NYPD on alert

Pete Thamel, ESPN

DESTIN, Fla. -- The most jarring sight at the SEC meetings in Destin has been John Calipari walking through the hotel lobby with an Arkansas logo on his pullover.

The most jarring sound Wednesday came from Calipari admitting it will take a new "formula" to win in the NCAA tournament after persistent postseason failures in recent seasons at Kentucky.

Calipari, in his first SEC meetings as the coach at Arkansas, referenced No. 3 seed Kentucky's loss to No. 14 Oakland in the first round of the 2024 NCAA tournament. It included a 32-point outburst from a 24-year old Division II transfer named Jack Gohlke.

"The lesson was you can't do this now with seven freshmen," he said. "You just can't. You're going to hit a team that's 25 years old on average, one was 26, and that team is physically going to get you, and so now we have a couple transfers that are older, some kids that transferred from Kentucky that went through it, and they're a year older, and some freshmen."

While Calipari's age estimates contain some of his penchant for exaggeration, the point of him addressing his postseason failures and making a concise pivot in his team building is significant.

Calipari left Kentucky after just one NCAA tournament win in the past four seasons and a feeble 1-4 mark in SEC tournament games over the same period. The NCAA tournament lowlights included a loss to No. 15 seed Saint Peter's in the first round in 2022.

In the wake of those postseason flops, Calipari admitted his formula of collecting a bevy of top high school talent doesn't work in modern college basketball. He's making a direct effort to skew older and take more transfers.

"We're not going to take six, seven freshmen now," Calipari said. "It'll be three or four. Hopefully retain a few, get a couple transfers, and that is the formula."

He added with a smirk: "Now that may not work. And then you'll say, 'Well, you said ... ' Well, I changed my mind. I didn't like how it looked."

Calipari said he's been energized by the new job at Arkansas, calling it a "breath of fresh air." He called his time at UK "15 great years" and defended his final season at Kentucky, saying "we got a lot done" amid the 23-10 season that included a second-place SEC finish.

Calipari reflected on his term at Arkansas, which officially began April 10. He said there was "no team" and "no schedule" when he began, stressing that there were zero players.

He joked that he got happy when the roster jumped up to five players, as that meant Arkansas could field a team this year. He said the Razorbacks are at eight players now and potentially looking for one more.

The incoming class includes three top-40 players in the ESPN high school recruiting rankings, led by Boogie Fland, a guard from New York who is ranked No. 15.

The transfer class includes three Kentucky transfers, highlighted by guard D.J. Wagner, who arrived at Kentucky as a top-five player in 2023 before an underwhelming freshman year. He averaged 9.9 points.

Calipari defended the idea of not filling out all 13 scholarships with recruited players, as he said they are likely to finish at nine.

"The ninth? It depends on who it is," he said. "That's what we're looking for. Is it a shooter? Is it a 4-man that could shoot? Is it a strong physical [presence]? Is it a defensive guy? Or just right now I can breathe because we got eight and I'm hoping there'll be nine. But what if there's not? Somebody said, 'Well, what if you have injuries?' If the wrong guy gets injured on any team in this country, you're done."

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – The Seton Hall women's basketball team will participate in the 11th annual Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Showcase to be held on December 17 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Invesco QQQ is the title sponsor. The Pirates will face national-power LSU in the second game of a double-header.

"We are honored to play in an event designed to further showcase the women's game," said Seton Hall head coach Anthony Bozzella. "For us, it's an opportunity to compete against a tremendous opponent, hosted by a world-class organization, the Basketball Hall of Fame, in a first-rate venue that we know well."

Seton Hall is no stranger to Mohegan Sun Arena as the BIG EAST Conference Tournament has been held at the venue for the last four seasons.

UConn will face Iowa State in the first game of the event.

Tickets for the 2024 Invesco QQQ Women's Showcase will go on sale Friday, September 6, via Ticketmaster and on sale at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office starting Saturday, September 7.

Details surrounding the game time, broadcast information, and credentials will be announced at a later date. For more information, please visit hoophall.com.

Out of curiosity, what is the official offseason workout program allowed now by the NCAA until school resumes in August?

