Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, October 28
Rochester, Mich.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Oakland
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Men's Hoops Preps for 2021-22 Season with Exhibition at Oakland
10/26/2021 12:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Eagles and Golden Grizzlies will square off Thursday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m.
ROCHESTER, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – With two weeks left before the start the 2021-22 season, the Eastern Michigan University men's basketball program is set to square off at Oakland University Thursday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. inside the O'Rena. The bout against the Golden Grizzlies is a charity game with the proceeds from ticket sales going to Covenant Academy, a Health Care Education training school that assists in filling the critical health care professional shortage in Michigan due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Green and White are led by EMU alum and first-year Head Coach Stan Heath. Heath has accumulated 13 years of collegiate head coaching experience with four NCAA tournament appearances and one NIT appearance. The Detroit, Mich. native has a background in the Mid-American Conference. He previously served as the head coach at Kent State University during the 2001-02 season, where he helped guide the Golden Flashes to an Elite Eight appearance. In 13 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Heath holds a 209-206 (.504 winning percentage) career record.
Joining Heath on his staff are assistant coaches Bob Simon, Shawn Trice, and Drew Denisco. Simon, an EMU alum, holds over 20 years of coaching experience in the Division I and Division II levels. The Redford, Mich. native most recently spent two years at Siena College, where he mentored 2020 MAAC Player of the Year recipient, Jalen Pickett.
Trice, a Detroit, Mich. native, comes to Ypsilanti with 15 years of collegiate coaching experience. He spent 13 seasons at Temple University, where he helped guide the Owls to seven NCAA Tournaments, five conference titles, and two NIT bids. Additionally, Trice was a former University of Pennsylvania standout (1991-95).
Densico spent six seasons working under basketball hall of famer Tom Izzo at Michigan State University as its video coordinator.
This year, the Green and White welcome six transfers, three true freshmen, and two walk-ons to Ypsilanti, many of whom will look to make an immediate impact on the court. The roster also features five returning letterwinners, including team captains junior Bryce McBride (Jackson, Tenn.-Southside (Dyersburg State C.C.)) and senior Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)).
GUARDS
The Eagles welcome back three returning guards to their 2021-22 roster, highlighted by McBride and Spottsville.
McBride, a captain and the primary floor general for the Eagles last season, appeared in all 18 games, making 15 starts for the Green and White. The Jackson, Tenn. native averaged 13.7 points per game which ranked second on the team, and tallied 13 double-digit scoring performances. McBride's .837 free throw percentage (72-of-86) ranked seventh in the Mid-American Conference. The 6-foot-2 guard notched career highs in points (25) and steals (6) against Adrian, Dec. 9.
In 2020-21, Spottsville, McBride's co-captain, saw game action in 17 games for EMU. The guard averaged 5.2 points per game and ranked third on the team with 32 assists (1.9 apg). The Phoenix, Ariz. native tallied a season-best 12 points at Buffalo, Jan. 21.
Freshman Andrew Wells (East Lansing, Mich.-East Lansing (International Sports Academy)) returns after playing in seven games last year.
Eastern welcomes four newcomers to its 2021-22 roster in senior Monty Scott (Union, N.J.-St. Benedict's Prep (Portland State)) and freshmen Noah Farrakhan (Newark, N.J.-The Patrick School (East Carolina)), Kevin-David Rice (Flint, Mich.-Gran Blanc (Delta College)), and Luka Savicevic (Skopje, North Macedonia-Sports Academy Skopje).
Scott arrives in Ypsilanti after spending the 2020-21 season at Portland State. He started in all 22 games and led the team after averaging 13.7 points per game. The Union, N.J. native was named to the All-Big Sky Honorable Mention team and surpassed 1,000 career points in a combined four collegiate seasons at PSU, Temple, and Kennesaw State.
Farrakhan transfers to EMU with four years of eligibility remaining. The guard played in 12 games for East Carolina where he averaged 3.0 points per game. Farrakhan made his collegiate debut against N.C. Wesleyan, scoring six points and handing out three assists in 16 minutes.
