Experienced returning core, deeper supporting cast fuel Manhattan’s momentum up MAAC ladder

John Gallagher is enthusiastic about Manhattan’s chances this season as he continues climb with Jaspers in MAAC. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

Manhattan University enjoyed one of its more successful men’s basketball seasons in recent memory this past year, yet it feels as though the upward trajectory in Riverdale remains largely unnoticed.

Such anonymity is no fault of the Jaspers, but the team in the northwest corner of The Bronx may soon prove that there is once again more to local basketball than St. John’s. And on the heels of the program’s first winning season and postseason since 2015, head coach John Gallagher remains confident in the course he and his staff has steered through waters many felt were too deep to navigate following the departures of Steve Masiello and RaShawn Stores five months apart from one another.

“Manhattan is a great mid-major job because of the alums,” the ebullient Gallagher reiterated as he looks to push the Jaspers further up the ladder following a 17-win campaign and College Basketball Invitational berth in 2024-25. “A lot of people care, a lot of people want to win. We’ve worked hard at raising money, and the alums have worked harder. This is the reality: The system’s going to be conducive to the alumni base that wants to see their program win. I’m not patting myself on the back here. The momentum is just amazing. I’m out every week with different alums and they’re just saying, ‘what do we need to do?’ And I just tip my hat to them. We have momentum because of our alumni base.”

Not only is the passionate support — a constant in Manhattan’s most memorable years under the likes of Masiello, Bobby Gonzalez and Fran Fraschilla — back, but so too is the Jaspers’ core from last season’s breakout. Four of Gallagher’s top seven players resisted the lure of the transfer portal in the offseason, headlined by reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year Will Sydnor, whose combination of length and physicality will be the anchor at both ends of the floor.

Will Sydnor attempts to follow up MAAC Rookie of the Year season with strong sophomore campaign. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

“His offseason’s been impressive,” Gallagher said of Sydnor. “We focused on retainment and selling what the vision is, and how good you could be back-to-back years. Then the next step is going to even bigger than you could imagine. First, his defense has improved, and that’s what we really challenged him on. His length is unbelievable, and then his rebounding’s really improved. I don’t know how much you can improve your scoring when you’re scoring at that rate as a freshman, but it has improved. That’s what we kind of focused on.”

Sydnor will not be alone as an incumbent, as Manhattan was also able to secure role reprisals from guards Jaden Winston and Devin Dinkins, the latter of whom will now enter the starting lineup after his spark plug role off the bench landed the George Mason expatriate recognition as the MAAC’s Sixth Man of the Year.

Jaden Winston, a constant at point guard spot for Manhattan over past two seasons, returns for his third year as floor general. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

“Let’s start with Jaden. For me, he’s just the most integral part of the unit because he’s been in my brain and I’ve been in his brain for two years,” Gallagher said, praising Winston. “It’s hard to do. You can’t just go buy it at the store, you have to go through it. Now when you have a guy that’s been next to you and just has been in the film room with you, just you and him studying the game, there’s such a trust factor. For him, the most improved thing is his shooting. He just took a huge jump this summer, and in practices, we rated it right around 46 percent from three. That shows his commitment to the shot, and I now want him shooting every time he catches it. The confidence I have in his shooting is something I may not have had, but as the head coach, you know a guy that deserves to shoot it, and he’s put the work in, he’s put the time in. When he’s shooting it the way he’s shot it this summer, we’ll be an extremely hard out every night.”

“For us to have two point guards to start, (Dinkins is) a guy that can go for 25 any night, can really stroke it. His consistency is unbelievable. He’s an all-conference player, and I think for us, his ability to shoot it the way he shot it last year and through the summer is something I’m really excited about.”

While Winston and Dinkins lead a fortified backcourt, sophomore Fraser Roxburgh is already in line for an increased role after missing time during the MAAC slate last year due to injury. Gallagher was effusive in his praise of the Australian wing, who could see additional time as a ball handler to supplement a burgeoning skill set.

