An Introduction to the New Look Iona Gaels

By Joe Budzelek (@stf_ncaa)

Jim Valvano. Pat Kennedy. Tim Cluess. Rick Pitino. 

Since the 1980s, Iona has consistently been a competitive mid-major basketball program, but it was during the Tim Cluess era, with its six NCAA Tournament appearances in only nine seasons, followed by two more postseason dances under Rick Pitino’s short tenure, that solidified Iona’s culture of basketball excellence.

By turning St. Thomas Aquinas College into an East Coast Conference juggernaut and also in his home run Division 1 debut at FDU defeating top overall seed Purdue in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, Tobin Anderson is familiar with excellence, so it comes to no surprise that Coach Anderson reflects back to his first season at Iona with disappointment.

“I mean, when I walked out of the gym in Manhattan [after losing five of the previous six games at that point of the regular season], I knew there had to be some major changes, says Anderson on the IonaHoops.com Podcast with Guy Falotico, “and so we knew we were not where we needed to be as far as going forward.”

“It was tough,” continues Anderson, “we kind of told everybody who was close to our inner circle, ‘hey, it's gonna be a rough month here.’ Like, we kind of knew after the year was over, it's gonna be rocky, it'll look bad on the outside, but at the end of the day, it's about getting our foundation, our program, where it needs to be. So I think we've done that, but there were obviously some bumps along the road.”

Starting his Iona tenure inheriting just one player from Pitino’s last roster, Anderson and his staff had to, yet again, aggressively pursue the Gaels’ next wave of talent after each player on last year’s squad either graduated or transferred. But, unlike last offseason, Iona’s newest roster was set by the end of May.

“We kind of went back to some core principles and some DNA things as far guys who are tough and competitive, high basketball IQ, guys who love basketball, guys who want to be part of something bigger than themselves,” says Anderson, “We kind of made a list of the qualities that we were looking for in players [...] You need guys who want to defend, you need guys who make the toughest plays, who want to do things to make the team better. And so I think we're really focused on building a roster as opposed to trying to build like an All-Star team. And so, I feel like we learned a lot from last spring.”

An Introduction to Iona’s Frontcourt

This season, Iona’s toughness will be anchored by their frontcourt group that brings more size and versatility than last year. Most familiar to Gael Nation is Southern Illinois transfer Clarence Rupert, who started his career in the MAAC, finishing his freshman season as the starting center during Saint Peter’s Elite Eight run. 

Listed at 6’8 239, the Philly-bred Rupert is a classic, lunch-pail bruiser who last year averaged 

7.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and nearly a block-per-game for the Salukis. Last season, Rupert produced strong analytics, ranking second in the Missouri Valley Conference in defensive rebounding rate, eighth w/ a 60.7 two-point shooting percentage – Rupert is comfortable shooting the ball from the elbow – eleventh in block rate and fourteenth in offensive rebounding rate. EvanMiya.com’s defensive analytics ranked Rupert as the fourth most efficient defensive player for Southern Illinois. In summary, Rupert is stronger and more of an interior force than the inside-out abilities of the graduating Osborn Shema. 

Joining Rupert in the center rotation is Panola College transfer Yaphet Moundi. Listed at 6’8 205, the Paris native earned over a dozen Division 1 offers throughout his recruitment after averaging fifteen points, ten rebounds and a block-per-game last season for a team that was ranked fourteenth in the country in the final NJCAA D1 Men’s Basketball Poll after Panola College finished the season with a 24-5 record. 

“Yaphet is a versatile defender who can protect the rim and guard on the perimeter,” says Panola College head coach Joseph Kuligoski, “He has a relentless motor on the glass, with the ability to score in the low-mid post with one or two dribbles. He has improved his outside shooting in his two seasons at Panola, so opponents will have to respect him from the three-point line as well. Overall, Iona is getting a guy who knows how to win.”

On the IonaHoops.com Podcast with Guy Falotico, Tobin Anderson adds “Yaphet and Clarence [...] those two guys add tremendous physicality to the front line. They play bigger than they are. Like Yaphet, I saw him play three or four times in person. He's above the rim, punch in the face, competitive, tough, physical. He's a five-man, he's a center. He plays his tail off. He plays bigger than most six-ten [players].”

James “Biggie” Patterson, now becomes the fourth STAC transfer to suit up for Tobin Anderson at the D1 level and the first to play at Iona.

“He’s a guy that fans are going to come out and watch for how exciting he is,” says STAC head coach Matthew Capell, “For us, [Patterson] guarded all five positions. He handles and shoots it like a guard, so it makes him a really versatile player. He plays with energy and passion.”

