as Carlos looks to see the sharpest increase in shot volume post-Estrada. 

Last season’s grad transfer quick-fix low-post rotation of Warren Williams and Nelson Boachie-Yiadom helped anchor Hofstra’s top-50 finish in opponent 2P% (46.9%) and 77th best block rate (10.8%), but necessitated Claxton and his staff to completely rebuild their frontcourt on the fly for the upcoming season, but the staff added an impressive trio in short time.

The headliner of their frontcourt haul is former Canisius grad transfer Jacco Fritz, a 6’10 215 forward originally from the Netherlands who started 67 games for the Golden Griffins throughout his four seasons in Buffalo. 

Adding arguably the best passing big in the MAAC adds an element to the offense unforeseen during Claxton’s tenure, especially in the potential of five-out situations with Fritz’s ability to convert from deep (a career 32.1 3P%). 

With three consecutive top-eight finishes in Offensive Rating during MAAC conference play, per KenPom.com, Fritz, along with Dubar and Thomas, make up the core of an uber-efficient offensive unit. Fritz’s game isn’t just offensive savvy: the lengthy big finished last season as Canisius’ third most efficient defender, per EvanMiya.com.

With Fritz expected to average minutes in the high twenties, Iona transfer Silas Sunday will look to soak up most of the backup minutes at the 5. The 6’10 280 sophomore originally from Ireland was offered by Illinois, St. John’s, Kansas State, Rutgers and other high-majors earlier in his recruitment.

In the previous offseason, Sunday worked hard to drop his body weight down from 320 pounds and he is entering Hofstra even more toned and listed at 280 pounds. Playing for short spells throughout his freshman season at Iona, Sunday showcased his nimble footwork, precocious low-post moves and ability to use his soft touch to convert field goals from fifteen feet out. 

Rockland County native and Butler transfer Myles Wilmoth also joins Hofstra’s frontcourt after playing three seasons at Butler. The 6’9 215 stretch forward has attempted slightly more than half of his shot attempts from three, converting at a less than stellar 24.4%. 

In limited time last season, Wilmoth demonstrated growth as a rim protector, blocking multiple shots against UConn and St. John’s. There’s some potential for Wilmoth as a backup frontcourt piece who can rim-run and stretch the floor, something the Pride have not rostered at the five spot in either of Claxton’s first two seasons at the helm.

Fifth-year returnee Bryce Washington and JUCO addition Eric Parnell are likely to be Claxton’s top backcourt bench pieces.

Averaging about eleven minutes-per-game last season, Washington thrived in Hofstra’s offense by providing space (34.7 3P%) for Estrada and Thomas to attack in the open court. Expect Washington to reprise that role next season.

In his first season at Eastern Florida Community College, the 6’3 Parnell was a knockdown perimeter weapon, averaging 2.5 three-pointers per game at nearly 40%. Approximately four-fifths of his shot attempts were from deep, so considering Claxton’s perimeter-driven offense, Parnell should fit in smoothly. 

The nine players above are expected to play the majority of minutes this season, but sophomores 6’9 forward Christian Tomasco and 6’5 wing Griffin Barrouk, along with 6’4 redshirt freshman Khalil Farmer and 6’3 true freshman KiJan Robinson look to be part of Hofstra’s future down the road. 

Of these four, Hofstra faced the toughest competition recruiting both Farmer and Robinson. Out of Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia, Farmer picked Hofstra over a dozen local mid-majors while Robinson was recruited by St. Bonaventure, La Salle, Murray State and others. 

With a strong returning core and a successful replenishment of the frontcourt, Hofstra, along with Charleston and UNCW, are amongst the top title contenders in the CAA and are poised for another 20+ win season. 

Fairfield 2023-24 Season Preview: Amid Uncertainty, the Stags Have Pieces to Surprise

 As Fairfield enters their fifth season under the leadership of Jay Young, the Stags have yet to finish with a winning conference or overall record during that time, making Stags fans anxious to watch a consistent winner in their first full season in the beautiful new on-campus Leo D. Mahoney Arena. 

Deliberate tempo, aggressive attacking the rim, strong work on the boards and a physical, focused defense are the touchstones of the Young-led Stags, but last year, shooting woes were the main culprit for the team’s 3-8 finish, with a team 28.5 3P% ranking amongst the lowest in the nation. 

Simply put, this season is essential to build confidence under Young and the upward trajectory of the program, but amid uncertainty, the Stags have the pieces to surprise. 

Even with a brand new frontcourt and three of the team’s leading scorers departing via the transfer portal (Supreme Cook to Georgetown, TJ Long to Vermont and Allan Jeanne-Rose to CCSU), the return of a veteran backcourt, the possibility of breakouts, a few of which are thanks to recent additions in the transfer portal, bring plenty of intrigue to the new-look Stags. 

