By Joe Budzelek
It has felt like a Tale of Two Seasons for Fairfield head coach Chris Casey.
At the end of the 2023-24 season, the Stags finished with 24 wins, making the semifinals in both the MAAC tournament and the College Basketball Invitational. All in all, the season greatly exceeded expectations, especially considering head coach Chris Casey’s appointment as the team’s interim head coach occurred just a month prior to the start of the regular season, making his return to head coaching in MAAC with a six-year tenure at Niagara in his resume.
While the 2023-24 season was a banner year, last year was a season to forget on both sides of the floor while injury issues to five of Fairfield’s scholarship players made it difficult for Casey to develop consistent rotations, especially in the frontcourt.
Following two seasons with results on the opposite ends of the spectrum, the 2025-26 Fairfield Stags are looking for more balance and stability, especially with getting comfortable winning in a variety of settings.
Under Casey, the Stags have been at their best when they generate turnovers and run the floor. While that signature is expected to remain, a lot of attention during this summer’s practice is getting this group more comfortable when the game slows down and more dogged and synergistic halfcourt play is necessary.
“First of all, we're going to try to create more possessions by pushing up on teams and playing faster, but good teams – we talk about this in practice today – can play both tempos,” said Casey following Tuesday’s practice, “We can run when it's time to run, but on both ends of the floor when our 5s are back, we need to execute better. Now, we did some of that today, a little bit, and it was pretty good. I love our energy, our effort, our enthusiasm.”
Even though the Stags have about a dozen practices under their belt, Casey and his staff are looking to expand the comfort level with the group in the halfcourt, especially in the way the team runs offense when the game slows down.
Overall, Casey harped on the importance of retooling this almost even mix of returnees and new additions to be better prepared for all types of opponents and styles of play. “We want more versatility on both ends of the floor,” said Casey, “We also especially wanted to improve on our shooting and scoring ability, our defense and then also building a roster with more overall size and athleticism.”
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| Entering his third season at the helm, Coach Casey concludes Tuesday's practice reiterating teaching points to his roster that is arguably his deepest in his tenure. |
Improving their long-range shooting is a key priority for Fairfield, as they shot just 31.6% from three last season—the third-lowest rate in the MAAC. That makes it especially important that all four of Fairfield’s transfer additions can contribute from beyond the arc, with each boasting a career three-point percentage of 34% or higher.
Examining Fairfield’s other areas of improvement, their five-man freshman class packs good positional size, overall versatility and defensive potential.
Overall, the backcourt has undergone the most significant turnover on the roster, with last year’s bright spot Prophet Johnson transferring to Sacramento State in pursuit of NIL money—a team now precariously led by first-time head coach Mike Bibby and first-time GM Shaquille O’Neal. Deon Perry remains unclaimed in the portal, and the graduation of Jamie Bergens further thins the ranks, leaving senior guard Braden Sparks as Fairfield’s most proven backcourt returnee.
Across the final nine games of last season, Sparks impressed in a score-first role for the Stags, averaging 13.4 points-per-game and making 57% of his two-point and 37% of his three-point attempts throughout that span. Defensively, the 6-foot guard is aggressive with on-ball pursuits, but finished the season with the second lowest defensive metrics, per EvanMiya.com, even though his defense improved throughout the year. Coach Casey also shared that Sparks’ improvement on defense has also taken the attention of the coaching staff. After starting 28 games last season, Sparks is a surefire bet to start this upcoming season.
Both a 2023-24 All-WCC Men’s Basketball Second Team selection and Sixth Man of the Year recipient with San Diego, UCSB grad transfer Deuce Turner is another guy you can pencil into a starting guard spot after scoring 1099 career points. Struggling from three in his freshman season at Bucknell, the 6-foot-2 Turner has developed into a true three-level scorer by making 35% of his three-point attempts over the last three seasons and also combining his mid-range game with a calm, yet aggressive ability to attack the rim and draw fouls.
The last starting spot in Fairfield’s backcourt will likely be a fierce competition between returnee Noah Best and Rhode Island transfer Cam Estevez.