Last season, Rice averaged a team-best 25.3 points per game for Delta College. He boasts a 44.7 field goal percentage (97-of-217) and tallied double-figures in every game he played (12). The MCCAA North Conference Freshman and Player of the Year recipient notched a career-high 39 points against St. Clair Community College, Feb. 23.
Savicevic joins the Green and White as a true freshman after prepping at Sports Academy Skopje in North Macedonia. The guard averaged 9.2 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.0 rebounds in the North Macedonia Super League for KK MZT Skopje during the 2020-21 season and helped lead the national team to a fourth-place finish at the European Championship for Division B.
The Eagles also added walk-on freshmen Malcolm Clements (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Arbor Preparatory) and Prakash Ketterhagen (Kalamazoo, Mich.-New Rochelle (N.Y.) (Combine Academy)) to their 2021-22 roster.
FORWARDS
EMU will see two from the 2020-21 squad return for the 2021-22 campaign in senior Thomas Binelli (Bologna, Italy-Bergen Catholic (Monroe College)) and redshirt junior Derek Ballard Jr. (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield-Lathrup). The two veterans will lead the charge for the forwards.
Binelli will return to the Eagles' lineup after missing last season due to injury. In 2019-20, the forward played in 25 games, making 15 starts for EMU. He led Eastern with 57 three-pointers and scored a career-high 26 points against Northern Illinois, Feb. 25, 2020.
Ballard Jr. appeared in 15 games last year, including one start for the Eagles. The Southfield, Mich. native averaged 11.6 minutes, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 points per game. The redshirt junior grabbed a personal-best six rebounds at Central Michigan, Jan. 14. Additionally, he scored a career-high eight points against Miami, Jan. 23.
The Green and White also added two forward transfers to the 2021-22 roster over the summer in freshman Colin Golson Jr. (Detroit, Mich.-Ferndale (Siena)) and senior Nate Scott (Naperville, Ill.-Neuqua Valley (Northern Illinois)).
Golson Jr. appeared in 13 games for the Saints and averaged 5.2 points per game. He tallied a career-high 14 points at Rider, Jan. 16, and grabbed six rebounds against Saint Peter's, Jan. 23.
In 2020-21, Scott saw game action in 14 games, making 10 starts for MAC foe Northern Illinois. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 5.4 points per game and boasted a 38.4 clip (28-of-73) from the field. He scored a season-high 13 points at Central Michigan, March 5.
Additionally, Eastern Michigan welcomes "true" freshman Javantae Randle (Detroit, Mich.-Frederick Douglass) to the 2021-22 roster. Randle was a four-year letterwinner at Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men, where he averaged 20.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game. He helped lead the Hurricanes to a Division 4 State Championship in 2020-21.
CENTERS
Eastern Michigan returns senior center Axel Okongo (Saacy-sur-Marne, France-Thetford Prep Academy (Quebec) (Missouri)) to the 2021-22 roster.
Okongo appeared in 10 games for the Green and White, where he averaged 8.3 minutes per game off the bench. The 7-footer pulled down a career-best five boards and posted two blocks against Adrian, Dec. 9.
The Eagles signed two centers over the offseason to this year's roster in redshirt freshman Yusuf Jihad (Farmington Hills, Mich.-North Farmington (Oakland)) and freshman Mo Njie (Centerville, Ohio-Centerville (DME Sports Academy)).
Jihad appeared in 17 games off the bench for the Golden Grizzlies in 2020-21. He averaged 1.5 points and 5.3 minutes per game. The center scored a career-high eight points on 4-of-6 shooting at Detroit Mercy, Dec. 26.
Njie prepped at Centerville High school and is a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com and 247Sports.com. The 6-foot-10 center averaged 15.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game during his senior season. The Second Team All-State honoree broke three school records with 122 career blocks, a 63.0 career field goal percentage, and most blocks in a game (12). Additionally, Njie played for the Post Grad team at the DME Sports Academy in 2020-21, where he helped lead the team to a third-place finish at the PhenomHoops Post Grad Nationals.