I believe the next season sort of kicks off with June team practices? Then a bunch of regulated sessions?

Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff Writer

Alex Karaban announced Wednesday that he is withdrawing from the NBA draft and will return to UConn for his junior season, boosting the Huskies' chances for a third straight national championship.

Karaban made his announcement with a post on X: "While I've enjoyed the draft process, Storrs is home. Let's run it back."

A 6-foot-9 forward, Karaban becomes one of the highest-ranked prospects to withdraw his name and return to college. He averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds last season, shooting 37.9% from 3-point range while starting 39 of 40 games for the Huskies.

Karaban scored at least 20 points on eight occasions, including 23 points and five 3-pointers in a key early March win at Marquette. He also came up big in the Final Four, making a pair of 3-pointers and finishing with 14 points and eight boards against Alabama to help UConn advance to the title game.

It was a step forward from his freshman campaign, when he started 38 games and averaged 9.3 points and 4.5 rebounds.

Karaban is the lone returning starter for the Huskies, as projected lottery picks Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan left early for the NBA draft and senior guards Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer used up their eligibility. All five players were invited to the NBA draft combine.

Coach Dan Hurley reloaded the UConn roster in the offseason, adding transfers Aidan Mahaney (Saint Mary's) and Tarris Reed (Michigan) as well as signing top-10 prospect Liam McNeeley last month. Rotation players Samson Johnson, Hassan Diarra, Solomon Ball and Jaylin Stewart are all back and expected to make strides next season.

Karaban was ranked No. 36 in ESPN's NBA draft rankings, and his return likely vaults UConn into the top five of ESPN's Way-Too-Early Top 25.

South Orange, N.J. – The Seton Hall men's soccer team has announced its full schedule for the 2024 season. The Pirates will face a challenging slate of 17 fixtures consisting of nine non-conference opponents and eight BIG EAST foes.

The Pirates will face three teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season, including in the season opener as Seton Hall will travel to Miami to face FIU on Thursday, Aug. 22. It will be the second all-time meeting between the two schools. The Panthers have reached the NCAA Tournament in three straight seasons and received a national seed in 2021 and 2022.

One week later, the Pirates open up their home schedule against UAlbany on Thursday, Aug. 29. Three days later, The Hall welcomes Manhattan to Owen T. Carroll Field on Sunday, Sept. 1 for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The homestand wraps up with a Friday night clash against Columbia on Sept. 6.

On Monday, Sept. 9, the Seton Hall-Rutgers rivalry will be renewed on the pitch for the first time in 15 years. The storied rivals have squared off 57 times in their program histories, but the series has remained dormant since the 2009 season. The match is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff in Piscataway.

The 2024 slate features four more non-conference matches, including home dates against Harvard (9/14) and Lehigh (9/24). The Pirates will also travel to Stony Brook (10/8) and Princeton (10/29).

BIG EAST play begins for Seton Hall on Friday, Sept. 20 up in Providence, R.I. as the Pirates face off against the Friars. The two sides met in the regular season finale last year, a game which saw The Hall tough out a 1-0 win to clinch a BIG EAST Tournament berth. The Pirates will also pay visits to UConn (9/28), Georgetown (10/19) and Xavier (10/26) in conference play.

The first BIG EAST home match of the season for the Pirates takes place on Friday, Oct. 4 when Marquette comes to South Orange. Other home matches against BIG EAST opponents for Seton Hall include Butler (10/12), St. John's (10/23) and Villanova (11/2).

Eight teams will qualify for the BIG EAST Tournament, the second year the conference has utilized the postseason format. The top team from each division will receive the top two seeds in the tournament, with the remaining six seeds determined by conference point total regardless of division. The BIG EAST quarterfinals will take place on Saturday, Nov. 9 at campus sites, while the semifinal and final will be held at Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md. on Nov. 14 and 17, respectively.

Schedule

FWIW, Alexander was on campus today.

We're excited to announce the winners of both Onward Setonia raffles, which were drawn last Thursday, May 23rd.

