By Joe Budzelek
For much of Sacred Heart’s first two seasons in the MAAC, the program’s identity was defined by its offense. The Pioneers averaged 75.2 points per game over that span, knocked down 10.6 three-pointers per contest, and relied on a roster filled with dynamic scorers capable of creating offense in a variety of ways.
But when the offseason arrived, head coach Anthony Latina knew the next version of his team could not simply be measured by how many points it scored.
Sacred Heart lost its entire starting lineup, including the graduation of First Team All-MAAC selection Anquan Hill, Third Team All-MAAC guard Dashon Gittens, and floor-spacing forward Yann Farell, while starting guards Mekhi Conner (Incarnate Word) and Nyle Ralph-Beyer (VCU) also departed through the transfer portal.
Replacing that production was only part of the challenge. More importantly, the Pioneers needed to establish a new identity.
That vision shaped the construction of this year’s roster. Anchored by returning seniors Griffin Barrouk and Jaden Slaughter, Sacred Heart added experienced players who bring toughness, physicality, and versatility. After leaning heavily on its offensive firepower a season ago, the Pioneers believe their next step is becoming a more complete team—one capable of defending with greater urgency, controlling the glass, and winning games in multiple ways.
“What I like most about this year's roster is that the pieces fit together better,” Latina said. “Last year, our starting five were all dynamic offensive players who were at their best finishing plays, but there’s only one ball. This year, we have more guys who can impact the game without needing the ball in their hands. They contribute to winning in different ways, and I think that will make us grittier, tougher, and more balanced. It also gives us the ability to win games in a variety of ways, whereas last year, for better or worse, we were mostly winning by simply outscoring people.”
That versatility is what gives Latina confidence entering the season. While last year's roster may have featured more individual offensive talent, he believes this group has the maturity, chemistry, and leadership to become a more complete basketball team.
After wrapping up the team's early summer practices, Latina found himself reminded of Sacred Heart's 2019-20 squad—a 20-win team he considers one of the toughest and most defensively versatile groups of his 13-year tenure.
“I feel like our buy-in is as good as it’s been in years,” Latina said. “We’ve always had good buy-in, but I think our leadership is the best it’s been since our 2019-20 team. Back then, we had guys like EJ Anosike, Kinnon LaRose, and Jare’l Spellman—mature veterans who set the tone every day.
“This year’s team has that same kind of leadership. Jo Van Buggenhout is an older, experienced player, Jaylen Robinson comes from a really good program, and Kedrick Curtis has been a terrific player. I like our maturity, and I think our internal leadership is as strong as it’s been in a long time.
“Last year’s team probably had more individual talent, but we never fully saw what that group could become. This year’s group has a chance to be different because of its maturity, chemistry, and willingness to play for one another.”
That culture begins with Slaughter.
After missing his first season at Sacred Heart due to injury, Slaughter enters the year as the Pioneers' returning leader in minutes played. After embracing a low-usage, team-first role last season, the 6-foot-5 guard appears poised for a significantly larger role, and Latina believes he has the ability to develop into one of the Metro's top players.
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| Sacred Heart guard Jaden Slaughter (photo credit Greg Vasil). |
“Jaden had a great summer, but the next step for him is taking that jump from being a really valuable role player to becoming an all-conference type of player, and that’s a big step,” Latina said. “It’s a lot to ask, but he showed us signs that he’s ready for it.
“Now, we weren’t playing against outside competition—we were only going against ourselves—but over our 18-plus practices, Jaden played like an all-conference player. He was consistent, he competed, and he showed the ability to take his game to another level.”
The numbers support Latina’s optimism. Despite owning the lowest usage rate (14.3 percent) among Sacred Heart’s rotation players last season, Slaughter remained one of the team’s most efficient offensive contributors, shooting 49 percent inside the arc, 34.5 percent from three-point range, and 79.5 percent from the free-throw line.
With a larger role expected this season, the question becomes whether Slaughter can maintain that efficiency while assuming greater offensive responsibility.
After battling injuries last season, sixth-year senior Griffin Barrouk returns as one of Sacred Heart’s most important veteran leaders. While he averaged 7.1 points and 3.0 rebounds per game and shot 35.6 percent from three-point range in 2024-25, head coach Anthony Latina believes Barrouk’s greatest value comes from the toughness and physicality he brings on both ends of the floor.
“When we lost Griffin, a lot of people focused on the shooting, but that wasn’t really the biggest thing we lost,” Latina said. “Griffin brought a different level of toughness and physicality. While Jaden Slaughter played with a lot of grit, he was really the only guy logging heavy minutes who consistently brought that edge.
“This year, I think we have a lot more players like that, and we’re hoping it makes us tougher without sacrificing what made us successful offensively. We were the best offensive team in the league, but we needed another dimension.”
That philosophy shaped Sacred Heart’s work in the transfer portal, where Latina prioritized adding experienced, versatile players capable of impacting the game in ways that extend beyond the box score.