Appearing in the first fourteen games of last season before sustaining a season-ending injury, Best flashed his defensive versatility and upside, thanks to a combination of length and athleticism that allows him to guard multiple positions. Given that both Sparks and Turner are more offensive-minded players, Best’s defensive grit, size, and savvy could give him an edge in the competition for a starting spot—though he'll need to address his tendency to commit turnovers on offense, something that could improve with more reps and sustained health.
Cam Estevez’s perimeter efficiency could be his ticket to earning a starting backcourt role, having made 37.4% of his three-point attempts over two seasons at Rhode Island. A sturdily built 6-foot-3, 195-pound off-ball guard, Estevez could improve on his career 42.7% two-point shooting as he transitions from the A-10 to the MAAC, especially given his explosive burst to the rim. Like Deuce Turner, Estevez profiles more as an offense-first player, having finished last season as Rhode Island’s least efficient defender, according to EvanMiya.com.
JUCO addition Eric Mejia is another addition with good positional size and packs two-way versatility. In his freshman season, Mejia was selected as a Third Team All-American at Monroe University after leading the Mustangs to a 26-8 overall record, an East District Championship, and a second-round appearance in the NJCAA National Tournament. He paced the team with 13.7 points per game, fueled by an impressive .432 shooting percentage from beyond the arc, and led Monroe in assists with 4.5 per game. The 6-foot-3 guard also contributed 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest, showcasing his all-around impact. All-in-all, Mejia is a true lead guard who can run the point and create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates, while also using his size and length to defend effectively both on and off the ball, providing him a versatile profile that can earn him minutes up and down the lineup.
Like Noah Best, junior guard Matt Curtis is seeking a more consistent role in the backcourt after missing most of last season due to injury. The 6-foot-4 Curtis saw limited action during the first four months of his freshman season, but injuries to Brycen Goodine and Jalen Leach thrust the then-freshman into a starting role in the College Basketball Invitational. Having scored just fifteen total points prior to the tournament, Curtis went on to average 12 points and 2.3 three-pointers per game in the CBI, hinting at the scoring and floor-spacing ability he had previously displayed as the all-time leading scorer at Northwest Catholic High School (CT). Coach Casey reflected last summer, “To his credit, not having played a lot earlier in the season and then to be able to do that on a postseason stage was a terrific accomplishment.”
Rounding out the backcourt is freshmen Tony Williams and Nasir Rodiguez, two talented and highly-recruited local recruits that both can earn immediate roles.
Finishing his basketball career at the venerable Connecticut powerhouse Putnam Science Academy, Williams is arguably Fairfield’s most textbook point guard. Williams is a calm, composed left-handed floor general who looked composed on Tuesday when Fairfield was practicing their full court press. He can impact the game as a scorer, while also showing he’s more than capable of elevating those around him with his vision and feel for the game.
Rodriguez, who wrapped up his high school career at Northfield Mount Hermon School—a well-known Ivy League pipeline—chose Fairfield after receiving nearly a dozen Division I offers from programs across the A-10, Ivy, and MAAC. Blessed with a sturdy 6-foot-4 frame, he has drawn praise from Coach Casey for his toughness and defensive competitiveness, consistently bringing maximum effort on every possession.
Similar to each of Casey’s first two seasons, the center position will be filled by committee, as the head coach looks to mix and match rotations — even using small-ball lineups at times.
Junior center Peyton Smith is poised to reclaim his spot in the starting lineup after making 24 starts last season. The physical 6-foot-10 homegrown talent ranked third in block rate during conference play and finished in the top 25 in both offensive and defensive rebounding rates. However, he struggled at times late in the season while playing through an injury. A solid defender who also does a good job limiting turnovers on offense, the next step in his development is to improve his production and efficiency inside the arc, as evidenced by his career 48.3% mark on two-point attempts.
Competing with Smith for the starting center role is returning sophomore Isaac Munkadi, who is arguably one of the most physically and athletically gifted bigs in the MAAC. According to EvanMiya.com, Munkadi posted the best defensive metrics among returning Stags, as the 6-foot-10 Congo native averaged nearly four blocks per 40 minutes. With his athleticism, length, and motor, Munkadi has the tools to develop into one of the most versatile defensive bigs in the conference. Offensively, he keeps things simple but appeared more comfortable with the ball in his hands during Tuesday’s practice.