$1,000 Sign-up Raffle Winner: Dean Herman was randomly chosen from a total of 139 participants who signed up for Onward Setonia updates. Dean has generously donated back a portion of his winnings.

Guardian Raffle for NYC Cruise with Mike Frungillo ($3,000 value): Nick D'alessandro was randomly chosen from a total of 44 Guardian subscribers.

We will be offering FREE raffle opportunities to Guardian subscribers throughout the year.

Join us in congratulating our Onward Setonia raffle winners!

Onward Setonia!

By Zach Braziller

It sounds like Chris Ledlum’s and Jordan Dingle’s days as college basketball players are over.

A Queens judge has denied the St. John’s duo’s request for injunctive relief in their case against the NCAA, according to sources.

The former Ivy League players, who transferred into the program last offseason and were starters most of the year, are suing the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility.

Since the Ivy League didn’t play in 2020-21 – the year that was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t count as part of a student-athlete’s four years of eligibility – Ledlum and Dingle never got a fifth year like others.

Their waivers for a fifth year were denied by the NCAA, and so they took the NCAA to court, claiming that the governing sports body was in violation of New York antitrust and NIL laws and alleging that they are suffering “irreparable harm” from losing out on a fifth year.

The judge didn’t see it their way, however.

St. John’s was hoping to bring the duo back, believing they would add to an already strong roster.

Sophomores RJ Luis and Zuby Ejiofor and freshmen Brady Dunlap and Simeon Wilcher are all returning, forming a quality young nucleus that was fortified by key transfer additions Kadary Richmond (Seton Hall), Deivon Smith (Utah) and Aaron Scott (North Texas).

The Johnnies are somewhat thin up front, and felt bringing back Ledlum would have solved that problem.

Instead, they will need to look elsewhere to fill that void.

Florida State transfer Jamir Watkins, who is testing the NBA draft waters – players have until Wednesday to take their name out of the draft – is one possibility.

Even without Ledlum and Dingle, St. John’s only has one open scholarship remaining.

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If I counted correctly 10 Big East teams made the cut, including Seton Hall.

I see some former Big East schools on there too.

Player profile



Well, there's the old saying you can't teach height and at 7-3 Assane Mbaye just might be the tallest player in school history.


Let see what our good friend Jerry C had to say....

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1. He’s a shot-blocker​

The Patrick School’s national team went 27-4 this past winter. Mbaye appeared in about half the games, averaging 2.2 points, 6.4 boards and 3.4 blocks. New Jersey’s top talent evaluator Jay Gomes, publisher of the authoritative NJHoops.com, ranked Mbaye as the state’s No. 18 senior in the Class of 2024.

“He’s very intriguing," Gomes said by phone Friday. "He’s definitely raw, but you don’t find many 7-foot-3 kids who are that long and that agile walking around. He’s long as can be and he runs the floor pretty well. So I was a little surprised he wasn’t getting that much recruiting interest."

Gomes said Mbaye was part of the Patrick School's rotation this past season and got noticeably better from his junior year, which was his first at the school.

"I like his upside a lot," Gomes said. "He’s not a finished product by any means, but there’s something there to work with for sure. Seton Hall’s had luck with (finding and developing) rim protectors before – big guys who don’t have to score much, so I think he’s got a chance to help them out.”

2. He’s had a multinational journey​

Mbaye, who is 19 and will turn 20 in December, hails from the Canary Islands. He played on the under-18 club circuit in Spain in 2021-22, winning a title with the City of Badajoz Academy. He arrived in the U.S. two years ago after a stop in Senegal.

"His dedication and work ethic are throwbacks, and it's clear that he has a bright future ahead in basketball," Patrick School coach Chris Chavannes said. "It's wonderful to see how far he has come since arrival from the Canary Islands."

3. The Patrick School pipeline continues​

In addition to Holloway, the long list of St. Pat’s/Patrick School alums to play for the Hall include Sam Dalembert, Grant Billmeier, Jeff Robinson, Angel Delgado, Jordan Walker, Bryce Aiken, Jamir Harris, and Al-Amir Dawes. Holloway remains close to Chavannes, a longtime mentor.