Last season, Patterson stuffed the stat sheet, averaging 24 points, eight rebounds and nearly two steals per-game while shooting 36% from three and 76% from the charity stripe. His ability to break down the defender and create his own offense is evident in his eye-popping average of 8.3 free throw attempts-per-game, which would have ranked seventh in Division 1 and just a few tenths off from Illinois star combo forward Terrence Shannon Jr.  

 

“If he has the same jump from sophomore to junior year that he had from freshman to sophomore year, then the sky’s the limit for him, “says Capell, “He treats the game like a professional and wants to go pro, so it’s fun to coach guys [like him]. They come in, they’re at the gym and put in work all the time.”

At 6’7 200, there is no one on Iona’s roster that matches the versatility at his size, so Patterson is a very strong bet to start next season for the Gaels.

Injured for all but seven games last season, Omaha transfer Luke Jungers was a reliable stretch forward option throughout his first two seasons with his hometown Mavericks. Currently listed at 6’9 175, over sixty percent of Jungers’ career field-goal attempts have been from three, making 38 percent of those attempts, which is only 1.4 percent less than Wheza Panzo’s career average from three. Panzo started twenty-nine games last season and averaged close to thirty-two minutes per game, but Jungers will likely be more of a catch-and-shoot spacer off the bench, possibly sharing the floor alongside Patterson and one of Moundi and Rupert together.

Discussing the possibility of larger lineups, Anderson proposed: “Biggie can play the three, and you can play Luke Jungers and Yaphet Moundi and Clarence [Rupert] together. You can play all those guys together [...] So one thing we have [with this roster] is tremendous versatility across the board.”

Three members of Iona’s four-man freshman class have been committed to the program since November and will compete for immediate playing time as well as set up the program’s long-term outlook. 

New York native and South Kent product Jacob Hogarth brings multiple dimensions to his game. “Jacob is a versatile frontcourt player, especially on the defensive side of the ball where he can switch 1-through-5,” says South Kent School head coach Raphael Chillious, “He plays with a high motor and prides himself on being a dawg on that end of the court. He will be really good in their full-court press. He's good in and out of his area as a defensive rebounder and is quick to the glass on offense. He is comfortable being a physical presence in the low post and even more comfortable facing up on the perimeter to use his quickness and athletic ability to take his man off the dribble to the rim. He will also help Iona’s offense as they can play “through” him at the high post as he is a good decision maker and passer.”

Hogarth’s defensive prowess immediately gained the attention of Tobin Anderson. “Jacob Hogarth, we loved him last summer,” says Anderson, “I remember watching him last July thinking, we can't get this kid, he's going to go above us. He guarded Derik Queen [a consensus five-star recruit who will play at Maryland] and basically kicked the crap out of [him] in a summer league game. And I'm like, oh man, he's going to be a great player for us.”

Listed at 6’9 210 and is a three-star recruit according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, Hogarth has a ton of defensive potential, but will have to fight for playing time alongside a deep, versatile and talented frontcourt that has more size than last year’s group. Yes, Osborn Shema was a seven-footer, but around him the 4-spot was mostly occupied by 6’5 210 Greg Gordon and the 6’7 205 Panzo, who was an excellent shooter but did not possess other classical “forward” traits. If this year’s unit stays healthy, each lineup should include two players that are 6’7 or taller, sometimes three players if Patterson gets more minutes at the 3.

An Introduction to Iona’s Backcourt

One of the biggest flaws of last year’s backcourt is that both grad transfers, Idan Tretout and Joel Brown, had holes in their games that were so glaring that freshmen Jeremiah Quigley, who transferred to George Mason, and Jean Aranguren, who transferred to Hofstra, were often the better options on the floor.

Tretout, a strong perimeter shooter, did not mesh well in Tobin Anderson’s defensive scheme and also finished the season with his lowest shooting percentage inside the arc (42.7%) and from the charity stripe (67.3%). On the other hand, Brown was an exceptional defender and was efficient at scoring near the rim, but his career free-throw shooting woes (48%) and lack of spacing (only about 20% of his field goal attempts were from three) hindered his overall value in halfcourt sets. 

In the MAAC, many top teams have “that guy”, an alpha-guard who can take over a game and score at will and Northern Colorado transfer Dejour Reaves is poised to become “that guy” for Iona. 

The Syracuse native made his Division 1 debut last season after a standout career at Trinidad State in Colorado. Starting just eleven games, Reaves excelled as the first man off the bench, earning the 2023-24 Big Sky Top Reserve award and a Second Team All-Conference selection after averaging close to fifteen points-per-game and shooting an efficient 51% from 2, 38% from 3 and 82% from the free throw line. 

Listed at 6’0 175, Reaves is more of an undersized combo-guard than a true point guard. At Northern Colorado, Reaves averaged just 1.4 assists-per-game, but doubled that assist average in his last year at Trinidad State, leading the Trojans in assists, so Reaves brings positional versatility despite being a shoot-first guard. 

What transfers Christian Winborne (Saint Joseph’s) and Comeh Emuobor (Central Florida) lack in experience, both players arrive to New Rochelle with a ton of potential as former top-250, three-star prospects out of high school. 

Averaging 24 points-per-game in his senior season at Gilman School in Baltimore, Winborne parlayed his basketball skill and success in the classroom to earn multiple high-major and Ivy League, ultimately committing to Saint Joseph’s. 

Out of high school, Glenn Graham of the Baltimore Sun reported on Winborne of his “versatile skills with a creative ability to score and share the ball with his teammates. He uses his athleticism and determination to defend and his game sense to make the smart play. As the unquestioned leader and go-to player for the Greyhounds, he's well-respected by his teammates."

Listed at 6’2 185, Winborne left Saint Joseph’s in December after getting squeezed out of the rotation, but was typically the first guard off the bench his freshman season after averaging six points, two rebounds and an assist and a steal apiece, but has struggled with shooting efficiency from three with a career 17.8 three-point percentage and nearly half of his career field goal attempts from the perimeter. 

Considering the fact that Billy Lange’s halfcourt offense at Saint Joseph eschewed mid-range shots and shot a ton of threes – in Winborne’s career, the Hawks ranked within the top 95th percentile of 3PA/FGA ratio – there is a chance that a proportion of Winborne’s perimeter shot attempts were forced in an effort to fit the system. On the contrary, Tobin Anderson’s halfcourt system uses a lot of five-out wrinkles, but that spacing encourages players to find the most open player, regardless where he is in the halfcourt. That being said, the competition at the MAAC pales in comparison to the A-10, so expect Winborne to have a career year, especially if he can earn a starting role out of the gate.

Like Winborne, Central Florida transfer Comeh Emuobor was widely recruited out of high school, with nine high-major offers out of Brewster Academy. Listed at 6’5 205, Emuobor played sparingly at UCF, but has the physical profile to be a defensive stopper at Iona, especially in the halfcourt. 

“Comeh is a tremendous athlete,” says Brewster Academy head coach Jason Smith, “His athleticism will flourish, especially defensively in Coach Anderson’s system. More importantly, he’s a wonderful person who will be a great addition to the campus community at Iona.”

It makes sense that Tobin Anderson and his staff were attracted to adding a versatile defensive stopper like Emuobor as the program is looking to make major strides in their halfcourt defense.

“The foundation of our team's [defense] has got to be our half-court defense, right?” says Anderson on the IonaHoops.com Podcast with Guy Falotico, “We were not a very good half-court defensive team last year at all. That comes from me. I've got to do a better job coaching the team, putting more of an emphasis on that and making sure that's how we play. But you also have to have guys who want to guard the ball, who can guard the ball, who want to put pressure on the ball, who want to be disruptive.”

Flagler (D2) transfer Jalen Barr fits this bill to a tee. The two-time Peach Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year is listed at 6’4 185 and was a consummate, team-first glue guy for the Saints after averaging nine points, seven rebounds, two assists, 1.5 steals and a block per game.

“Jalen Barr is a kid we just got here late from Flagler,” says Anderson, “His numbers don't jump out at you. We watched his tape, we talked to his coaches, people in his conference. He's a dog, he competes, he's tough.” 

Both Barr and Emuobor are not perimeter shooters, so it is easier to picture the duo tag-teaming as Iona’s perimeter stoppers rather than a defensive stalwarts sharing the floor together. 

The final backcourt transfer is Kernan Bundy. Playing the last two seasons at JUCO powerhouse Hutchinson Community College, the 6’3 190 Bundy was the first guard off the bench, averaging 10.5 points, four rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting an efficient 59% from two, 38% from three and 82% from the charity stripe. 

“Kernan Bundy won a state championship as a high school senior and took his team to the national finals this year,” says Anderson, “I watched him play four times, and all that kid does is help his team win. So is he flashy? No, but we got some flashy guys too.”

Overall, guys like Bundy represent the overall versatility that Anderson and his staff was looking for when they rebuilt this year’s roster: “Again, [we added] lots of versatility. Guys who can shoot, guys who can handle, facilitate, guys who can get to the rim. Some with lots of experience, some with none at all.”

Three of those guys with no experience and who are ready to join the backcourt are freshmen guards Adam Njie Jr., Justin Menard and JoJo Wallace. 

