PirateCrew: Seton Hall Pirates Football & Basketball Recruiting
The definitive source for all PirateCrew news.
In April 1994, more than eight and one-half years before I landed on the Seton Hall beat, I was covering the rollout of a new Hofstra coach for Newsday. And after the charismatic former UNLV assistant (to Rollie Massimino) with the matinee-idol looks had finished his presser, those of us in attendance pretty much agreed he had won it.
He has done plenty more winning since, victories that count. Jay Wright is 609-273 at Villanova and Hofstra, with two of his wins with the Wildcats coming in his NCAA title games. It is not at all unreasonable to suggest he could secure a third this upcoming season. Villanova appears even more loaded than usual, coming off the strangest of all college basketball campaigns.
Although the top spot in the Big East seems clear-cut, there should be spirited competition among the upper echelon for other NCAA berths. Here is an early look at the conference, but now supplemented with the knowledge of which players have removed their names from NBA Draft consideration. The deadline was last Wednesday, July 7.
1-Villanova
Overview: The Wildcats overcame a long COVID pause after the Christmas break last year and seemed to be in good shape for a long NCAA run until do-everything point guard Collin Gillespie suffered a devastating knee injury late in the regular season. Without him, Wildcat haters (you know who you are) figured it would be a case of Villain-Over (in Mike Francesa speak). Instead, the Wildcats overcame an early Big East tournament exit and made it through the first weekend of the NCAAs before running into eventual champ Baylor in the Sweet 16.
Now, Gillespie, one of the Tri-Big East Players of the Year, has chosen to return for another season, and his presence helps make the Wildcats the prohibitive favorite. Gillespie (14.0, 4.6 assists) is a perfect fit for Wright’s system, and has the knack for making the 'Wright' play at the 'Wright' time.
He is surrounded by loads of talent, including guards Justin Moore (12.9 ppg), Caleb Daniels (9.6) and forward Jermaine Samuels (12.0). Yes, forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, another of the Tri-Players of the Year, is gone, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the guard-oriented Wildcats go four- or even five-out some of the time. Senior wing Bryan Antoine also could be primed for a breakout season.
X-Factor: As noted, Villanova has tended to be perimeter-heavy on offense under Wright. But the Wildcats still must keep defenses honest. It will be up to junior Eric Dixon or freshman Nnanna Njoku to provide some scoring punch inside.
2-Xavier
Overview: The Musketeers tumbled from an 8-0 start and top 25 ranking to missing the tournament, thanks to a stop-and-start season with numerous COVID pauses. But coach Travis Steele had a terrific spring. The only player of note he lost was power forward Jason Carter (6.5 ppg), who transferred back to Ohio, where he began his college career. But Steele more than made up for that by bringing in 6-11 Jack Nunge (7.1) from Iowa and 6-7 Jerome Hunter (6.3) from Indiana.
In fact, off-the-bench sparkplug KyKy Tandy actually put his name in the transfer portal, and then withdrew it, so he is back. (Perhaps Mr. Spock wasn’t at the controls to beam him in that day.)
Zach Freemantle (16.1, 8.9 rebounds) is one of the best bigs in the conference, and Paul Scruggs (14.0, 5.7 assists) is a severely underpublicized point guard. The Musketeers have plenty more veterans surrounding them and a lot of depth, and their non-conference, released last week, features only one true road game, at Cade Cunningham-less Oklahoma State. Still, it does have a visit from loaded Ohio State and a trip to the Barclays Center for the Preseason NIT semis and finals, which also include defending NIT champ Memphis (which will still be coached by Penny Hardaway, who just hired Larry Brown as an assistant), Virginia Tech and still-rebuilding Iowa State.
X-Factor: Will there be enough basketballs to go around? As always, a good problem to have. But Steele will have a lot of players who want to eat on offense.
3-Connecticut
Overview: In its return to the conference, the Huskies were just as good as advertised, and as good as opposing coaches feared. And they might be even better in year 2, despite losing star James Bouknight. Now, at least they can split time between Storrs and Hartford and fill those buildings with the Husky faithful, and bring those fans in tow to MSG when March beckons.