Chavannes said Mbaye's recent workout with Holloway, his assistants, and outgoing postgrads Dawes and Jaden Bediako left a strong impression as they went over skill development, team strategies and offensive and defensive concepts.

"Assane and I discussed the potential for him to further his game at Seton Hall, emphasizing the importance of ongoing skill enhancement and physical strength in determining his contribution timeline," Chavannes said. "Overall, the pro-level workout showcased Assane's capabilities and highlighted his potential for growth and success at Seton Hall."



The Patrick School product (NJ) recorded 41 blocks in just 12 in-state games last season as The Patrick School went onto a 27-4 national record and 12-0 in those games.

Shaheen Holloway continues to reconstruct a Pirate roster that lost nine players to the Transfer Portal this offseason, including leading scorer Kadary Richmond.

Mbaye is the third class of 2024 signee, joining Jahseem Felton and Godswell Erheriene. But unlike his fellow future teammates there are little expectations that the 7-3 big man will see any quality time and in truth he was only recruited because of his enormous size and potential. Not many Big East teams are signing the 16th best senior in the state of NJ.



Credit the following to Adam Zagoria.....

Mbaye, who was born in Senegal and then moved to the Canary Islands, is fluent in Spanish and French. He is The Hall’s third class of 2024 signee, joining Jahseem Felton and Godswill Erheriene.

He played sparingly his junior season, but Patrick School coach Chris Chavannes said “he has since shown incredible growth and potential. His dedication and work ethic are throwbacks, and it’s clear that he has a bright future ahead in basketball. It’s wonderful to see how far he has come since arrival from the Canary Islands.”

Chavannes added: “Assane Mbaye has emerged as a standout player following a successful season and played a key role in the Patrick School’s season.

“Since the season concluded, Assane has been actively exploring opportunities with various local and national schools and has received multiple offers, with increased interest in recent times.

“Notably, his most recent workout was with Seton University under the guidance of Coach Holloway and his coaching staff, including graduating big man Jaden Bediako. Al Dawes also assisted after his workout. The intense session focused on skill development, team strategies, and both offensive and defensive concepts. Assane’s performance during the workout left a lasting, with Coach Holloway providing valuable guidance through a professional workout.

“Assane and I discussed the potential for him to further his game at Seton Hall, emphasizing the importance of ongoing skill enhancement and physical strength in determining his contribution timeline. Overall, the pro-level workout showcased Assane’s capabilities and highlighted his potential for growth and success at Seton Hall.”

Asked if he could contribute in a college game right now, Chavannes said: “I think the development of his body will dictate his timeline to contribute. Defensively he did give us an edge in many games this year.

“It’s very hard for freshmen to play in college in today’s game. I didn’t expect Assane to play last year. He not only contributed but he was a major factor in our success. With Assane’s work ethic I think you can’t count him out.”


Below is a short mixtape which highlights Assane's mobility but it also shows the needed work the 20 year old will have to put in at SHU to enhance his future capabilities.

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Clearly this is a throwaway commitment with the hope that down the road maybe it pays dividends. If not at least the Pirates have a practice player who can challenge the offense in the paint.

For that reason I cannot give this commitment more than a D.

Everyone has different opinions on the greatest Seton Hall games in memory, here is my list of the TOP 5 games that I've attended:

1. Seton Hall 79 vs ISU 77 - April 4, 2024 - Hinkle Fieldhouse. I know people will discount this game as it was "just the NIT". SHU had a lot to prove in this tournament and the result might have opened the door to more NCAA bids for the Big East. Playing at Hinkle is special, especially when you're playing in front of a hostile crowd for the chance to raise a banner. The comeback is what makes this game so memorable. Down 7 points with under 3 minutes to play, I doubt there was a breathing human who was confident that we'd rally to win the game. The next three minutes were history and we will raise a banner in November.

2. Seton Hall 69 vs Nova 67 - March 12, 2016 - Madison Square Garden. Beating Nova anytime is uplifting for the team and fanbase, doing so at MSG to win the Big East Tournament made it that much sweeter. I believe we helped Nova win the NCAA tourney with the MSG wake-up call. Beating the eventual NCAA champion in the conference tourney was validation for a relatively young team.