In both of his seasons at the helm, Casey has also rolled out small-ball lineups and a trio of newcomers – Brandon Benjamin, Declan Wucherpfennig and Ryan Zan – can fill-in at that spot, in addition to playing the four alongside a traditional big.
Brandon Benjamin, a 6-foot-8 forward, joins Fairfield after an All-State career at Bergen Catholic and a standout post-graduate season at St. Thomas More, where he averaged 19 points and a NEPSAC-best 15 rebounds per game. He earned All-America Honorable Mention and First Team All-NEPSAC honors while leading his team to the National Prep Championship Game. Ranked as the No. 3 prep player in Connecticut by the New England Recruiting Report, Benjamin brings rim protection, rebounding, and scoring ability both at the rim and from the perimeter, providing an immediate boost to Fairfield’s frontcourt. With Peyton Smith sidelined during Tuesday’s practice, Benjamin saw more reps at the five, where he flashed some creativity while facilitating out of the post. Between his size, athleticism and diverse toolbox, Benjamin boasts a high ceiling.
Declan Wucherpfennig, a versatile 6-foot-7 wing, was particularly impressive in Tuesday’s practice, showcasing his strong, projectable frame, high motor in transition defense, and a diverse skill set with poised guard and forward abilities. Wucherpfennig was an All-Bergen County and All-Big North selection as a junior at Bergen Catholic, where he played both the 4 and 5 positions. He led the Crusaders in scoring and rebounding, guiding them to a 22-8 record and a top-10 ranking in New Jersey. Wucherpfennig also impressed on the Under Armour circuit with Team Rio this summer, averaging 13.5 points and seven rebounds per game. With both Louis Bleechmore and Kyle Jenkins graduating, competition for the starts at the 4 is wide open and Wucherpfennig has as good of a chance as anyone to secure that role from Day 1.
La Salle transfer Ryan Zan is another addition with experience at both the 4 and 5 positions, and like Benjamin, he saw some reps at the 5 during Tuesday’s practice. While the 6-foot-7 floor spacer may not have the same versatile skill set as the previously mentioned freshmen, Zan is a highly efficient shooter, converting 57% of his career two-point attempts and 40% of his three-point attempts.
Rounding out Fairfield’s frontcourt are returning redshirt junior Michael Rogan and incoming freshman Halon Rawlins, two versatile pieces best described as “big guards.” Similar to Matt Curtis, Rogan has shown potential in his eight career starts, but injuries have hindered his ability to establish a consistent role on the team. That said, the 6-foot-7 hybrid forward owns an impressive 45% career three-point shooting mark and offers solid positional length as a 3/4 who can also contribute on the boards.
Like Wucherpfennig and Benjamin, Halon Rawlins is another freshman addition with a strong, projectable frame. The 6-foot-6 wing from Brooklyn was a top high school player in New York City this past season, earning both New York MaxPreps Player of the Year and CHSAA Player of the Year honors at Nazareth Regional High School where he averaged 22.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 41 percent from three-point range. A versatile player with scoring and defensive ability, Rawlins has impressed Coach Casey with his all-around potential, who believes Rawlins’ defensive tenacity could be the key to earning immediate playing time as a freshman.
Overall, few teams in the MAAC boast more depth than Fairfield, as the Stags are one of the few programs in the conference with fifteen scholarship players—each of whom has a legitimate case for immediate playing time this season. While this level of talent will fuel competition for rotation spots, a key for Coach Casey and his staff will be finding the right mix, especially after frequently playing 12 or 13 guys late last season. Part of that mixing and matching stemmed from injuries throughout the lineup, while Deon Perry—who was expected to be an offensive spark after averaging 17 points per game the previous season at Loyola (MD)—struggled to find his rhythm.
That said, the Stags are poised to improve after a disappointing season. If Fairfield’s returnees continue to develop, their transfers make an impact, and one or two freshmen contribute right away, the combination of talent and depth could make the Stags one of the more dangerous teams in the conference. They have a chance to balance short-term success with long-term promise, thanks to an incredibly talented and versatile freshman class.
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