By Joe Budzelek
In just three seasons, LIU basketball has transformed from a confounding three-win doormat with unproven leadership into the unanimous NEC favorite entering the 2025–26 season, thanks to a robust coaching staff and a talented, deep roster that blends proven all-league returnees with a strong recruiting class ready to compete.
“It’s been a journey,” says LIU head coach Rod Strickland, who enters his fourth year at the helm. “When I took this job, I hadn’t been a head coach before, and I knew it would be a learning experience—but I’ve always been good at figuring things out.”
In June 2022, LIU surprised many by firing head coach Derek Kellogg, despite his 12-6 record in NEC play that season, an NCAA Tournament appearance in his first year, and a .500 or better conference record in each of his five seasons. He was replaced by Rod Strickland, who at the time was serving as the program director for the G League Ignite. Prior to that, Strickland was an assistant coach at South Florida and held administrative roles at Memphis and Kentucky under John Calipari. However, his lack of head coaching experience made the move puzzling and raised questions about the program’s direction.
Winning just ten games over the first two years of his tenure, Strickland oversaw key changes to his coaching staff that helped turn the program around. Dalmar Ali, a Canadian native hired during the 2023–24 season, played a pivotal role in bringing in fellow Canadians Malachi Davis, Jamal Fuller, and Shadrak Lasu—each of whom earned All-NEC honors and proved essential to the team's success. In November, Al Boatright was appointed as the team’s general manager, signaling the program’s commitment to adapting to the evolving landscape of modern mid-major athletics. Both Ali and Boatright have been instrumental in reestablishing LIU as a power in the NEC.
“That first year was tough; I got the job in July, and all the starters had left. In the second year, we won just seven games. We dealt with a lot of injuries, but we got through it,” says Strickland, “Last year, we turned the corner. I had to figure out the culture—staffing, players, just all the dynamics of college basketball. It just took some time, and I understood that. I’m comfortable in adversity. I’ve been around basketball for so many years in so many different roles. I understand failure, and I understand that it’s part of the process. So I was always comfortable knowing that I had to figure it out. And that meant surrounding myself with good people—professionals, quality people. We’ve worked to put it all together.”
The clearest impetus for LIU’s preseason expectations is thanks to the aforementioned Canadian trio of All-NEC selections Malachi Davis, Jamal Fuller, and Shadrak Lasu. With retention being an issue all throughout the college basketball landscape, LIU is one of the three teams in the nation — alongside Towson and Purdue — that return both their First-Team [Davis] and Second-Team [Fuller] All-Conference selections from the previous year while Lasu was an NEC All-Rookie Team selection. Davis and Fuller — who were the team’s top two scorers — return for their last year of eligibility, as their conquest for a NEC Tournament victory and a berth in the NCAA Tournament drives their last hurrah.
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| Jamal Fuller mid-shot during LIU's NEC Tournament semifinal loss to Saint Francis (photo credit Bob Dea) |
“They got a taste of what it’s like to have an opportunity to reach the tournament—and then to see that slip through our hands in that second-round conference tournament game,” says Strickland in response to the team’s semifinals loss to Saint Francis, the giant slayer that beat LIU and CCSU — the tournament’s top two seeds — to advance to the NCAA Tournament. “So, they’re hungry. They’ve been focused, they’ve improved. And like you said, they were here last year—they’re proven. I’m excited to have those guys back.”
Davis will, yet again, be not only the most talented and athletic guard on LIU, but arguably the whole conference. Last year, Davis played mostly a ball-dominant, combo guard role alongside starting point guard Terell Strickland, but he is expected to start as the de facto point guard this upcoming season after averaging 17.7 points, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals last season. Making just 40.8 percent of his field goal attempts and 27.3 percent of his three-pointers, LIU’s influx of talent should not only lighten Davis’ need to play hero ball but also improve his overall efficiency with the ball. “Malachi probably played too many minutes, at times,” says Strickland, “We were great defensively, but when you’re only playing six or seven guys, that can wear you down. This year, we have reserves. We have talented players who can step in. Now it’s about getting back to our core—our culture, our toughness, our competitiveness. And this time, we actually have the pieces to put out on the court.”
Speaking of toughness and competitiveness, Jamal Fuller and Shadrak Lasu have these traits ingrained in their DNA. Starting the offseason in the transfer portal, Fuller returns as a physical, efficient two-way star poised to continue his breakout after transforming his body at LIU.
Blossoming in conference play, Fuller averaged 13.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and one steal and block per game last season, while shooting an efficient 53.5 percent on two-point attempts and 37.0 percent from three against NEC rivals. A lack of frontcourt depth forced him to log most of his minutes at the 4, but this year’s deeper roster will allow the 6-foot-5, 215-pound Fuller to start at the 3.
Like Fuller, the 6-foot-8, 200-pound Lasu will finally play at his natural position, moving to the 4 after spending most of last season as a small-ball 5. Though low-usage on offense, Lasu is the team’s most versatile and switchable defender, excelling on the boards at both ends. Simply put, few players in the NEC can match his energy and activity, which help Strickland maintain a high-octane attack while incorporating different looks that maximize the depth and versatility of this year’s roster.