“I think Will or him, on our roster, are guys that a real mismatch nightmare because of their size,” the coach said of Roxburgh. “We could play him at the point, that’s how good he is with the ball right now. I remember watching the 10 p.m. games and watching Boise State with the big Aussie (Nick Duncan) who was basically a 6-foot-8 point guard, and I thought to myself, ‘wouldn’t it be great to get one of those one day?’ Well, the day’s here. We have him, and he’s just skilled, he’s tough. His shape has really improved. That’s the main thing this summer. I was real concerned with his shape last year — I think that played a factor in his injury — but I think now, his body is prime for a really good year.”

“Fraser’s skill set is unique, inside-out like Will. He’s a great rebounder and he’s a ferocious competitor. By the numbers, when he was on the floor, our point differential was huge. When he was healthy and he was on the floor, we weren’t losing a lot of games. Him and Will are going to be on the floor a lot. I like those matchups, we just have to make sure we’re making great decisions.”

Stymied by the injury bug when it appeared that Manhattan’s depth would manifest itself at times last year, the Jaspers are healthier coming into the year than at any point last season. Defensive specialist Brett Rumpel, recovering from a second ACL injury in as many years, will be phased back into the rotation gradually, but Gallagher was quick to highlight the low-pressure situation he will find himself in as a result of a larger supporting cast that includes Erik Oliver-Bush, a Division II transfer from Saint Anselm, and junior college import Anthony Isaac, a Brooklyn forward from the same program Manhattan plucked Swish Gilyard from a year ago.

“He’s a bigger version of him, and he’s a high-major rebounder,” Gallagher said of the 6-foot-6 Isaac and his similarities to Gilyard, who played above his stature and was one of the Jaspers’ leading rebounders last year. “He played at the same JUCO, and as (Isaac’s JUCO coach) Scott Schumacher would say, ‘you’re not going to find a better rebounder out there than Anthony.’ We were very fortunate to get him, he fills that hole, and we’re getting a higher-level rebounding guy. I could just say what he is: He’s the best rebounder I’ve coached. I haven’t seen anything like him. When he’s on the floor, I like our chances to get the ball every time. He’ll be playing major minutes.”

“Marko Ljubicic, right now, I have him circled in the starting five spot. If you look at Wes Robinson’s jump, I look at Marko making that type of jump. He could be a double-figure scorer, great rebounder, good size, great defender. Erik, here’s what he is: He’s a 6-foot-5, 6-foot-6, best defender on the floor type for us. His offense is way better than I thought, and he’s one of the more intriguing players I’ve recruited because of his upside. You could argue that he had the best summer of the group, he’s one of those guys that you’re gonna have to keep on the floor because he does too much. It’s a good problem to have. Terrance Jones is a transfer from Norfolk State, an absolute consummate teammate and unbelievable defender. We’ve upgraded our defense. In the slots I thought we needed help, Terrance and Erik bring a defensive side of the ball that we didn’t have. Terrance is gonna play a lot, too.”

The Jaspers also welcome in a trio of freshmen that will have their chances to contribute immediately. Hudson Catholic product Omari Moore will provide a shooting spark off the bench, Baltimore native Quron Elliott will likely spell Winston and Dinkins as a backup point guard, and Asier Miguel comes overseas from Spain with professional experience after spending time with Real Madrid.

“Omari Moore, if it was my first year here, he’d play 30 minutes a game,” Gallagher said. “The issue is it’s my third year and minutes are hard to come by. Quron will bring great depth at the point guard, long-term, he’s going to be a hell of a Jasper. I just loved him in the summer, loved how he performed. He had multiple Division I offers, but we just felt a need to take him right now. And then the last one, Asier, comes from a great club in Real Madrid. He played on the (Spanish) national team each of the last three years, and he’s a really interesting prospect. I think he has a huge upside with us.”