3. Seton Hall 103 vs Syracuse 70 - March 14, 1993 - Madison Square Garden. A total team effort lead by Arturus Karnishovas, Jerry walker and Terry Dehere. The game was played at MSG during a snowstorm and was Seton Hall's second BET championship in 3 seasons. Syracuse was a nemesis for SHU, we were 2-25 against the Orangemen in our prior 27 games. Our 103 point total and 33 point margin of victory remain the all-time record in BET history. Watching Boeheim scowl the entire second half was icing on the cake.

4. Seton Hall 95 vs Duke 78 - April 1, 1989 - Seattle Kingdome. The final victory in our Cinderella Story season. Duke was a team loaded with future NBA players, Danny Ferry, Christian Laettner, Alaa Abdelnaby, Phil Henderson, and others. SHU was the clear underdog and quickly trailed by 18 points in the first half. Our team was loaded with seniors and PJ ran a tight ship, known for our blue color work habits and smothering defense. Our team had trailed in several games during the NCAA tournament run and were not phased by the early deficit. Our guys clamped down on D and the team came roaring back. A 35 point scoring swing lead to a 17 point victory over Duke, and a spot in the NCAA championship. What happened next was a travesty.

5. Seton Hall 84 vs Kentucky 83 (OT) - December 18, 2018 - Madison Square Garden. An early season non-conference game against the 9th ranked team in the country. Myles Powell shot 54% from the perimeter and the game was the best for TT in a Pirate uniform. Powell hit a 3 pointer with 1.5 seconds left in regulation, giving the Pirates a 3 point leading. A huge defensive lapse resulted in Kentucky tying the game at the buzzer. The eventually hero was Myles Cale who came through with a 3 pointer as the clock winding down.

Give us your list, only games that you attended.

GO PIRATES!!!

Praise the lord.

Polarizing umpire Angel Hernandez immediately retiring from MLB​

By Christian Arnold

Ángel Hernández, one of MLB’s most infamous umpires, announced he is retiring from baseball.

“Starting with my first Major League game in 1991, I have had the very good experience of living out my childhood dream of umpiring in the major leagues,” Hernandez said in a statement. “There is nothing better than working at a profession that you enjoy. I treasured the camaraderie of my colleagues and the friendships I have made along the way, including our locker room attendants in all the various cities.

“I have decided that I want to spend more time with my family. Needless to say, there have been many positive changes in the game of baseball since I first entered the profession. This includes the expansion and promotion of minorities. I am proud that I was able to be an active participant in that goal while being a Major League umpire.”

The surprising news ends Hernández’s 33-year umpiring career which has been marred by controversial calls and constant complaints about the job he had been doing.

Major League Baseball and the Hernández were negotiating a financial settlement over the past two weeks and came to an agreement during the holiday weekend, according to USA Today.

Hernández, 61, worked his last game back on May 9 as the home plate ump in a game between the White Sox and Guardians in Cleveland and hasn’t umpired a World Series game since 2005.

Hernández has been a lightning rod for controversy and is universally viewed as the worst umpire in the game by players, managers and fans of the sport.

The poor reputation he has dates back almost two decades with player polls by Sports Illustrated in 2006 and 2011 ranking him as the third-worst umpire and an ESPN poll in 2010 putting 22 percent of the respondents as viewing Hernández as the worst in MLB.

Hernández umped just 10 games during the 2023 season because of a back injury, but he got 161 calls according to Umpire Auditor.

The controversial ump once again found himself in the spotlight earlier this year on April 12 when Rangers rookie Wyatt Langford struck out on three straight pitches that were clearly out of the strike zone, and seven other pitches were called strikes that were outside of the zone in that game.

Hernández, a Cuban-American, had previously sued for racial discrimination back in 2017 claiming that he had been passed over World Series assignments and a crew chief position due to his race.

That lawsuit was dismissed in 2021 and an appeals court upheld that ruling last year.

