2023-24 Top Teams in NYC Metro Area Preview

 

1. St. John’s 

Just three days after coaching Iona in their first round tournament loss to UConn, Rick Pitino jumped ship to return back to the Big East, where he last coached Providence during the 1986-87 season, to take the newly vacant job at St. John’s once the program fired Mike Anderson after four underwhelming seasons.

Similar to his first offseason at Iona, the St. John’s roster has undergone a nearly full overhaul, returning just two players from last year’s roster: sophomore reserve forward Drissa Traore and fifth-year returnee Joel Soriano, a 6’11 260 big who will anchor the frontcourt and was an All-Big East Second Team selection after a breakout season averaging 15.2 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.

A trio of former Gaels have transferred over along with Pitino, led by grad transfer Dannis Jenkins, who is the most likely to earn an immediate role after averaging 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 36% from three in Iona’s two point guard offense. 

Another potential backcourt starter is senior Jordan Dingle, who starred at Penn and finished the season with the second best scoring average in the nation. A quintessential lead guard, Dingle ranked within the top-ten in usage rate, per KenPom.com, and is a capable scorer from anywhere in the half-court.

Oregon State transfer Glenn Taylor and UMass transfer RJ Luis share Dingle’s ability to create their own offense, albeit at the wing position. Between the two, Taylor, a 6’6 junior, is the better rim attacker and Luis, a 6’7 sophomore, is the better perimeter shooter. 

Another versatile transfer addition is Naheim Alleyne, a 6’4 grad transfer who last played for UConn. Alleyne is a team-orientated, high-efficiency two-way guard who is a calming, veteran tonic that could either start or help lead the second unit.

After originally committing to Tennessee, Harvard grad transfer Chris Ledlum is poised to earn a spot as St. John’s starting power forward. Physical and versatile, Ledlum finished last season averaging 18.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks per game and also shot 29.4% from three, providing enough spacing to allow Soriano to thrive down low.

Two of their most promising underclassmen additions are Kansas transfer Zuby Ejiofor and freshman Simeon Wilcher. A former top-50 prospect who was originally committed to Kansas, Ejiofor is a 6’9 240 sophomore who is slated to be Soriano’s backup and center of the future. Originally committed to North Carolina, Wicher is another top-50 recruit who at 6’4 is a large combo guard known for his downhill ability to score and upside as a defensive stopper and perimeter shooter.

The following nine players are the most likely to play prominent roles, but considering his aggressive defensive style, it should be no surprise if Pitino’s rotations expand past this group as the Johnnies look to flex their depth. 

The Big East will be very strong this year, but a top-five finish in the conference should be considered a success in Pitino’s first season.

2. Rutgers 

The impact Steve Pikiell has had on Rutgers cannot be understated: after three decades as one of the most pathetic high-major programs throughout the 90s, 00s and 10s, Pikiell has slowly developed Rutgers to become one of the most fearsome defenses in the nation. 

Caleb McConnell, the anchor of last year’s defense, has graduated while Cam Spencer (UConn) and Paul Mulcahy (Washington) are taking his extra years of eligibility elsewhere, but the Scarlet Knights’ returning foundation is led by senior big Cliff Omoruyi, a nightly double-double threat, and sophomore guard Derek Simpson, who averaged nearly fourteen points-per-game throughout the last six games of the season.

UMass transfer Noah Fernandes will help offset the loss of Mulcahy as Rutgers’ primary playmaker. What Fernandes lacks in size, he provides efficiency and scoring potential (13.4p, 50.0 2P%, 45.2 3P%) plus an ability to attack the rim and create his own offense. 

Incoming four-star freshman Gavin Griffiths is expected to add an immediate jolt to the offense as a 6’7 scorer with elite range. Waiver pending, and also potentially endangering the remainder of his collegiate career after a gambling investigation, Iowa State transfer Jeremiah Williams, who last played in the 2021-22 season with Temple, is an intriguing big guard with great vision and an ability to facilitate and score from the elbow. 

A .500 or better Big Ten conference record in each of the last four seasons, and tournament selections in three of those seasons, expect Rutgers to continue to contend this upcoming season for a tournament bid. 