The current mid-major basketball climate has placed a greater onus on roster management and turning a program around in short order, due to the revolving door nature of the portal and greater NIL opportunities at higher levels. The days of a regimented, step-by-step rebuild are now an anachronism in the game, but Gallagher has managed to flip the Jaspers’ fortunes his way, and has laid a firm foundation while doing so.

“Our first year, we got to really study the league, what we need, the versatility,” he recounted. “Then, acquiring guys like Will, Fraser and Devin — three high-quality, MAAC-type players — it gave us a chance every night to win.”

“Then you flip it, year two going into year three. How do you take the next jump from 17 (wins) to 20-21? How do you do that? First, you gotta retain guys, and in the old days, that would never be talked about. For us, Manhattan and I think our conference in general, success is going to be based on whether you can keep three or four guys a year. Is it going to be eight or nine? No, it’s not…it’s never going to be that way. But if can you keep four, five guys that know your system, know your culture, it just is a huge difference. We were able to keep those guys, and I think for us, that’s the first thing. Let’s look at what we kept, and I think that’s a big first step.”

FDU concludes summer workout period with intrasquad scrimmage

FDU’s summer workout period came to a close last week with 40-minute intrasquad scrimmage. (Photo by Ray Floriani/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

By Ray Floriani (@rfloriani)

TEANECK, N.J. — FDU began with its normal routine of group stretching followed by a few sprints. Following that would come a few shooting drills from inside the paint, mid-range, and beyond the arc. After meeting at halfcourt, the Knights were ready to proceed.

A month's worth of work on the court and weight room, plus individual workouts, all culminated in a 40-minute scrimmage this past Thursday. There would be four 10-minute periods with a three-person officiating crew. The assistant coaches would run the team while head coach Stephanie Gaitley sat across the court, observing and making notations in her book. The gray team, coached by Jessica Simmonds and Nickie Carter, included Bella Toomey, Kailee McDonald, Jada Elston and Rebecca Osei-Owusu. The blue team was guided by Jeremy Thompson and Ty Rozier, and had Ava Renninger, Tyler Edwards, Leah Crosby and Talia Baptiste among its group.

In a game that went to the final possession, the gray team edged the blue team, 65-64, recording an offensive efficiency of 103 in its 63 possessions. The blue team, with 65 trips down the floor, measured a 99.

Offensive efficiency is points per possession times 100, which is the magic number for this exercise, as you want to hit triple figures or better on offense while holding the opposition under that mark on the defensive end. This past season, FDU averaged 64 possessions per game, with an offensive efficiency of 103 and the defense—consistently a staple of Gaitley’s most successful teams—a superb 86, which ranked 70th nationally across Division I.

Early on, both teams cared for the ball, a good sign given that we are still in the summer. In the end, the blue team had a better showing in the turnover department, committing just eight giveaways for a 12 percent turnover rate, compared to 13 turnovers and 21 percent for the gray team.

The Knights had a strong showing with their ball control this past season, averaging only 11 turnovers per contest with a 15 percent turnover rate. That latter figure was good enough to place 24th-best nationally. Besides defense, taking care of the ball is a priority for Gaitley.

As the scrimmage was set to tip off, one of the first things Gaitley asked me what my starting five would be after observing three practices in July. My reply was that three were an easy choice—Ava Renninger at the point, Kailee McDonald at the two and Bella Toomey in a forward spot. My other choices were Tyler Edwards as possibly a third guard or small forward, and Leah Crosby in the post. Gaitley agreed with my selections, with only one player at this point doubtful to get in the starting lineup.

Observations: The numbers were discussed, now here is the eye test. During the second period, I mentioned to Gaitley, “I am certain: Kailee McDonald will be an all-NEC defensive selection.” The coach agreed.

Kailee McDonald (in gray) defends sophomore point guard Ava Renninger in FDU intrasquad scrimmage. (Photo by Ray Floriani/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

McDonald guarded Renninger and did a great job, excelling at moving her feet and recovering when getting screened.