“Hernández has failed to establish a statistically significant disparity between the promotion rates of white and minority umpires,” the appeals court wrote in its ruling. “MLB has provided persuasive expert evidence demonstrating that, during the years at issue, the difference in crew chief promotion rates between white and minority umpires was not statistically significant. Hernández offers no explanation as to why MLB’s statistical evidence is unreliable.”

Hernández began his career as an umpire at the age of 20 in the Florida State League and became a full-time MLB ump in 1993.

— Additional reporting by Joel Sherman

• Sunday, June 9, 2024
• 12:30 PM 5:00 PM
• Liberty Landing 80 Audrey Zapp Drive Jersey City, NJ, 07305

Our host, and captain, Michael Frungillo 92’ invites you to join him on the Vabbuo II for an afternoon on the water. Special guests Coach Holloway, John Fanta, and Bryan Felt will kick off the day with cocktails and conversation at Liberty landing before embarking on a cruise around the New York Harbor including views of the Statue of Liberty, NYC Skyline, the Financial District, the Battery, Governor’s island, and several historic sites. Supper is hosted at PJ Clarke’s Restaurant before returning to Liberty Landing.

$3,000.00

For those of you who ask "why did the Big East invite Connecticut to join the conference", this article has the answer.

One really interesting observation is that BE games (excluding UConn) that have a big 10 leading draw substantially more viewers. There has been some talk online that FOX's Big Ten content quote devalues BiG East content. The reality seems just the opposite. The combination of the two leagues enhances viewers.

For what it's worth, Seton did well, being in two or three of the top 10 games. Creighton appears to be the strongest after Connecticut, but that may have been due to the fact that they had big 10 lead in for those games.

Bottom line: This author is estimating a new contract of approximately $7 1/2 million per school. While that doesn't allow us to compete with the Big Ten and SEC of the world, it's a meaningful number that distinguishes us from the pack of non-P* schools. I was hoping for a little bit more, but that's an OK number. Less than that, is problematic.

Player profile



Godswill Erheriene, a 4 star center in the 2024 class committed to SHU Nov 14th of last year. The 6-9, 225-pound senior out of Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) ultimately chose the Pirates over offers from Georgia Tech, Maryland, St and others.

Down the road this raw rookie has the ability and potential to be an absolute steal. Let's see what our good friend Jerry C had t say upon the signing....

1. He’s Nigerian.​

The 6-foot-9, 225-pound Erheriene arrived in the U.S. in January 2022. He quickly got the attention of the recruiting industrial complex. 247Sports rates him at three stars and the No. 115 player in the 2024 class. Rivals has him at three stars and No. 128. On3 has him at four stars and No. 108.

In recent interviews, Erheriene indicated that Ole Miss, Mississippi State and UMass were recruiting him hardest along with Seton Hall.

2. He’s a power player who knows his role.​

In late 2022, 247Sports talent evaluator Eric Bossi called Erheriene “easily one of the most intriguing post players” at the HoopHall West showcase.

“A 6-foot-9, 225-pound center who looks like he's already spent a few years in a college weight room…he's acclimated quickly and has been productive simply by playing to his strengths in the low post,” Bossi wrote. “That's playing with power, dunking everything he can, blocking shots and helping out on the glass.”

In late August, at the Will Barton Elite Camp, PrepHoops.com called Erheriene “the most dominant big in attendance. He used every bit of his 6-foot-9 frame to establish position in the paint and make himself available for entry passes, rebounds at both ends or altering shots around the rim.”

The evaluation continued: “He tried to dunk any touch that he had in the paint. When he wasn’t tearing the rim down, he was converting soft touch hooks over his left shoulder or earning second-chance points for his squad. He set punishing screens, pursued rebounds out of his area and his presence alone was enough to make opposing guards think twice.”

3. He can make an immediate impact​

Seton Hall has several bigs scheduled to return next season, but none of them are proven. Erheriene will have a chance to contribute right away.

After fits and starts, the Hall's staff is stringing together some successes in recruiting the high school ranks. As of now the Pirates don’t have any more scholarships available next year – postgrads Al-Amir Dawes and Jaden Bediako are the only current players whose eligibility expires – but obviously much can change in this transient sport.