3. Seton Hall

After rising to national attention after his Elite Eight run with Saint Peter’s, Shaheen Holloway led his alma mater to a solid first season at the helm after finishing with an even record in Big East conference play.

Similar to his Saint Peter’s teams, last year’s Seton Hall squad played frenetic defense, but lacked synergy on offense after finishing the season with the highest turnover rate in the Big East. 

Seton Hall’s foundation is in its backcourt with dangerous isolation weapon Kadary Richmond (10.1p, 4.1a) returning to a starting backcourt role along with knockdown shooter Al-Amir Dawes (12.6p, 38.2 3P%). Starting alongside the backcourt is St. John’s transfer Dylan Addae-Wusu, a physical, versatile wing who will help offset the loss of Femi Odukale transferring to New Mexico State.

Dealing with two separate injury issues last season, senior wing Dre Davis is another projected starter who finished last season with his best shooting splits of his career (56.3 2P%, 40.9 3P%, 86.2 FT%). A continuation of his efficiency will help open up space for Richmond to use his size and length down low.

Seton Hall will debut a brand new frontcourt that is headlined by Orange, NJ native Elijah Hutchins-Everett, a 6’11 255 big who finished last season averaging 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds for Austin Peay. In addition to his low-post play, Hutchins-Everett has a career 31.7 3P%, attempting 1.7 threes per game in that time.

Jaden Bediako (6 ppg, 5 rpg, 1 bpg) is a grad transfer from Santa Clara and plays a more classic low-post game while incoming sophomore Sadraque NgaNga, former four-star recruit for Boise State, brings promise as an electric athlete with a high ceiling. 6’8 center Arda Ozdogan is a late summer addition from Turkey who averaged 14.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for the U19 affiliate of the Turkish Basketball Super League while also converting half of his shots from inside the arc and also shot 8 for 42 from three (19%). 

On the bench, sophomores Jaquan Sanders, JaQuan Harris and freshman Isaiah Coleman will look to compete for backcourt minutes as they will make up the next wave of talent for Holloway. 

Like last year, expect Seton Hall to finish somewhere near the middle of the Big East standings, but are in danger of underwhelming should their frontcourt not prove to have enough talent to step up in conference play.

4. Hofstra 

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. The Pride 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 German Plotnikov and breakout point guard Jaquan Carlos. 

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 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 limited time last season, Butler transfer Myles 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.

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. 

5. Fordham 

On the heels of a 25-win season, its second highest total in program history and arguably Fordham’s best season since 1971, first-year head coach Keith Urgo earned a contract extension through the 2027-28 season, which according to the New York Post’s Zach Braziller, will earn Urgo $1 million per year, before incentives. 

Four of the Rams’ six minutes leaders will return next season, two of which for their extra year of eligibility. Entering his fifth season with Fordham, Kyle Rose enters next season as arguably the team’s best defender (he was named to the A-10 All-Defensive team) and emotional leader.

Along with Rose, Antrell Charlton will return to Fordham for his extra year of eligibility. The 6’5 205 big guard provides value in a variety of ways: in addition to being Fordham’s de facto point guard, Charlton is a physical and versatile defender who is also the team’s second best steal generator, which helps the Rams’ transition offensive attack. 

Transferring over along with Keith Urgo from Penn State, senior big Abdou Tsimbila is expected to start for the Rams after sharing the starting load last season with fifth-year senior Rostyslav Notvitskyi, who was recently denied a waiver to earn a final year of eligibility. 

Last season, the 6’9 245 Tsimbila achieved career highs in points, rebounds, blocks, field goal percentage and free throw percentage. On paper, his totals appear modest, but Tsimbila finished last season with the best offensive rebounding and block rate in the A-10, ranking within the top-75 nationally in both metrics, as well as defensive rebounding rate. 

Starting fifteen of the last sixteen games of this season, sophomore guard Will Richardson is poised for a major breakout. Entering last year as the second highest ranked recruit in program history, most of Richardson’s offensive output was on the perimeter (about 60% of his shot attempts were from three and he connected at an impressive 41.9%) but the dynamic guard has latent three-level scoring ability that is primed to shine after stud guard Darius Quisenberry’s graduation will open up plenty of touches on the backcourt for Richardson.