“When they talk about a player’s strength, a lot of times they mean upper body,” Frank Gaitley, Stephanie’s husband and a former assistant coach in his own right, said. “Kailee has extremely strong legs that help her mobility on defense.”

None of Renninger’s 15 points came easy.

“I take pride in my defense,” McDonald said following the scrimmage. “I think defense carries over to offense. Defense is more important than offense, and I think the best thing I do is play defense.”

McDonald, a sophomore, is also pretty good on the offensive end, as she knocked down four 3-pointers on the way to a 16-point outing.

Jada Elston, a 5-foot-8 junior guard, progressed admirably through July. She did a great job at the point during the scrimmage and is certain to get her share of minutes this season. Elston appeared in seven games her freshman season, then redshirted last year. Following the scrimmage, Elston said she put in a great deal of work the past year and is comfortable running the point. She iced the game with a perfect 4-for-4 effort from the free throw line in the waning seconds.

During the first practice I attended in early July, Frank Gaitley said, “watch number 15.”

Number 15 is Leah Crosby a 6-foot-1 freshman. She is another player looking better each time she takes the court. In the scrimmage, she scored eight points in the first period. An inside presence, Crosby finished with 18 points. The Plainfield, New Jersey native, who played at Garden State power St. Thomas Aquinas, was also effective on the defensive end, but the most admirable trait in Crosby’s game is her resilience. Each of the FDU coaches remarked how she can turn the ball over or miss a close shot, yet never sulk. She just gets back and concentrates on the next possession.

Gaitley agreed that with Teneisia Brown—an excellent low-post presence last season—now at Providence, the five spot may be filled by committee. Following summer workouts and the scrimmage, it appears Crosby could very well lead that committee.

Bella Toomey (in gray) will be part of FDU’s by-committee replacement for Teneisia Brown up front. (Photo by Ray Floriani/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

Bella Toomey, a junior forward, scored early, then was relatively quiet. In the final period, she scored six crucial points to help her team to victory. That is a  sign of a good veteran player, responding when you are needed most in crunch time. Osei-Owusu, a 5-foot-11 junior, is a good rebounder who could be a factor up front. She rebounds well and the staff is working with her on her inside game. Reese Downey, a 5-foot-6 freshman guard and frequent early arrival getting up extra shots before practice, impressed with her outside touch. Gaitley feels she will get minutes and can be an effective zone buster, given her shooting range. Interestingly, Downey and Gaitley have seen each other from the opposite side of the bench.

“I first saw her when we played Ocean City on their senior night,” Downey said of playing against Gaitley in high school. Downey wound up the all-time leading scorer at Absegami High School in South Jersey, while Gaitley coached at Ocean City High School a year prior to taking over at FDU. Gaitley reached out to Downey not long after arriving at FDU. Downey had a few other schools interested, but was pleased with the prospect of joining Gaitley and the Knights.

Downey is getting acclimated to Division I life, and admits that in the college game, players are bigger and faster than high school.

“Just getting used to the speed of the game is the biggest adjustment,” she said.

A few final thoughts: Gaitley admits this will be a different team than last year’s NEC championship outfit. The coach is intrigued by what she sees and the possibilities. She is also in agreement that this group will get better each day. In other words, the team you see in February will be different from the one taking the floor in November.

After just one month, actually a lot sooner, the Knights have built a chemistry. They are a group that plays well together and enjoys each other’s company off the floor. That last point goes a long way toward building a winner. McDonald summed it up best, saying, “I think we are very cohesive. As a team, I think we are very friendly with each other. We had a lot of new faces and didn’t know each other at first, but we bonded very fast and that is carrying over to the court.”

Johnnies offer first glimpse of potential contender in summer practice

St. John’s opened practice Tuesday to media, who got to see potential Top 5 Red Storm outfit for first time this summer. (Photo by Jaden Daly/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

NEW YORK — After a 31-win season, the program’s first conference championship and NCAA Tournament victory in a quarter-century, and a turnaround at a breakneck pace, St. John’s stands across from perhaps the most anticipated season of basketball since Lou Carnesecca piloted the then-Redmen to a Final Four in 1985.