Eastern Michigan will officially kick off the 2021-22 season Tuesday, Nov. 9, when the Eagles travel to Big Ten Conference opponent Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. The game is slated to start at 6:30 p.m. inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU men's basketball, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team's official Twitter at Twitter.com/EMU_MBB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/EMUMBB, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/emumbb.
The Green and White are led by EMU alum and first-year Head Coach Stan Heath. Heath has accumulated 13 years of collegiate head coaching experience with four NCAA tournament appearances and one NIT appearance. The Detroit, Mich. native has a background in the Mid-American Conference. He previously served as the head coach at Kent State University during the 2001-02 season, where he helped guide the Golden Flashes to an Elite Eight appearance. In 13 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Heath holds a 209-206 (.504 winning percentage) career record.
Joining Heath on his staff are assistant coaches Bob Simon, Shawn Trice, and Drew Denisco. Simon, an EMU alum, holds over 20 years of coaching experience in the Division I and Division II levels. The Redford, Mich. native most recently spent two years at Siena College, where he mentored 2020 MAAC Player of the Year recipient, Jalen Pickett.
Trice, a Detroit, Mich. native, comes to Ypsilanti with 15 years of collegiate coaching experience. He spent 13 seasons at Temple University, where he helped guide the Owls to seven NCAA Tournaments, five conference titles, and two NIT bids. Additionally, Trice was a former University of Pennsylvania standout (1991-95).
Densico spent six seasons working under basketball hall of famer Tom Izzo at Michigan State University as its video coordinator.
This year, the Green and White welcome six transfers, three true freshmen, and two walk-ons to Ypsilanti, many of whom will look to make an immediate impact on the court. The roster also features five returning letterwinners, including team captains junior Bryce McBride (Jackson, Tenn.-Southside (Dyersburg State C.C.)) and senior Darion Spottsville (Phoenix, Ariz.-Shadow Mountain (South Mountain C.C.)).
GUARDS
The Eagles welcome back three returning guards to their 2021-22 roster, highlighted by McBride and Spottsville.
McBride, a captain and the primary floor general for the Eagles last season, appeared in all 18 games, making 15 starts for the Green and White. The Jackson, Tenn. native averaged 13.7 points per game which ranked second on the team, and tallied 13 double-digit scoring performances. McBride's .837 free throw percentage (72-of-86) ranked seventh in the Mid-American Conference. The 6-foot-2 guard notched career highs in points (25) and steals (6) against Adrian, Dec. 9.
In 2020-21, Spottsville, McBride's co-captain, saw game action in 17 games for EMU. The guard averaged 5.2 points per game and ranked third on the team with 32 assists (1.9 apg). The Phoenix, Ariz. native tallied a season-best 12 points at Buffalo, Jan. 21.
Freshman Andrew Wells (East Lansing, Mich.-East Lansing (International Sports Academy)) returns after playing in seven games last year.
Eastern welcomes four newcomers to its 2021-22 roster in senior Monty Scott (Union, N.J.-St. Benedict's Prep (Portland State)) and freshmen Noah Farrakhan (Newark, N.J.-The Patrick School (East Carolina)), Kevin-David Rice (Flint, Mich.-Gran Blanc (Delta College)), and Luka Savicevic (Skopje, North Macedonia-Sports Academy Skopje).
Scott arrives in Ypsilanti after spending the 2020-21 season at Portland State. He started in all 22 games and led the team after averaging 13.7 points per game. The Union, N.J. native was named to the All-Big Sky Honorable Mention team and surpassed 1,000 career points in a combined four collegiate seasons at PSU, Temple, and Kennesaw State.
Farrakhan transfers to EMU with four years of eligibility remaining. The guard played in 12 games for East Carolina where he averaged 3.0 points per game. Farrakhan made his collegiate debut against N.C. Wesleyan, scoring six points and handing out three assists in 16 minutes.
Last season, Rice averaged a team-best 25.3 points per game for Delta College. He boasts a 44.7 field goal percentage (97-of-217) and tallied double-figures in every game he played (12). The MCCAA North Conference Freshman and Player of the Year recipient notched a career-high 39 points against St. Clair Community College, Feb. 23.