The strongest certainty for Fairfield is returning fifth-year senior Caleb Fields, who achieved career highs last season in points, assists, steals, three-point and free-throw percentage (11.7p, 2.4a, 1.4s, 32.1 3P%, 81.2 FT%) after starting his career at Bowling Green for three seasons. 

In addition to the development of his offensive game, Fields also finished the season ranked as the team’s third best defender, according to EvanMiya.com, and will take another step in his performance if he is able to improve his efficiency finishing at the rim (43.2 2P% last season). Most impressively, per KenPom.com, Fields had the team’s lowest turnover rate, despite his ball-heavy role. 

Outside of Fields, it is hard to pinpoint surefire starters on the roster, but fans are banking on both returning senior Brycen Goodine and sophomore James Jones to break out. There’s good reason for that potential.

Goodine, a former four-star recruit and rotational piece for both Syracuse and Providence, played just four games last season due to a knee injury sustained in November, but his length, smooth athleticism and success on the perimeter in limited time (6 for 13 from 3) gives Goodine the tools to possibly develop into one of the most valuable two-way weapons in the MAAC.

James Johns Jr., the son of third year assistant coach James Johns Sr, picked Fairfield after receiving early offers from UConn, Miami, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Penn State and three A-10 teams, making his commitment a recruiting boon that easily ranked Johns as the program’s top-rated recruit of all-time. 

Averaging about twelve minutes per game in his freshman season, the 6’6 185 Johns produced modestly, but showcased his willingness to create offense from all three levels. As he gets stronger and gets more reps, expect Johns to score more efficiently and finish consistently in traffic while his length and athleticism will help him continue to develop into a major asset as a perimeter defender. 

The duo’s biggest threat to a starting role is returning senior guard Jalen Leach. Last season was a bit of an enigma for the guard from Nyack, NY as Leach started 26 games, earning the most playing time of his career, but in turn, finishing with career lows with a 43.0 2P% and 25.7 3P%. 

However, considering shooting was an overall concern for the Stags as a whole, perhaps Leach’s proficiency on the line (83.3 FT%) hints that last season was an aberration and improvements in his efficiency could be on the horizon.

Considering the overall length of the aforementioned trio, it is certainly possible for Leach, Goodine and Johns to all start alongside Fields and a big, providing Young with an athletic, versatile backcourt that provides the Stags with auspicious shooting from the perimeter. 

Speaking of bigs, the exodus of Supreme Cook (Georgetown), Chris Maidoh (Stony Brook) and Makai Willis (Louisiana-Monroe) forced Young and his staff to completely rebuild the frontcourt in short order, a task that did not get solidified until later in the summer, but the results look well worth the wait.

Committing in mid-July, New Mexico transfer Birima Seck, an athletic and toolsy power forward,  was the first frontcourt pickup.

Originally from Senegal, the 6’11 200 forward was offered by the likes of Kansas, Texas Tech and Arizona State during his time at Dream City Christian School before landing at Albuquerque.

Geoff Grammer of the Albuquerque Journal wrote of Seck: “He’s a former soccer star that can run the floor, use his agility to create problems for defenders and has great footwork. He’s got some stretch-4 to him and I think he was at his best when playing a little farther from the rim than some might expect of a 6’11 guy,” which in turn, would allow the Stags to open up more space for cutters and penetrating guards.

Grammer adds: “defensively, he’s a good shot blocker and rebounder, but is foul prone. Gets too active at times, but also in playing limited minutes at UNM, played more with a reckless abandon than he likely will if his minutes are going to be consistently over the 20 minute mark. His length allows him to block and alter shots without him dropping his hands.”

A project that has been steadily developing for two years, Stags fans should be excited that Seck’s “improvements he was making on defense – not just coaches talking about a kid getting better, but you could tell he was a better player the day he left UNM from the day he arrived.”

Calling Seck “a happy, positive and likable guy there is,” Grammer sums up: “He’s still getting better and I think has a chance to be a really good piece to a team’s puzzle because he not only has that length, but is really starting to realize the best ways to use it on the court.”

A month after Seck committed, Fairfield made one of the biggest splashes this month adding former South Florida and Seton Hall power forward Alexis Yetna, a 6’8 230 Parisian who honed his craft prior to his collegiate career at the powerhouse Putnam Science Academy.

Still rehabbing from a knee injury that caused him to miss all of last season, the staff has yet to set a timetable for Yetna’s return, but there is hope he will be ready by November. 

Prior to his injury, Yetna was a consistently physical force on the offense, most notably under the offensive glass, averaging 10.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, including nearly three offensive boards per game, throughout his career. 