One of those additions is Richmond transfer Jaylen Robinson, whose role steadily expanded throughout his freshman season as he split time between the power forward and small-ball center positions. Earlier this offseason, Richmond head coach Chris Mooney praised Robinson’s selfless, jack-of-all-trades approach, a description that closely aligns with how Latina envisions his role at Sacred Heart.
“Jaylen Robinson is almost the four-five version of Jaden Slaughter because he can impact winning without needing the ball in his hands,” Latina said. “He's a great rim runner, a great finisher, runs the floor well, rebounds on both ends, and brings a lot of athleticism.
“We didn't have a player quite like him last year, and he really understands his strengths. He may not make the same plays our frontcourt guys made a year ago, but he'll give us some different things that we were missing. His ability to impact the game without needing touches is what makes him valuable.”
Joining Robinson in the frontcourt is Seton Hill transfer Kedrick Curtis, who arrives after one of the most productive seasons in Division II basketball. Curtis averaged 16.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 38 percent from three-point range, giving the Pioneers a versatile forward capable of handling the ball, facilitating offense, and creating mismatches.
“Kedrick is going to have a major role for us,” Latina said. “First and foremost, he's a warrior. He works his tail off, he's as high-character as they come, and he's extremely coachable. He brings that every day.
“He's also a really versatile player. The best comparison is probably Bryce Johnson. He's not quite as fast or explosive as Bryce, but he's probably a little more skilled. His decision-making is really good, he shoots the ball well, and he has the ability to impact the game in a lot of different ways.
“Kedrick has a great blend of skill and physicality. He's strong, he can handle the ball, he can start the break, get downhill, finish around the basket, or make the right play for someone else. He's the type of forward who can do a little bit of everything.
“I'm really excited about Kedrick Curtis. He's a tough kid, a wonderful person, and as high-character as they come. You're going to see him have the ball in his hands and play a big role for us.”
While adding toughness and versatility in the frontcourt was a priority, improving the backcourt's efficiency around the basket was equally important. Last season, guards Mekhi Conner, Taj Bryant, and Fallou Gueye each shot below 41 percent on two-point attempts, prompting Latina and his staff to target guards who could consistently create and finish inside the arc.
Few Division II transfers entered the portal with a more accomplished offensive résumé than Jojo Wallace.
After beginning his collegiate career at Iona, Wallace erupted during his sophomore season at Southern New Hampshire, leading the Northeast-10 Conference with 24.8 points per game while earning D2CCA East All-Region and First Team All-NE10 honors. Combining elite shot creation with remarkable efficiency, Wallace has the potential to become not only Sacred Heart's primary scoring option but one of the Metro's most dangerous offensive players.
“Jojo is a scoring machine,” Latina said. “You look at his Southern New Hampshire numbers, they're almost unlike anything I've seen. He averaged nearly 25 points a game while shooting 48 percent from the field and 41 percent from three. He's an incredibly efficient scorer.
“The comparison I keep coming back to—and I hate to make it because he's one of the best players in Sacred Heart history and one of the best in NEC history—is Cane Broome. Jojo just has that same knack for finding ways to score. He'll do things in practice where you stop and wonder, 'How did he do that?' He's an underrated athlete because he plays at his own pace, but he's quick, he's explosive, and he can really put the ball in the basket.
“We lost a lot of scoring, and he's someone who can help replace that production. I don't even think he realizes how good he can be. He has a chance to be the best scoring guard we've had here in a long time.
“Now, the next step is helping him impact winning in every way. We know he can score, but we want him to defend, rebound, and make winning plays, too. That was a major focus this summer. He's a special talent with instincts you just can't coach.
“He played for my good friend Jack Perri, who knows talent as well as anyone. Jack told me Jojo is the best scorer he's ever coached, and he's had some outstanding players.”
While Jojo Wallace projects as Sacred Heart’s primary shot creator, Indiana State transfer Jo Van Buggenhout fills a very different role. Latina expects the veteran guard from Belgium to replace much of Mekhi Conner’s facilitating while adding another efficient downhill scorer to the backcourt.
“Jo Van's ability to finish at the rim in the Missouri Valley was really impressive, and that's obviously a terrific league,” Latina said. “If he can continue to finish at that level with more opportunities, he'll give us another weapon offensively.
“But what makes him special is his passing and his basketball IQ. He sees the game at a high level, and he can also put the ball on the floor and create a little bit. Mekhi had a great year for us, but we needed to improve our finishing around the rim and make more plays in those situations. We're hoping Jo Van can help with that.
“He's also an older player who has been around. He's played at a very high level in the Missouri Valley and in Europe, and he had a great summer for us. He has a chance to be a guy who makes the game easier for everyone around him.”