Savicevic joins the Green and White as a true freshman after prepping at Sports Academy Skopje in North Macedonia. The guard averaged 9.2 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.0 rebounds in the North Macedonia Super League for KK MZT Skopje during the 2020-21 season and helped lead the national team to a fourth-place finish at the European Championship for Division B.
The Eagles also added walk-on freshmen Malcolm Clements (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Arbor Preparatory) and Prakash Ketterhagen (Kalamazoo, Mich.-New Rochelle (N.Y.) (Combine Academy)) to their 2021-22 roster.
FORWARDS
EMU will see two from the 2020-21 squad return for the 2021-22 campaign in senior Thomas Binelli (Bologna, Italy-Bergen Catholic (Monroe College)) and redshirt junior Derek Ballard Jr. (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield-Lathrup). The two veterans will lead the charge for the forwards.
Binelli will return to the Eagles' lineup after missing last season due to injury. In 2019-20, the forward played in 25 games, making 15 starts for EMU. He led Eastern with 57 three-pointers and scored a career-high 26 points against Northern Illinois, Feb. 25, 2020.
Ballard Jr. appeared in 15 games last year, including one start for the Eagles. The Southfield, Mich. native averaged 11.6 minutes, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 points per game. The redshirt junior grabbed a personal-best six rebounds at Central Michigan, Jan. 14. Additionally, he scored a career-high eight points against Miami, Jan. 23.
The Green and White also added two forward transfers to the 2021-22 roster over the summer in freshman Colin Golson Jr. (Detroit, Mich.-Ferndale (Siena)) and senior Nate Scott (Naperville, Ill.-Neuqua Valley (Northern Illinois)).
Golson Jr. appeared in 13 games for the Saints and averaged 5.2 points per game. He tallied a career-high 14 points at Rider, Jan. 16, and grabbed six rebounds against Saint Peter's, Jan. 23.
In 2020-21, Scott saw game action in 14 games, making 10 starts for MAC foe Northern Illinois. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 5.4 points per game and boasted a 38.4 clip (28-of-73) from the field. He scored a season-high 13 points at Central Michigan, March 5.
Additionally, Eastern Michigan welcomes "true" freshman Javantae Randle (Detroit, Mich.-Frederick Douglass) to the 2021-22 roster. Randle was a four-year letterwinner at Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men, where he averaged 20.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game. He helped lead the Hurricanes to a Division 4 State Championship in 2020-21.
CENTERS
Eastern Michigan returns senior center Axel Okongo (Saacy-sur-Marne, France-Thetford Prep Academy (Quebec) (Missouri)) to the 2021-22 roster.
Okongo appeared in 10 games for the Green and White, where he averaged 8.3 minutes per game off the bench. The 7-footer pulled down a career-best five boards and posted two blocks against Adrian, Dec. 9.
The Eagles signed two centers over the offseason to this year's roster in redshirt freshman Yusuf Jihad (Farmington Hills, Mich.-North Farmington (Oakland)) and freshman Mo Njie (Centerville, Ohio-Centerville (DME Sports Academy)).
Jihad appeared in 17 games off the bench for the Golden Grizzlies in 2020-21. He averaged 1.5 points and 5.3 minutes per game. The center scored a career-high eight points on 4-of-6 shooting at Detroit Mercy, Dec. 26.
Njie prepped at Centerville High school and is a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com and 247Sports.com. The 6-foot-10 center averaged 15.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game during his senior season. The Second Team All-State honoree broke three school records with 122 career blocks, a 63.0 career field goal percentage, and most blocks in a game (12). Additionally, Njie played for the Post Grad team at the DME Sports Academy in 2020-21, where he helped lead the team to a third-place finish at the PhenomHoops Post Grad Nationals.
Eastern Michigan will officially kick off the 2021-22 season Tuesday, Nov. 9, when the Eagles travel to Big Ten Conference opponent Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. The game is slated to start at 6:30 p.m. inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU men's basketball, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team's official Twitter at Twitter.com/EMU_MBB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/EMUMBB, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/emumbb.
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