Get to Know the NKU Basketball Roster for the Upcoming Season

With the college Basketball season right around the corner, it’s time to get to know the NKU Norse men’s basketball team Here’s a quick rundown of the roster for the upcoming season

Introducing the NKU basketball roster for the Upcoming Season

The Northern Kentucky University men’s Basketball team is set to begin their season in just a few weeks and fans are eager to see how the team will perform. The roster is filled with experienced players and some newcomers who will be looking to make an impact. Here is a look at the NKU Basketball Roster for the upcoming season

Meet the NKU basketball Players

The upcoming college basketball season is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to get to know the NKU Basketball roster!

Head coach John Brannen will have a deep and experienced team this year, with 11 of the 13 players on the roster having at least two years of collegiate experience.

Leading the way for the Norse will be returning starters Drew McDonald and Tyler Sharpe. McDonald, a 6’7″ senior forward, averaged a double-double last season with 16.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while Sharpe, a 6’3″ junior guard, was NKU’s leading scorer at 17.3 points per game

Other key returners include seniors Jordan Garnett and Zaythan Shorts, junior Dantez Walton, and sophomores Adrian Nelson and Trevon Faulkner. Garnett is a 6’8″ forward who averaged 5.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last season, while Shorts is a 6’2″ guard who averaged 5.1 points per game Walton is a 6’6″ forward who averaged 3.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game as a sophomore, while Nelson is a 6’10” center who saw limited action last season but could be in line for re Playing time this year. Faulkner is a 6’6″ wing player who showed flashes of potential as a freshman last season, averaging 3.8 points per game in limited action.

The Norse will also have some new faces this season as they add five freshmen to the mix: guards Bryson Langdon and methodical Tyson Sterling, wings Jahmal McMorrow and Dishon Frisby Jr., and big man Silas Adheke.

With so many talented players on the roster, it will be interesting to see how Brannen utilizes his depth this season as the Norse look to build on their success from last year and make a run at an NCAA tournament berth in 2020!

Get to Know the NKU Basketball Coaches

The Norse have a new Head Coach this season. Darrin Horn comes to NKU after stints as the head coach at Western Kentucky and South Carolina He has a career record of 171-127, and he led Western Kentucky to the NCAA Tournament in 2008. He takes over for John Brannen, who left NKU to take the head coaching job at Cincinnati.

assistant coaches Shawn Forrest is in his second season as an Assistant Coach He came to NKU after spending four seasons as an assistant coach at WKU. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach at Northern Kentucky from 2003 to 2006. Kevin Keeler is also in his second season as an assistant coach He came to NKU after spending one season as an assistant coach at Western Kentucky Prior to that, he was the Head Coach at IUPUI for six seasons.

The Norse also have two new Assistant coaches this season. Bryan Forbes comes to NKU after spending one season as an assistant coach at Tennessee Tech Prior to that, he was an assistant coach at Middle Tennessee State for three seasons. Jeremi Booth is also in his first season as an Assistant Coach at NKU. He came to NKU after spending one season as a graduate assistant at Louisville.

NKU Basketball Roster The Star Players

This year’s NKU Basketball Roster is filled with talented players that are ready to take the court. The wing players are the ones to Watch This Season

#1 Drew McDonald
A 6’7” forward from Owensboro, Kentucky, McDonald is a key player for the Norse. As a junior last season, he was named first team All-Horizon League after averaging 17.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. He was also named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year, thanks to his 2.4 blocks per game.

#24 Tyler Sharpe
Sharpe is a 6’4” guard from Louisville, Kentucky. He averaged 15.5 points per game last season as a sophomore, and he is expected to be one of the top scorers for the Norse again this season. He also shot 41 percent from three-point range last year, so keep an eye out for him when NKU is on offense.

#11 Dantez Walton
Walton is a 6’7” forward from Xenia, Ohio. As a junior last season, he averaged 10.4 points and 5 rebounds per game. He is a versatile player who can shoot threes and play inside, so he will be a tough matchup for opposing defenses.

NKU Basketball Roster The Bench Players

The Norse have a strong starting lineup this season, but what about the players coming off the bench? Here’s a look at the NKU basketball roster for the upcoming season

Redshirt junior swingman Zaynah Robinson and sophomore small forward Bryson Langdon will be Key Players coming off the bench for NKU this season.

Robinson is a 6’5″ guard/forward who can play both ends of the floor. He’s a versatile player who can score, rebound, and defend. Robinson was sidelined last season with an injury, but he’s healthy and ready to contribute this season.

Langdon is a 6’7″ forward who can shoot from long range and play physical inside. He’s a good rebounder and defender, and he gives the Norse an added scoring punch off the bench.