“All three guys are great teammates, hard workers and culture guys,” Anderson said about the incoming trio on Zagsblog, “They all love basketball, are always in the gym and all very talented. They fit our system, our style, and our culture very well and will make us better the minute they walk on campus. We’re excited to add them to our mix and look to all three to have major contributions to our program right away.”

A decommit from Washington State, former Cardinal Hayes point guard Adam Njie is a Bronx native and, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, is a three-star and top-200 prospect, ranking as the program’s second highest rated recruit of all-time. 

“Adam is a tremendously skilled guard who will make an immediate impact in the MAAC,” says Cardinal Hayes coach Joe Lods on Zagsblog, “Coach Anderson did a tremendous job recruiting him, and Adam is the type of guard who can help get Iona back to the NCAA Tournament. In my 20 years at Hayes, it would be hard to find a guard as talented as Adam with the basketball in his hands.”

Listed at 6’3 175, Njie is exceptionally shifty and can play with multiple gears with the ball in his hands. When penetrating to the hoop, Njie does a nice job masking his intentions and he is capable of creating space with a step back jumper in his bag. 

Finishing his high school career at St. Thomas More, Connecticut native Justin Menard was offered by Tobin Anderson twice, first during his stint at FDU and then again with Iona. Overall, the 6’3 175 Menard earned offers from seven East Coast mid-majors and is touted for his positional length and size at the point guard position, as well as his ability to make shots from all over the court, especially from deep range. 

Teammates with Jacob Hogarth at South Kent School, New York native JoJo Wallace is a 6’3 175 guard and South Kent head coach Raphael Chillious notes Wallace’s “true scorer’s mentality. Simply put, he is wired to score the ball. He is a legitimate three-level scorer and can finish with either hand at the rim. He is deceptively quick and shifty off the bounce. Can score in bunches and is never deterred by missing a shot.” 

Out of the three freshmen, Wallace may have the hardest time earning immediate playing time as Wallace needs to round out other attributes to his game, but the son of former Knick John Wallace is certainly an important prospect for Iona’s future. 

Outlook

With an entirely new roster and considering the offseason practices are only in their nascent stage, it’s a fool’s errand to predict how lineups will look for Iona, especially considering that Anderson likes to play deep rotations.

That being said, it is a safe bet to assume that Clarence Rupert, a full-time starter last year at Southern Illinois, will start next season at the 5 while STAC transfer James Patterson should start at one of the other frontcourt positions. 

Although mostly a bench weapon at Northern Colorado, Dejour Reaves is an electric scorer and will end up with starter’s minutes no matter if he starts or not. Capable of scoring in bunches, Reaves will likely be best paired with another guard who is comfortable distributing the ball, so look for Adam Njie and Christian Winborne to battle for a starting spot. 

Considering Anderson’s desire to improve the halfcourt defense, look for Jalen Barr and Comeh Emuobor to compete for a starting role as the 3-guard spot, especially if Patterson starts the season as the starting 4. 

If Anderson wants bigger lineups, Patterson has enough shooting and scoring ability to move down to the 3 and have Yaphet Moundi play the power forward position, especially if he is able to show that he can consistently make a shot from the elbow and beyond. Luke Jungers, with his shooting, can also play alongside Patterson in the frontcourt along with one of the bigger forwards at the 5. With a deeper frontcourt than last season, the path for playing time is unclear for Jacob Hogarth, but he possesses gobs of defensive potential and has the makings to be a shutdown starting center as soon as his sophomore season.

If more shooting is needed from the backcourt, Justin Menard and Kernan Bundy could be called upon while JoJo Wallace, for now, looks more like a developmental piece. 

With Iona’s winning culture and especially after last season’s disappointing finish, Tobin Anderson wants to win now, but he and his staff are also aware of the long-term foundation this current group can develop into for years to come.

“Now the key is going to be, let's be honest, we need to keep some of these guys here. We need to have a foundation going forward with the roster,” says Anderson, “We have thirteen guys on our team right now [...] and out of those thirteen, ten [are eligible to] come back next year. We need to keep eight, nine, ten of those guys going forward.”

Introduced in October 2023, The Gaels Nation NIL collective was launched to cultivate endorsement and career opportunities for the school’s student athletes. A sizeable portion of Iona’s passionate fanbase has deep pockets – evident recently with the hiring of Rick Pitino – and the school’s location in the New York metropolitan area is rich with a wide array of connections.

“NIL will help us,” says Anderson, “I'd much rather use NIL for retention than going out and trying to get guys out of the portal [...] Let's make it a situation where instead of going to the portal and shopping around, [we want players] to stay, play and be part of something special at Iona.”

Even though Iona fans endured some rough stretches last year, this year’s group looks more decisively Tobin-esque. They certainly have the talent to be a special group and are on the short list of MAAC contenders for this upcoming season.