Sacred Heart also added one of the conference's premier perimeter shooters in Quinnipiac transfer Samson Reilly. The Manchester, Connecticut native shot 48.1 percent from three-point range last season while earning the rare distinction of serving as one of the Bobcats' captains as a redshirt freshman. His combination of shooting, leadership, and basketball IQ makes him a natural fit in Latina's offense, which has led the MAAC in three-point attempt rate in each of the program's first two seasons in the conference.
“Samson and Griffin are two of the best shooters in the conference,” Latina said. “We've had some great shooters in this program, and he's as good a shooter as anyone we've ever had.
“Samson can really score the ball. He led us in total field goals made this summer, and he and Jojo are both extremely talented offensive players. The next step for those guys is becoming great two-way players. If they can impact the game on both ends of the floor, they have a chance to be really special.”
While Latina believes the new-look backcourt offers a stronger blend of scoring, playmaking, and efficiency than a year ago, the Pioneers' biggest question entering the season remains in the frontcourt.
Replacing First Team All-MAAC center Anquan Hill—arguably the league's most complete two-way big man last season—will ultimately determine this team's ceiling.
Robinson and Curtis both have experience playing center in smaller lineups, but Sacred Heart's long-term success may hinge on the development of second-year forwards Abdou Yadd and Jeremiah Jacobs.
Yadd, a consensus three-star recruit in last year's recruiting cycle, spent his freshman season backing up Hill while flashing intriguing offensive versatility. Despite standing 6-foot-9 and weighing 250 pounds, Yadd attempted nearly as many three-pointers as two-point shots during conference play, connecting on 32.4 percent from beyond the arc. While that perimeter skill adds another dimension to his game, Latina believes the next step is embracing the physical identity his frame demands.
“With Abdou, we saw some really good signs,” Latina said. “The next step for him is understanding how he's going to impact winning. He can make plays, but he has to continue to develop into a more physical player. His impact has to come through his physicality, rebounding, and defense.
“He's built for that. He's as strong as an ox, but being a physical player requires being in great shape. Last year, some preseason injuries put him behind, and it was difficult for him to fully catch up, but he's worked very hard.
“You can see the difference already—he's leaner, he's in better shape, and he's moving better. If he continues on that path, we're going to see a much better version of Abdou.”
Jacobs enters the season after spending last year developing behind the scenes. One of the youngest players in the MAAC a season ago, the 6-foot-8 forward impressed the coaching staff during summer workouts with his relentless work on the glass.
“For Jeremiah, it's about getting back to why we recruited him in the first place: he’s a rebounding machine,” Latina said. “He has to be a guy who goes and gets the ball.
“He really embraced that this summer and led our team in rebounding. He has that same mentality that EJ Anosike had when we recruited him—just go get the ball. With Jeremiah, it's about understanding how he's going to earn his minutes. He has to continue to improve defensively, but he also has to be our best rebounder on the floor. That's how he can impact winning.”
Personnel, however, was only part of the offseason emphasis.
Latina was equally candid that Sacred Heart's coaching staff needed to improve its defensive approach after surrendering too many clean perimeter looks during the program's first two seasons in the MAAC.
“I have to coach it better,” Latina said. “One area where we fell short was our defensive positioning. We overhelped way too much, which gave teams too many catch-and-shoot threes off penetration. We have to be there on the catch, especially against the other team's best shooters. That was a major point of emphasis for us this offseason—our positioning, our urgency on closeouts, and our technique.
“I also think we have to be much more physical. A lot of that comes down to recruiting, but you're only as good as what you practice and emphasize. We need more individual accountability on the ball, less overhelping, and better discipline defensively. We simply gave opponents too many clean catch-and-shoot opportunities, and that's a big reason our defensive numbers weren't where they needed to be.”
Behind the veteran transfers, Sacred Heart also returns an intriguing group of younger wings in DJ Brown, Mooda Gittens, Kevin Pikiell, and freshman Landon Krygier. While playing time may be difficult to earn on one of the deepest rosters of Latina's tenure, the head coach believes each possesses the tools to eventually carve out an important role.
“DJ Brown is talented—he's just oozing with talent," says Latina, "He's explosive, powerful, and has the ability to attack the rim and play with physicality. Mooda Gittens brings a lot of those same qualities.
“Kevin Pikiell has an elite motor and an elite work ethic. For Kevin, the path to getting on the court is clear. He has to make winning plays—chase down loose balls, create deflections, attack the offensive glass, and knock down open threes.
“Landon Krygier is the ultimate glue guy. He's willing to do whatever it takes to win. His versatility allows him to play multiple positions, and while breaking into the rotation may be difficult this year, we believe he'll become a really good player.”
Sacred Heart may not possess quite the same offensive firepower that carried the program through its first two MAAC seasons.
That was never the goal.
Instead, Latina and his staff spent the offseason constructing a roster capable of winning in more than one way—one built on toughness, versatility, defensive improvement, and a willingness to embrace roles that don't always show up in the box score.
If those pieces come together, the Pioneers believe this group has the potential to become the most complete team of Latina's in their new conference home and take another step forward in the program's evolution.
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