What to Expect from the NKU Basketball Roster This Season

This season, the NKU Men’s basketball team will look to improve on their 20-13 record from last season. Here is a breakdown of the roster, so you know what to expect from the team this season.

Returning Players:

·Tyler Sharpe: Last season’s leading scorer, Sharpe will once again be counted on to provide a spark on offense. He averaged 16.5 Points per game last season, and will look to increase that number this season.

·Dante Thorpe: Thorpe is a versatile player who can play both guard positions. He averaged 9.4 points per game last season and led the team in assists with 3.5 per game.

·Trevon Scott: Scott is a 6’8” forward who provides a presence in the paint. He averaged 6.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game last season, and will look to increase those numbers this season.

New Players:

·Adrian Nelson: A 6’10” center, Nelson comes to NKU from Indian Hills Community College where he was named an NJCAA All-American. He provides a big body in the paint and should make an immediate impact on the team.

· KahilFEasting : A 6’6” forward, Kahil comes to NKU from Wabash Valley College where he was named an NJCAA All-American honorable mention . He brings athleticism and energy to the team, and should be an important player off the bench.

How the NKU Basketball Roster Was Built

In order to understand how the NKU Basketball Roster was built, one must first understand the process of recruiting. Recruiting is the primary way in which college basketball teams fill their rosters with talented players. The process of recruiting can be divided into two main phases: the evaluation phase and the commitment phase.

The evaluation phase is when college basketball coaches identify potential recruits and assess their skills. This is usually done by watching game film of the recruit, attending their games, and talking to their coach or other people who know them. Once a coach has evaluated a recruit and decides that they would be a good fit for their team, they enter into the commitment phase.

The commitment phase is when the coach tries to get the recruit to commit to playing for their team. This is done by offering them a scholarship, which is basically free money to go to school and play basketball If the recruit accepts the scholarship offer, then they are said to have committed to the team and will sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI).

The NKU Basketball Roster was built primarily through recruiting. The Coaching Staff identified potential recruits and then tried to get them to commit to playing for NKU. In some cases, they were successful and in others they were not. However, the end result is a roster full of talented players who are ready to compete at a high level.

The History of the NKU Basketball Program

TheNKU men’s Basketball Program can claim many firsts in its young history. The Norse made their Division I debut in the 2012-13 season, becoming the last of Kentucky’s four-year public universities to join the ranks of college basketball’s elite. In just their second season at the Division I level, NKU captured the Mid-American Conference regular season championship and made their first appearance in the NCAA tournament

Since then, the Norse have continued to make their mark on the College Basketball landscape. In 2016, NKU made their first appearance in the national rankings, coming in at No. 25 in the AP poll. The following season, the Norse won their first NCAA tournament game, defeating Texas A&M in the first round. most recently, In 2019, NKU made history by becoming the first team from Kentucky to win an NCAA tournament game as a No. 15 seed, defeating Missouri in the first round.

The Future of the NKU Basketball Program

The roster for the upcoming season is set, and there are some big changes coming to the NKU Basketball Program The most notable change is that Head coach John Calipari will not be returning for the upcoming season Coach Calipari announced his retirement in May, after a disappointing end to the season that saw the team lose in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Bradley.

Assistant coach Kenny Payne will take over as head coach for the upcoming season Coach Payne has been with the program for four years and has been instrumental in recruiting some of the best talent in the country to come play for NKU.

There are also some new faces on the roster for the upcoming season The biggest addition is five-star recruit Tyrese Maxey who committed to NKU in June. Maxey is one of the Top Players in the country and his commitment is a big coup for Coach Payne and the NKU Basketball Program

Other notable additions include four-star point guard Dontaie Allen, who committed to NKU in May, and three-star small forward Zeke Nnaji, who committed to NKU in April.

With a mix of experienced veterans and talented newcomers, the NKU Basketball team is poised to have a successful season

10 Reasons to Be Excited About the NKU Basketball Season

The College Basketball season is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to start getting to know the NKU Norse! Here are 10 reasons why you should be excited about the upcoming season

1. This is going to be a historic season for NKU basketball, as they will be playing their first ever game in Division I.
2. The Norse have a new head coach John Brannen, who comes to NKU from Alabama.
3. The team has a number of talented players, including Drew McDonald, who was recently named preseason All-Horizon League
4. NKU will be playing a number of tough opponents this season, including Kentucky, Louisville, and Xavier.
5. The Norse have a great home court advantage as they play their games at BB&T Arena in Highland Heights, Kentucky.
6. You can catch all the action on ESPN3 or the radio at 98.5 FM The Vibe.
7. There are a number of promotions and giveaways happening at Norse games this season, so be sure to check those out!
8. NKU students can get into home games for free with their student ID.
9. Tickets start at just $10 for adults and $5 for children and seniors.
10. Come out and support your local team! Go Norse!