NSU men’s basketball program looking to rebuild following national championship
It took more than one million dollars to help break up Nova Southeastern University’s national championship lineup.
The Sharks’ men’s basketball team, which went 36-0 last season on its way to the program’s first-ever NCAA Division II title, graduated Will Yoakum, who is now playing pro ball in Germany.
That loss was expected.
But the stunner came when NSU’s other four starters all transferred to Division I schools – thanks in large part to NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) money.
According to multiple Miami Herald sources, Jonathan Pierre got roughly $500,000 per season to transfer to Memphis; Division II Player of the Year RJ Sunahara received $400,000 to sign with Georgia; Kobe Rodgers got at least $80,000 to sign with the College of Charleston; and Dallas Graziani got about $50,000 to sign with Samford.
In addition to losing all five starters, two Sharks reserves with eligibility remaining bolted to play pro ball in Europe: Lukas Speidel (Denmark) and Tomas Murphy (Finland). Also, associate head coach Jordan Fee departed to run the program at Gannon University.
“I don’t like it,” NSU coach Jim Crutchfield said when asked what happened to his team. “But I’m a ‘glass half full’ guy. I look at this as my third big challenge.”
Crutchfield’s first challenge was to turn West Liberty into a winner (check). Second, he led NSU to greatness. Now, he wants to win with a totally new lineup.
It won’t be easy.
Of the 16 players on his 2023-2024 roster, only seven were available for a recent practice due to a rash of injuries.
Two key players figure to be Mike Moore and Isaiah Fuller.
Moore, who is set to begin his sixth season at NSU, averaged 9.8 points in 14 games before going down to a foot injury. He should be 100 percent by December.
Fuller averaged 15.6 points for a Division II school, Missouri-St. Louis.
“I don’t know exactly what I have yet with this team,” Crutchfield said. “But I look at it as an adventure.”
THIS AND THAT
▪ Barry University, another NCAA Division II program, finished 12-14 for its first losing season since coach Butch Estes arrived in April of 2013.
The Bucs, who graduated six players from last season’s team, brought in five freshmen and three transfers.
▪ In the NAIA’s Sun Conference, the St. Thomas University Bobcats (26-8, 11-5 last season) are predicted to win the league. The Florida Memorial University Lions (14-14, 5-11) are picked to finish tied for fifth.
STU reached the 2023 NAIA Sweet 16, the furthest advance in program history. The Bobcats return a key starter: Milton Mathews, who led STU with an 18.7 scoring average while making 40.0 percent on 3-pointers.
The Bobcats also brought in two ex-Power Five players: 6-4 point guard Anthony Harris, who played for the University of North Carolina and is expected by his coaches to dominate at this level; and 6-8 ex-Georgia Bulldogs forward Josh Taylor, who is back after suffering a broken wrist last season.
Meanwhile, Florida Memorial fans are optimistic about the upcoming season because the Lions hired coach Delano Thomas in March. Thomas led an Ohio school, Shawnee State, to the 2021 NAIA national title. That team went 31-2, winning their final 27 games consecutively.
FMU’s top players this season are 6-1 point guard Chance Cruesoe, a transfer from William Penn University (NAIA); and 6-6 combo guard Derrius Ward, a transfer from Rio Grande Valley (Division I).
▪ Miami Dade College, which finished 17-14 last season, has an entirely new roster. Coach Jorge Fernandez brought in eight freshmen and six sophomore transfers. He brought in two players from Greece, one each from Egypt and France and a 7-2 center from Morocco.
Locally, MDC signed 6-3 guard Josh Middlebrooks from Miami High and 5-9 point guard Esteban Lluberes from reigning Class 3A state champion Riviera Prep.