Proficient at putting back second chance opportunities, Yetna is also a capable shooter from the elbow and beyond, converting 63 three-pointers throughout his career at a 30% rate. If Yetna can stay on the floor, he has the toolbox to finish the season as the Stags’ most valuable weapon. 

Assuming full health, it would appear that Yetna and Seck could either make up a dynamic tandem at the 5, or considering their diverse offensive skill sets, even share time on the floor together. 

Out of Hudson Falls, NY, freshman big Peyton Smith is another frontcourt addition added late in the offseason. Sources shared that the 6’10 250 Smith is a “high IQ big man that is a good passer out of the post and from the middle. He is skilled, with strong post moves inside, but also can face up and drive or shoot a mid-range jump shot. He is also a good screener and ball reversal guy and is a threat on a pick and roll on a pop. Can catch-and-shoot, shoot threes and drive. Physical on defense and seeks out contact.”

The presence of Yetna and Seck will allow Smith to develop at his own pace, but if Yetna is not ready by the start of the season, Smith could be called upon to backup at the 5 from the jump.

Another potential breakout weapon in the frontcourt is returning redshirt freshman Michael Rogan, a 6’7 195 graduate from South Kent who is originally from Saratoga Springs. 

His head coach at South Kent, Raphael Chillious, writes that Rogan “is able to play the small ball four in the MAAC as he has the size, length and ability to move his feet well enough on defense to keep other small ball 4’s in front of him. He’s gotten a lot stronger since he first arrived at South Kent so he should be able to wrestle guys off the glass as well.”

Reflecting on his offensive game, Chillous adds: “he will cause many teams problems because of his ability to hit trail threes, pick and pop 3s, run “ghost” action where he slips out of screens for threes, and he also has the ability to put the ball on the floor, if the opponents’ scouting report is to run him off the three-point line. He is also very crafty at setting up his defender if plays are called for him to receive and run off of screens. He’s one of the guys that if he sees his first three-point shot go in, it can be a long night for the defense.” 

At the very least, Rogan should be a valuable spacer in the frontcourt rotation, allowing Fairfield’s guards space to attack inside. 

Saint Joseph’s transfer Louis Bleechmore, a 6’6 205 senior originally from Sydney, is another potential stretch option for the Stags, converting 10 of his 31 three-point attempts last season. In addition to his comfort from the three-point line, about half of his field goal attempts were in the paint, which points to an attacking style Young likes from his wings.

Another frontcourt addition and probably the least likely to contribute this season is freshman wing Marouf Moumine, a Cameroonian who competed at the NBA Academy in Senegal before finishing his high school career as a post-grad at First Love Christian Academy. 

Touted for his versatility on both ends of the court, Moumine’s stretch ability, work on the glass and motor are his most notable assets as he continues to round out his game.

Even with the Stags returning a variety of backcourt weapons, junior college transfer Jasper Floyd looks to immediately step in as a bench piece with a winning pedigree after helping Northwest Florida State College reach the NJCAA National Championship during the 2021-22 season.

Spending last year at Hillsborough Community College, Floyd took on a more consistent role, averaging 14.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game, connecting 32.1% of his attempts from three. Floyd is expected to soak up most of the backup point guard minutes behind Fields, but at 6’3 195, Floyd has the size to defend and play alongside Fields at the 2-guard.

In addition to Floyd, the Stags backcourt also includes redshirt freshman Anthony Davis Jr. and true freshman Matt Curtis, two young guards who were offered by five programs apiece out of high school. 

Davis is the son of Anthony Davis Sr., an offensive tackle who started 32 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The younger Davis is an athletic 6’5 guard with a willingness to score at all three-levels and was his team’s primary ball-handler at the Miller School in Charlottesville, VA.

Hailing from Ellington, Connecticut, Curtis graduated from Northwest Catholic High School as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1911 points, leading his team to the state championship game in 2022 before completing a postgraduate year at Avon Old Farms.

Offered by Rutgers, UMass and others, the 6’4 190 freshman caught the attention of scouts due to his uncanny ability to make tough shots from all over the court, especially thanks to his quick release from the perimeter. Like Jalen Leach during his freshman season, it would not surprise if Curtis’ shooting ability earns him immediate playing time as a knockdown shooter and source of instant offense. 

Currently in a weeklong trip to Costa Rica, the production on the court has been promising as the team’s shooting on the perimeter has been impressive and production has been achieved from all across the roster, signaling the team’s depth and potential as they ramp up for a non-conference schedule highlighted by visits to Boston College, Rhode Island, Drexel and in-state rivals Sacred Heart and Yale.