“We can get out in transition and generate more easy baskets by playing a little faster,” says Strickland, “Defensively, we were really good. Offensively, we struggled, but a lot of that came down to only having a rotation of six and a half to seven players. That could be due to fatigue or a number of other factors.
I think our versatility will help us offensively, and having more depth will make a big difference. Now, we can still be aggressive on defense, but also get up and down the court more and look to create easier scoring opportunities.”
The addition of UAB transfer Greg Gordon has the potential to make the biggest impact on the team, as he is arguably the most productive and talented newcomer in the conference. The staff plans to exploit Gordon’s unique blend of size, physicality, and skill, with the 6-foot-5, 210-pound fifth-year power guard expected to start in the backcourt alongside Malachi Davis.
“Greg is—well, he’s an athlete. He’s got a motor, and he has the ability to pass the ball. I think he’s going to be a great piece for us. I really believe he can do multiple things,” says Strickland, “He brings energy, especially on the defensive end—I think he has the potential to be great defensively. Overall, his game and his intensity definitely helps us.”
After averaging 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game at Iona, Gordon’s upside is electric. However, after leaving both Iona and, more recently, UAB before the end of each season, there are some detractors who question what he can offer at LIU. Still, if he comes anywhere close to his sky-high potential, he could finish next season as an All-NEC first-teamer.
Green Bay transfer Isaiah Miranda is another addition brimming with potential, especially if he can approach the form that once made him a consensus four-star, top-100 recruit out of high school. The 7-foot-1, 220-pound Rhode Island native originally committed to NC State, but between his time there and at Green Bay, he has appeared in just ten career games. His commitment to LIU could mark the turning point where his immense two-way upside finally blossoms—particularly if he can earn and hold down the starting center role.
Speaking of size, the 7-foot-2, 230-pound Rupee Kolawole is an intriguing project after serving in a reserve role last season at Northwest Florida State College, a program that regularly ranks among the best in the JUCO ranks.
Returnees Xinyi Li — a 6-foot-9 junior sharpshooter — and Tre’shawn Sheppard — a 6-foot-6 bruiser in the paint — will look to reprise their reserve roles from last year, though competition for playing time will be even fiercer this season.
Incoming junior Mason Brown is the team’s most versatile frontcourt addition after a standout season at Indian Hills Community College, where the 6-foot-7 forward averaged 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and nearly 2.5 assists per game—good enough to finish the year as a top-75 JUCO recruit, according to JUCORecruiting.com. Brown fits LIU’s current philosophy perfectly, as he can generate turnovers and quickly transition into attack mode on offense. When the game slows down, he can use his quickness to break down defenses off the dribble and serve as a secondary distributor. Defensively, his athleticism, strength, and length will make him an asset. Brown is a strong candidate for significant minutes as a combo forward, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he earns a few starts.
Even though Malachi Davis and Greg Gordon are venerable stars, LIU’s backcourt packs more depth than last year.
Like Brown, Faheim Meran is a versatile 6-foot-7 JUCO addition capable of impacting the game in multiple ways. At Miami Dade Junior College last season, he averaged 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while connecting on 32 percent of his three-point attempts. A true Swiss Army knife in the backcourt, Meran brings size, vision, and defensive activity, making him a matchup problem for smaller guards. This summer, he’s been getting extended looks at all three backcourt spots, giving LIU another multi-positional weapon who can initiate offense, finish plays, and guard multiple positions.
After missing last season due to injury, AJ Neal returns as a veteran guard off the bench. Two years ago, Neal averaged 16 minutes per game at Chicago State, and the 6-foot-2 senior will serve as Davis’ primary backup at point guard.
Joining LIU from the Division II ranks is Jomo Goings, a 6-foot-5, 170-pound stat-stuffer who averaged 17.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.4 steals per game last season as a first-team All-PSAC West selection at Slippery Rock. He is expected to log significant minutes at both the 2 and 3 spots.
Surrounded by a deep, talented roster, 6-foot-4 incoming freshman Max Ndlovu-Fraser will likely see minimal playing time in Year 1.
Overall, LIU boasts a rare combination of talent, size, versatility, and depth unmatched in the NEC. AJ Neal is the only scholarship player under 6-foot-4, giving the Sharks a level of size that could overwhelm not only conference opponents but also a good number of their non-conference foes.
The word is out: LIU is a dangerous squad set to navigate a gauntlet of a non-conference schedule, highlighted by high-major visits to Notre Dame, Illinois, Mississippi State, and Georgia, an exciting road trip to face the new-look Fordham Rams, and challenging home matchups with James Madison, Winthrop, and La Salle. Come January, when conference play starts, LIU will be battle tested.
There’s excitement in Fort Greene and Strickland is giddy for opening tip “we’ve added some real talent. I’m just looking forward to putting it all together.”
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