Today: Mar 28, 2024

Men’s basketball filled with talent in 2018

Isaiah McLeod shooting a free throw during a home game last season.

Michael Riccio – Sports Editor

The men’s basketball team is loaded this year.

Whether it be from returning players, incoming recruits, or transfers, the Owls have talent at every position.

Two returning players that stand out the most are senior guards Isaiah McLeod and Joey Wallace. McLeod was an All-NE10 selection in last year, as he averaged 20.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.4 APG, and 2.0 SPG. In two conference tournament games, he scored 53 points and helped lead the Owls to a win against Southern New Hampshire.

Wallace returns to the team after playing just three games last year because of an injury. However, as a sophomore he averaged 10.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 4.6 APG. During his freshman season, he was named to the NE10 All-Rookie team while averaging 7.7 PPG.

The NE10 Rookie of the Year, Ulyen Coleman, also returns. He averaged 13.2 PPG and 5.4 RPG last year while shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc. In a game against New Haven on Jan. 31, Coleman went 9-12 on three points shots on his way to scoring 29 points. With a full year of experience playing at the college level after adjusting from high school, he should continue to develop into a star.

On the transfer market, head coach Scott Burrell snagged Kealen Ives from Rider University and C.J. Seaforth from Iona College, both division I schools. Ives averaged 4.1 PPG during his three years with the Broncos. Rider went 53-45 in Ives’ three years and won the MAAC regular season last year.

Seaforth, a Hamden High School alum, averaged 2.3 PPG in his only year at Iona, and played against Duke in the NCAA Tournament. Iona went 20-14 and won the MAAC Tournament in his only year. Ives and Seaforth bring not only depth and a new skill level, but also valuable experience of playing high pressure Division I games to the Owls.

Isaac Grant, a transfer from DII Queens College, averaged 10.0 PPG and 5.1 RPG as a sophomore. He also improved his three-point percentage from 9.1 percent as a freshman to 35.7 percent as a sophomore. Combined with his size and improved long-range shooting, him and Coleman can be key players this season.

The Owls also nabbed Isaiah Boissard from Western Texas College, where he averaged
7.2 PPG. Luke Beesley, who returns for his senior year after transferring, averaged 5.4 PPG and 5.6 RPG last season. He was one of the best offensive rebounders in the conference last year, as nearly half of his rebounds came on the offensive side.

After missing the NCAA Tournament last season, the Owls were picked as the preseason favorites in the NE10 Southwest Division. With the additions and returnees to this year’s squad, they should be among the best in division II this year.

 

Photo Credit: SCSU Athletic Communications

 

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