The Red Storm—a consensus Top 5 outfit in most early prognostications and No. 1 according to CBS’ Gary Parrish—afforded a throng of media and boosters a preliminary look at the hype Tuesday morning, raising the curtain ever so slightly in a 90-minute practice as summer workouts come to a close before the fall semester begins in less than a month.

“The more excitement for the fans, the better the program,” head coach Rick Pitino said of the buzz surrounding his squad before the Johnnies begin the season on November 3. “It doesn’t affect our coaching, it doesn’t affect their playing, but look: If we got the program in the third year in the Top 5 preseason, that’s awesome.”

Pitino and his staff return only one starter from last season’s Big East regular season and tournament-winning unit, senior forward Zuby Ejiofor. However, the Hall of Fame tactician landed a cadre of talent in the transfer portal that ranked among the nation’s best incoming classes, a mega-haul of sorts that he termed the “best collection of people” he has coached over 50-plus years in the game.

“I’ve had a blast this summer coaching them,” he added. “They’re such a fantastic group to coach. I can’t tell you who has the best attitude because they’re all tremendous people.”

Despite the personnel additions, a repeated criticism throughout the offseason has been who St. John’s will play at the point guard spot after the Red Storm was helmed by Daniss Jenkins and Kadary Richmond over the past two seasons. Pitino dispelled those concerns Tuesday, extolling the versatility of his present group as it plays a positionless motion offense. Two of the transfers, Cincinnati castoff Dillon Mitchell and Providence expatriate Bryce Hopkins—the latter being no stranger to St. John’s or the Big East—have led the team in assists through the summer period.

“I said this to the team: Who’s the point guard of the Knicks, the Lakers, the Celtics?” Pitino posited. “The point guard is totally done in basketball. The days of John Stockton are long gone. We just realized we have so many good athletes that we’re going to run a pointless system.”

“At the end of the summer, we didn’t expect this…Dillon Mitchell led the team in assists and Bryce Hopkins was second. So everybody handles the ball, everybody passes the ball. I think five-out has become such a big thing. I was used to it in Europe, and everybody’s running five-out offenses.”

While St. John’s looked noticeably better on the offensive end, where its shooting woes manifested at the worst possible time in its NCAA Tournament loss to Arkansas, the Red Storm defense did not sustain a major dropoff. In a full 40-minute, 5-on-5 scrimmage, the defensive end gained steam as the de facto contest went on. Pitino played Mitchell, Hopkins and Ejiofor together through most of the intrasquad scrimmage, and it is his hope that the three—along with returning sophomore Ruben Prey—can lead a physically imposing and multifaceted front line.

“They can guard one through five, which means you can switch and it makes your defense easier,” Pitino said. “Both Dillon and Bryce have gotten great at what we call body-to-body moves, after movement one-on-one. They’ve been great, very physical. Ruben’s been very big on the glass, but they’re all very, very close in ability.”

The gauntlet starts early and often for St. John’s, as the Red Storm jumps right into the fire following its opener against Quinnipiac, hosting nationally-ranked Alabama on November 8 at Madison Square Garden. Several other opportunities against ranked teams, including as many as three in the Players’ Era Festival during Thanksgiving week, await the Johnnies, whose coach devised the non-conference schedule to see exactly what he is working with as soon as possible with a roster that could potentially play 10 or 11-deep on any given night.

“I just felt that this was a veteran team that, let’s find out early on how good we are with Alabama,” Pitino remarked. “And then we’ll know what to work on to be a good tournament team at the end of the year.”

“We’re a very deep team. (Lefteris Liotopoulos) has made the upper-level national team in Greece, so he’s had a great summer. Imran (Suljanovic) will be back in six weeks (dislocated kneecap). It’s a good group. Now if they could just be as good defensively as last year, they’ll be a hell of a team.”