I think Jerry nailed it. Sight unseen Erheriene has all the tools foreign players from his area seem to have. He strong, very athletic, plays hard but is raw. His D is far ahead of his offense to date and that's where experience is going to play a major part.

HS Mixtape

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Words from the player....


“Seton Hall fits what I’m looking for at the next level. The style of play, the way they utilize their interior player, that’s something I do really well. I believe I would become the best basketball player I can be playing under Coach Holloway and the coaches have all the resources I need to develop my skills and reach my full potential.

I’m a post player, play off the playmaker spot, defender, rebounder, and most importantly I play to win.”

He has a message for Seton Hall fans.

“For the Pirate fans, I’m thrilled to be a part of the Seton Hall family. I’m looking forward to working hard, improving my game, and making Pirate Nation a championship team. I’m excited to play in front of them. I can’t wait to step on the floor and represent Seton Hall with pride and honor. Go Pirates️.”

From the SHU athletic site......

Erheriene attends an elite Metropolitan Area high school in Long Island Lutheran in Brookville, N.Y., currently ranked as the No. 2 high school basketball team in the country according to MaxPreps. Rated as a four-star by On3, Erheriene is the No. 22 center in the class of 2024 according to 247 Sports and he plays for the NY Jayhawks and Riverside Church on the AAU circuit. Erheriene will look to join fellow countrymen Ike Obiagu and Mike Nzei as Pirates who have gone to NCAA Tournaments and competed for BIG EAST championships in South Orange.

"We haven't had an athletic big like Godswill in a long time," Holloway said. "He can run, he can jump, he can rebound, he can block shots and I think his best basketball is ahead of him."

Again, we hear the word potential. I believe the fan base will have to be patient. The ability is there but we might not see it this year. Of course that could well depend on who is the last commit Holloway brings to South Orange. If it's a player like Cook, minutes might come at a premium and that's where patience will become important. Both with the fans and the player.


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I'm going to cautiously give Erheriene the same B I gave Felton. But I am also going to say the same thing I said about his fellow freshmen teammate. If he stays on the roster down the road that B could very well be too low.

South Orange, N.J. — Sophomore pitchers Ryan Reich (Selinsgrove, Pa.) and Michael Gillen (Rochelle Park, N.J.) have been named All-BIG EAST First Team and graduate student pitcher Jackson Balzan (Medford, N.J.) has been named All-BIG EAST Second Team after turning in standout seasons on the mound for the Seton Hall baseball team, the conference office announced Tuesday.

Three pitchers on the All-BIG EAST teams are the most for the The Hall since four Pirate hurlers were named all-conference in 2018. Voting for the All-BIG EAST team and major awards was conducted by the league's eight head coaches who could not cast a ballot for their own teams.

Reich finished as the BIG EAST's strikeout champion with 89 punch outs, the most for a Seton Hall pitcher since Josh Prevost's 111 strikeouts in 2014. In conference games, Reich finished with the second-most strikeouts (51) and posted the third-lowest opponent's batting average (.194). A 2024 Preseason All-BIG EAST selection, Reich was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week following a career-best performance at Georgetown where he struck out 13 batters in seven innings.

Gillen had the fourth-lowest ERA in the BIG EAST (2.31) and his 1.25 ERA in conference games was the second-lowest among BIG EAST pitchers that made a minimum five appearances. Opponents hit just .207 off of him in seven league games, which ranked eighth in the conference, and he picked up the winning decision in Seton Hall's walk-off win over UConn on May 4 and its extra inning victory against St. John's on May 11. Gillen led the Pirates with a 2.31 ERA and four winning decisions.

In his first season competing at the Division I level, Balzan had one of the best season's for a pitcher in conference play in 2024. He posted the fifth-lowest ERA in BIG EAST games with a 1.98 ERA and his .170 opponent's batting average was the second-lowest among conference pitchers. Balzan tied for third on the team with 18 appearances and made all five of his starts in league play. He was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after fanning a season-high eight batters and allowing just two hits in six innings against St. John's on May 11.