FDU hoping to seize opportunity in NEC

Darnell Edge (left) and head coach Greg Herenda, their FDU team picked second in NEC preseason poll, shoot for second conference championship in four years. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

By Ray Floriani (@rfloriani)

Discussing the Northeast Conference, FDU head coach Greg Herenda likes to call it an equal opportunity league.

Three years ago, FDU was picked ninth in the preseason coaches' poll. The Knights caught fire down the stretch, winning the NEC championship by defeating top seed Wagner on their home floor. Last year saw a 9-9 league campaign as the Knights advanced to the NEC semifinals before dropping a heartbreaker to eventual champion LIU Brooklyn. Heading into the current campaign, FDU is picked second in the coaches poll behind Saint Francis University. Herenda has no problem with that. 

Predictions are one thing. What transpires on the court is paramount, and the FDU mentor, entering his sixth season, likes what he sees in his group.

“Our practices have been going great,” Herenda said at the recent NEC Media Day at Barclays Center. “We have a unique group of talented upperclassmen and young players. Everyone is working hard and it is a group that looks forward to coming to the gym and practice everyday.”

Speaking of the veterans, FDU begins and ends with Mike Holloway. The 6’8” senior averaged 13.4 points a game last season while pacing the team with seven rebounds a game. He is an inside force who, as Herenda said, “would love to bookend his career.” The Knights captured the title during Holloway’s freshman year, and his sights are set on finishing his FDU career with another championship run. Darnell Edge is the leading returning scorer at 14.5 points per game. Opponents may not want to foul Edge at the end of a close contest, as the senior guard led the nation with a 94 percent free throw percentage in the closing minutes. Beside points, rebounds and free throws, Holloway and Edge provide the essential and invaluable senior leadership. Junior forward Kaleb Bishop, an All-NEC Tournament selection on the strength of a superlative 22-rebound effort in the loss to LIU, is a scorer who may be looked to increase his 8.8 point-per-game total, providing a nice compliment to Holloway as a viable inside threat.

Discussing the young crop of talent, you can start with Jahlil Jenkins. With Darian Anderson out over most of the season with an injury, Jenkins got the call and responded in an impressive manner. The sophomore guard earned NEC All-Rookie honors, leading the Knights with 4.4 assists per game and handing out 136 scoring passes against just 72 turnovers. Elyjah Williams averaged 15 minutes per outing last season. The sophomore forward should receive added minutes and contribute more with a year under his belt. Tyler Jones is in the same situation  as Williams. The sophomore guard will look to build on the experience of his first season.

Newcomers include 6’11” sophomore enter Oscar Okene. A transfer from Gulf Coast State who played his high school ball at St. Anthony under the legendary Bob Hurley, Okene should, in Herenda’s opinion, be an immediate impact player up front. Herenda is also enthused about the prospects of sophomore guard Xzavier Malone-Key, a transfer from Rider. Freshman guard Brandon Powell also merited mention as one who can step in and immediately contribute.

FDU will tip off its season with a visit to Rutgers on Friday. Herenda has an admiration and friendship with Scarlet Knights head coach Steve Pikiell. He also feels it is important to schedule fellow New Jersey schools, as the Knights will play three from the Garden State, visiting Princeton and hosting NJIT as well. The challenging non-conference slate, a staple in Herenda’s philosophy of getting ready for the NEC, includes trips to Providence, Holy Cross, UMass and South Florida. Army and Lafayette are also scheduled to make trips to Rothman Center, all part of Herenda’s approach not only to test his team, but also expose them to various styles of play as well.

When Herenda arrived in New Jersey six years ago, the FDU program was in disarray. Getting a full roster on the court was job one and enough of a challenge. By year three, the nets were cut to celebrate a NEC title. 

“The bar has been raised,” Herenda said. “Last year, we were without Darian Anderson most of the year, and we were one stop away from getting back in the Northeast Conference championship game. We were right here even with injuries and all.” 

In retrospect that first season seem like light years removed. The Knights figure to again be right there this season, and the conference coaches agree. 


“We have talent,” Edge said. “We have guys working hard and they’re all hungry.”