In his first season of D1 basketball, Medor was instantly an impact guard for UTSA, averaging 13.7 points, 3.8 assists 1.5 steals and an eye-popping 6.5 free throw attempts per game, earning Medor the 27th highest free throw rate and 20th highest fouls drawn per 40 (6.6) in the nation. Playing last season in the Conference USA, a comparable conference to the A-10 in terms of talent, bodes well for Medor’s transition to Fordham. 

Just one day after adding Medor, Fordham added sophomore forward Josh Rivera, a high-upside, high-tempo forward from New Brunswick, NJ who played last season at Lafayette College. A three-star recruit who played high school ball at basketball powerhouses Putnam Science Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas, the 6’7 220 Rivera earned a selection to the Patriot League All-Rookie team after averaging 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and finishing the year with 48.5 2p% and 32.8 3p%.

Most of the remainder of the rotation looks to be filled by the vaunted recruiting class of 2022: forwards Elijah Gray and Romad Dean, wing Angel Montas and combo guard Noah Best. 

Should the team need more of a veteran presence, grad transfer addition Ogheneyole Akuwovo, a 6’9 220 big who played four seasons at Binghamton, provides athleticism, rebounding and an ability to protect the paint. 

In the wide open A-10, Fordham has the talent and depth to do something that was unthinkable just a few seasons ago: win their first conference championship.

6. Iona 

In his third year leading Iona, Rick Pitino guided the Gaels to its second tournament appearance in his tenure, continuing the program’s tradition as the gold (and maroon) standard in the MAAC for the last dozen years, earning eight tournament selections in that time. 

The allure of returning back to the Big East was too enticing for the seventy-year-old Pitino, a decision that ripped at the heartstrings of Gael Nation, but hope for the program’s fanbase was quickly found just across the George Washington Bridge when Pitino’s successor, FDU’s Tobin Anderson, a previously unknown coach to the national masses who became one of last year’s March Madness heroes following their first-round upset over Purdue.

It might have been Anderson’s first season coaching Division 1 basketball, but Anderson has been a winner at both the D3 and D2 levels, most recently turning St. Thomas Aquinas into an East Coast Conference juggernaut, including five regular season and six tournament titles during his time. 

Based on that resume alone, even without the Cinderella story, Anderson has been on the radar as one of the rising young coaches in the nation.

In terms of philosophy, there is a natural transition from Pitino to Anderson: both coaches love to press, push the tempo and prioritize guard play. In fact, last year, FDU fielded the shortest team in D1, but judging by Anderson’s first offseason in New Rochelle, he will be working with size unforeseen in his coaching tenure. 

And that size first and foremost starts with fifth-year forward Osborn Shema, the only returning Gael from last year’s squad. Watching the 7’0 220 Rwandan live on Pitino’s full-court match-up press was a revelation as Shema is blessed with seemingly limitless length while his quick-twitch footwork nods to his soccer playing days back in his home country.

With his two-way ability and threat to shoot from deep (35.9 3P% in nearly two attempts per game), Shema is the clear leader in next season’s squad, easily projected to start every game with increased usage, especially with All-MAAC First Team forward Nelly Junior Joseph transferring to New Mexico, a team that is building a renaissance under the leadership of Richard Pitino. 

With Shema as the bedrock, Anderson and his staff did the meracious: build an twelve-man recruiting class without bringing over any of the starters or rotation pieces from FDU, which in turn helped the transition of his previous school under the new leadership of Anderson’s former assistant head coach, and first time head coach, Jack Castleberry.

A full summary of Iona’s offseason was updated earlier this week that provides more details for Gael, but in addition to Shema, grad transfer guards Idan Tretout (Harvard) and Joel Brown (California) will provide versatility while grad transfer forwards Terrell Williams (Southern) and Wheza Panzo (Stetson) provide spacing. JUCO addition Greg Gordon is a physical, two-way undersized forward who also has a threat to start. 

Even with so much uncertainty, Iona has the talent and a proven winning coaching staff to make them a popular preseason pick to win the MAAC this year. 

7. Rider 

As Kevin Baggett enters his twelfth season leading Rider, he has built a reputation as one of the most consistent coaches in the MAAC. 

The Broncs have had regular season success following their 2017-18 regular season championship, but have yet to lace up their March Madness dancing shoes in nearly thirty years.

However, with both Siena and Iona going through major rebuilds, this could be Rider’s year to be the last team standing in the MAAC Tournament in Atlantic City.

Fifth-year returnees Merwin James (12.9 ppg) and Allen Powell (10.4 ppg) are clearly the best two returning weapons, but the scoring and shooting void left behind from Dwight Murray Jr. (15.7 ppg, 40 3P%) will, in part, be taken on by the additions of brothers TJ and Tyriek Weeks.

A redshirt senior with 56 career starts at UMass, the 6’4 185 TJ Weeks has been a consistent scorer, averaging ten points per game and shooting 36.5% from the three point line throughout his career. 

At 6’6 200, Tyriek Weeks is Rider’s likely starter at the 3-guard after an impressive freshman season at Miami Dade Junior College where he averaged 14.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game, while shooting 40% from three and nearly 80% from the charity stripe.

Their best defensive pieces, returning seniors Corey McKeitan and Tariq Ingraham ranked third and first, respectively, in defensive efficiency with McKeitan penciled in next season no lower than the first guard off the bench while the 6’11 255 Ingraham, a former three-star recruit originally committed to Wake Forest, is the favorite to start at center after injuries derailed most of his first three collegiate seasons.

Expect Baggett to lean on a shorter, veteran-laden rotation anchored by the offense of James, Powell and TJ Weeks, the upside of Ingraham and Tyriek Weeks, along with the steady two-way play of McKeitan.

8. Sacred Heart 

The Sacred Heart Pioneers proudly hang banners celebrating their past, but they are ready for a new banner to join alongside to their historic accolades. 

Now in the eleventh season of Anthony Latina’s tenure, the Pioneers have had a fair share of solid seasons, but have yet to win the Northeast Conference tournament. That being said, with the retention of talent and the addition of exciting new pieces, Sacred Heart has a very strong shot to bring the NEC crown back to the Nutmeg State. 

Senior forward Nico Galette remains the sole All-NEC First Team selection to return for the 2023-24 season. At 6’6 210, Galette was SHU’s starting power forward, but also stepped up and played all three frontcourt positions last season, displaying versatility that matched his stat-stuffing season, averaging 15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.1 three point made, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.

A literal, “do-anything” forward with a low center of gravity and athleticism, Galette is a dangerous offensive weapon who can score at three levels, post up down low and has enough handle and creativity to get buckets in isolation. On defense, Galette generates turnovers and is very switchable. 

In addition to Galette, the Pioneers return seven other rotation pieces and over 80% of last year’s scoring, providing Sacred Heart with a strong foundation to improve upon their 8-8 conference record.

Connecticut natives and fifth-year returnees Joey Reilly (Cromwell) and Raheem Solomon (Hartford) are expected to reprise their starting backcourt roles after averaging double-digits in scoring last year.

Much of the projectability of Sacred Heart’s ceiling lies in the pending health of last year’s MAAC transfers Brendan McGuire (Quinnipiac) and Aidan Carpenter (Siena). Both averaged over 26 minutes-per-game, but played a total of just 19 games.

At 6’7 190, McGuire is a unique weapon as a two-way point forward who is one of SHU’s most versatile defenders, but needs to cut down on his turnovers (2.6 per game) and improve his perimeter shot (15.4 3P%) to enhance his effectiveness and seize a starting role throughout the season. 

Playing just five games last season, the 6’5 190 Carpenter is another Connecticut native (Hamden) who oozes potential with his slash-ability athleticism and versatile two-way game as he can defend all three backcourt positions and even smaller 4s. 

Off the bench, junior glue guy forward Tanner Thomas and sweet shooting guard Mike Sixsmith will continue to play prominent roles in the rotation. Redshirt sophomore 6’8 forward Raymond Espinal-Guzman is the Pioneers’ returnee with the most upside to expand his role this season if he is able to find off competition from the team’s offseason additions. 

Sacred Heart’s incoming transfer haul, should Anquan Hill receive a waiver to play this upcoming season, could give Pioneers their best frontcourt since the 2019-20 tandem of EJ Anosike and Jare’l Spellman. 

Hill’s 2021-22 NEC Rookie of the Year season was solidified by the incredible tail end to his freshman season at FDU, where he averaged a stat-stuffing 12.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.8 blocks, 51.0 2P% and 0.6 threes made at 42.1% across the final thirteen games.

Grad transfer Alex Sobel is another candidate to start at center. A leader of the 20-6 Middlebury Panthers, a team that finished the season 21th in D3 rankings, Sobel earned the D3Hoops National Player of the Year award after dominating on the court both ends. It is expected that Sobel, Espinal-Guzman and, waiver pending, Hill will compete for the starting center position. 

With talent and depth and all positions, Anthony Latina and his staff have the goods to finish with the program’s best season at the D1 level.

9. Fairfield 

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. 

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 a good reason for that potential.

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%. 

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, a 6’10 200 athletic and toolsy power forward, was the first frontcourt pickup.

A month after Seck committed, Fairfield made a big splash by 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. 

A weeklong trip to Costa Rica was promising as the team’s shooting on the perimeter was 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. 

10. FDU 

It is not often that a small mid-major enters a new season with its third different head coach in three seasons while also generating positive momentum, but FDU is used to bucking the trends. 

Simply put, FDU’s 2022-23 season was magical: after finishing the 2021-22 season with a 4-22 record, the Tobin Anderson-led Knights shocked the world by beating top-seed Purdue in the tournament.

Following Anderson’s exit to Iona, FDU promoted assistant coach Jack Castleberry, who will help keep FDU’s winning formula intact: great guard play and a defense predicated on the full court press. 

The aftermath of promoting Castleberry has already paid dividends. As a leader of recruiting efforts under Anderson, the relationships he has made under that role has been essential to the retention of three starters and five other rotation pieces from last year’s Cinderella squad.

Honored by the Northeast Conference coaches as the Most Improved Player of the Year, Ansley Almonor is FDU’s most essential returnee thanks to his production and his positional rarity. The 6’6 219 junior from nearby Spring Valley, NY was the Knights’ de facto center whose 37.8 3P% will allow Castleberry to continue to roll out five-out offensive sets. 

As he enters his fourth season with FDU, Joe Munden is not only the Knights’ longest tenured returnee, but arguably the team’s most efficient weapon. The 6’3 188 guard out of Harlem ranked within the top-20 in the Northeast Conference in offensive rating, rebounding, turnover and fouls drawn rates while also ranking within the top-13 in 2P%, 3P% and FT%, all while playing as an undersized four-guard. 

Alongside Munden is fellow small ball “forward” and former STAC standout Sean Moore. The last remaining player who joined last season from St. Thomas Aquinas College, Moore is a quintessential glue guy guard who plays with infectious effort, strong rebounding and also has the athleticism to break down the defense and get to the bucket. 

Even with Anderson in New Rochelle, the STAC to FDU pipeline will continue this offseason with incoming grad transfer DeVante Jamison, a shifty, unselfish undersized point guard who earned the nickname “Bullet” due to his lightning quick handle and dogged effort on defense. 

Rounding out FDU’s projected starting lineup is fifth-year returnee Heru Bligen, who is looking to return to his early season success after starting the season averaging 14.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.1 free throw attempts and 1.1 steals per game before sitting out five weeks with a mid-season injury. Bligen is not a perimeter threat, but when surrounded by FDU’s capable shooters, Bligen will be provided the space to do what he does best: penetrate and attack the interior. 

Like last year, FDU’s starting lineup will be short in stature, but rich with tenacious guard play and anchored by the shooting and hustle of Almonor. Overall, the NEC looks to be wide open this season and FDU has as good of a chance as any team to finish the season at the top.