Get to Know the NJIT Basketball Roster

Get to know the New Jersey Institute of Technology’s men’s basketball roster for the 2017-2018 season

Meet the Team

The New Jersey Institute of Technology boasts a strong basketball team and this year’s roster is packed with talent. Get to know the team a little better with this quick guide.

#1 Jahlil Jenkins – Guard
A transfer from Seton Hall Jenkins is a 6’0″ junior who averaged 10.9 points per game last season. A skilled shooter, he will be a key player for the Highlanders this year.

#2 Souleymane Diakite – Forward
A 6’7″ senior from Mali, Diakite is a force to be reckoned with on the court. He averaged 9.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season, and will be looking to improve on those numbers this year.

#3 Zach Cooks – Guard
A local product from Newark, New Jersey, Cooks is a 6’2″ junior who averaged 14.5 points per game last season. He is a versatile player who can score from anywhere on the court, and will be one of the team’s go-to scorers this year.

#4 Miles Coleman – Guard/Forward
A 6’6″ senior from Baltimore, Maryland, Coleman is a versatile player who can score, rebound, and even block shots He averaged 11.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season, and will be counted on to do even more this year.

#5 Shyheid Petteway – Forward
A 6’8″ senior from Queens, New York, Petteway is a big body who can really clog up the paint on defense. He averaged 8.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season, and will be looked to as one of the team’s primary defenders this year

The Coaches

The Coaches
Tony Kynard – Head Coach
Coach Kynard is in his fourth season as Head Coach of the Highlanders. He has led NJIT to two America East Conference regular season titles and two trips to the conference championship game. Prior to coming to NJIT, Coach Kynard was an Assistant Coach at the University of Detroit

Bryan Felt – Assistant Coach
Coach Felt is in his first season as an assistant coach with the Highlanders. He comes to NJIT after serving as an assistant coach at Hofstra University Prior to Hofstra, he was an assistant coach at Stony Brook University and a graduate assistant at George Mason University.

The Star Players

The New Jersey Institute of Technology men’s Basketball team is composed of talented and hardworking student athletes. The team has had great success in recent years and is composed of players who are dedicated to their sport. Here is a look at some of the team’s star players

– Guard Darnell Edge is the leading scorer for the Highlanders. He is a junior from Newark, NJ, and was named First Team All-American East Conference last year.
– Forward Abdul Lewis is a 6’7″ senior from Brooklyn, NY. He was named Second Team All-Conference last year, and is one of the team’s top rebounders.
– Center Kenny Hasbrouck is a senior from West Orange, NJ. He was named First Team All-Conference last year, and is a big presence in the middle of the court.

The Benchwarmers

The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is a public research university in Newark, New Jersey. The school’s men’s basketball team is part of the NCAA Division I, and they play in the Atlantic Sun Conference

The team is currently coached by Brian Kennedy, who is in his first season with the Highlanders. Kennedy took over the program after previous head coach Jim Engles left to take an assistant coaching position with the Seton Hall Pirates.

The 2017-18 NJIT roster consists of 14 players, including 11 who are listed on the official website as “Benchwarmers.” These are the players who are not expected to see significant playing time this season.

The Newcomers

The Newcomers

Academic Year | Hometown | High School
:—:|:—:|:—:
Shaheen Holloway | Bayonne, NJ | St. Anthony HS
Rodney McKissic | Paterson, NJ | Kennedy HS
Tyrone O’Garro | Newark, NJ | St. Benedict’s Prep

The Team Captains

This season, the NJIT Highlanders Basketball team will be led by two captains, senior guard Zach Cooks and junior forward Abdul Lewis. Both players are experienced and have been key components of the team over the past few years. Here’s a closer look at each of the captains:

Zach Cooks is a 6’2″ guard from Newark, NJ. He’s been with the Highlanders since his freshman year and has started every game over the past three seasons.Cooks is an aggressive player who is known for his defense. He’s also a good shooter, averaging 11 points per game last season.

Abdul Lewis is a 6’7″ forward from Brooklyn, NY. He joined the Highlanders as a transfer student prior to last season and immediately made an impact, starting all 30 games and averaging 10 points and 8 rebounds per game. Lewis is a versatile player who can score inside and out. He’s also a strong rebounder and defender.

The Team’s History

The New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders basketball team is the men’s college basketball team that represents New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, New Jersey, United States The school’s team currently competes in the NCAA Division I as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference. They were direct members of the Mid-Continent Conference from 1998 until 2006, when they became members of the Atlantic Sun

The Team’s Rivals

As a Division I basketball team the NJIT Highlanders compete against some of the Nation’s best university teams. While there are many universities that the Highlanders consider their rivals, these are the teams that they seem to always have a tough time against.

-The Duke Blue Devils have always been one of the top teams in collegiate basketball and have won five National Championships The Highlanders have only played them four times, but they have yet to beat Duke.

-The Syracuse Orangemen are another one of NJIT’s Division I rivals. The Orangemen are currently in the ACC with Duke and have made it to the Final Four six times throughout their history. They hold a 3-1 record against NJIT.

-The St. John’s Red Storm is NJIT’s closest rival geographically, as they are located in Queens, NY. The Red Storm compete in the Big East Conference and have made it to the NCAA tournament 27 times in their history. They hold a 7-0 record against NJIT.

The Team’s Fans

The New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders basketball team has a passionate and dedicated fanbase. The team’s fans are known for their intensity and loyalty, and they often travel to away games to support the Highlanders. The fans are also active on social media sharing their love of the team and promoting Lander Basketball

The Team’s Future

The New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders men’s Basketball team is looking to the future with a young and talented roster. This season, the team is led by junior forward Zach Cooks, who was recently named the America East Conference Player of the Year. The Highlanders also have a strong core of returning players, including seniors Abdul Lewis and Shyquan Gibbs, who will provide leadership and experience. With a mix of talent and experience, the NJIT Highlanders are poised to make noise in the conference and beyond in the coming years.