Even without Bouknight, the Huskies have plenty of talent. Point guard R.J. Cole (12.2, 4.3 assists) is steady, and Adama Sanogo (7.3, 4.8 rpg) is a potential breakout star in the frontcourt. Tyrese Martin (10.3, 7.5 rpg) already is a star up front, and Isaiah Whaley and Tyler Polley also are established players.
Incoming four-star guard Rahsool Diggins is the heir apparent to Cole at the 1, and it will be interesting to see how coach Dan Hurley utilizes him.
X-Factor: Granted, UConn already had to adjust to life without Bouknight when he was injured at times last season. But the Huskies need to discover who will step up and take that big shot.
4-Seton Hall
Overview: Seton Hall’s patented finishing kick in the Kevin Willard era was nowhere to be found last season, as the Pirates lost five of their last six to finish out of the NCAA tournament for the first time in six years. But Kevin Willard's major move to rectify that, bringing in three big-time transfers during the off-season--point guard Kadary Richmond (Syracuse), power forward Alexis Yetna (South Florida) and shooting guard Jamir Harris (American) will help.
Still, the key to this year’s hopes may be someone else. Former Seton Hall coach Louis Orr, now an assistant at Georgetown, was fond of saying, “He’s a senior--it’s his time.” And so it is with Jared Rhoden. No longer in the shadow of 2020 Big East Player of the Year Myles Powell and 2021 Big East Tri-Player of the Year Sandro Mamukelashvili--the last two Haggerty Award winners, by the way--Rhoden (14.9, 6.7 rpg) finally will be the focal point of the Pirates’ offense. He has shown the ability, in flashes, to handle that. But now he must do it on a consistent basis.
According to sources, Richmond’s exit interview with Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim went as smoothly as brunch between Maria Taylor and Rachel Nichols. It's understandable, given that Richmond wanted a starting role, which he probably deserved. He’ll get the keys to the offensive car with the Pirates, and should open up more lanes for an attack that often was stuck in neutral a year ago.
Myles Cale returns for a fifth season, and can be a difference-maker with his defense and if he can find more offensive consistency. In the frontcourt, the Pirates could use a breakout season from Tyrese Samuel, whose potential is tantalizing. Tray Jackson remains in the mix and is pushing for more time and Ike Obiagu has become a reliable deterrent in the lane. Yetna (9.5, 7.3 rpg at USF last season) has the ability to score down low and face up, too, so he can stretch defenses out.
X-Factor: When Bryce Aiken is right, he is a dynamic force on offense. But injuries have always been his kryptonite. Still, he is working hard and wants to be a part of this. If he can stay upright and on the court, he adds another dimension to an already loaded offense.
5-St. John’s
Overview: In April, Red Storm players seemed to be heading for the exits faster than people at an Adam Gase motivational seminar. But when the dust settled, none of the players St. John’s had lost had transferred up, which says something about what third-year coach Mike Anderson is building here.
That trajectory should continue, and this projection might be low if everything comes together and the Johnnies find the consistency that sometimes has been lacking. Certainly, the return of Julian Champagnie (19.8, 7.4 rpg) makes most all things possible. He pulled his name out of the NBA Draft a week ago, and he and fellow star Posh Alexander (10.9, 4.3 assists) give the Red Storm a 1-2 punch few teams can match.
And there are plenty of pieces around the Big Two. Dylan Addae-Wasu is primed to take on a bigger role in the absence of all of the transfers, and Rutgers transfer Montez Mathis (8.3), a slasher who can get to the rim, figures to be a much better fit in Anderson’s up-tempo attack than he was in Steve Pikiell’s more deliberate offense.
The Red Storm also are hoping for good things from frontcourt transfers Joel Soriano (10.4, 9.2 rpg at Fordham) and Aaron Wheeler (Purdue). Vermont transfer Stef Smith also should provide offense. Anderson is building a team in his image and there is no way to argue with that, considering he has been successful at every stop.
X-Factor: Hofstra grad transfer Tareq Coburn shot 39.6% from three-point range last season, but was wildly inconsistent, going 2-for-8 one day and 7-for-9 the next (literally). He needs to be less streaky and more reliable for the Johnnies.
Last edited:
