Jordan Burton (#0)
Five-Foot-Eleven
180 lbs.
sophomore
Guard
Toledo,OH (Cardinal Stritch High School)
2019-20: Played in all 29 games, starting 25. Averaged 9.7 points, and a team leading, and MEC eighth best 3.5 assists per game to go with 3.6 rebounds per contest. Had 102 total assists, and was third on the team with 24 steals. Was fifth in the Mountain East Conference averaging 35 minutes per night. Scored a career high 21 points against Charleston on 2/19. Had a career high eight assists against West Virginia Wesleyan on 12/14/2019.
Coach Mark Richmond talked about Burton providing a scoring spark when needed:
" Jordan is a guy who can really score the ball. Whether it be as a starter, or giving the team a scoring lift off the bench, "Richmond mentioned.
Mike Sampson agreed:
"JB is a savy guard who can get hot from the 3-point line, " Sampson stated.
Pete's Take: The lone returner from last season, who played in games. Burton gained some valuable experience, as well as took some lumps a year ago. His biggest improvement since last season is his outside shot, as evidenced by the fact that he is currently leading the MEC in 3-point percentage.
Marquise Johnson (#1)
Five-Foot-Eleven
175 lbs.
junior
Guard
Aurora, Co (Vista Peak Prep High School)
Otero Junior College
2019-20: Played in 28 games, starting five for the Rattlers. Netted 10.6 points per contest. Shot 52 percent from the field- 33 percent from the 3-point line- and- 74 percent from the free throw line on the year. Also dished out 4.3 assists per night.
Richmond talked about Johnson:
"Marquise is talented, especially in those three-on-two, two-on-one type situations where he can get downhill and drive to the basket."
Pete's Take: Johnson brings some intangibles to this team. Is a big part of the depth of the squad. Can get into the lane almost at will.
Jordan Roland (#3)
Six-Foot
165 lbs.
junior
Guard
Flint,Mich.
Mott Community College
2019-20: Redshirted
2018-19: Averaged 15.0 points per game, and dished out 3.9 assists per night for Mott Community College. Shot 46 percent from the field- 36 percent from the 3-point line- and- 76 percent from the free throw line.
Redshirt Darius Barker had these thought about Roland:
" He is a crafty playmaker who can shoot, that is a ferocious competitor,"Barker said.
Coach Richmond talked about Roland:
"We are really excited about Jordan. He had not played in a game in two years before this season, and he has not shot the ball as well as he would like from the outside. He is a crafty playmaker who knows our stuff better than anyone."
Teammate Mike Sampson agreed:
"Jordan is a speedster, who can get to the cup, and finish around the rim."
Pete's Take: Roland, as Coach Richmond said is a guy who is considered to be a returnee despite the fact that he did not play in any games last season. He will orchestrate the offense a lot, and knows the teams stuff better than anyone.
Coye Campbell (#4)
Six-Foot
160 lbs.
senior
Guard
Dallas, TX (West Mesquite High School)
Hesston College
Alderson Broaddus University
2018-19: Played in 29 games for AB, starting 15 of them. Averaged 10.9 points- 2.7 rebounds- and- 1.8 assists per night. Shot 47 percent from the field- and- 38 percent from the 3-point line.
Barker summed up Campbell's game:
" Coye is a good shooter who is crafty, Barker mentioned."
Richmond talked about Campbell's experience:
" Coye is a veteran guy who has a lot of experience. He has probably played more college basketball games than anyone on our team. He is a guy who will make the right play when you need him to more often than not."
Pete's Take: Campbell is a guy who will bring much needed experience to this squad. Can get hot from the 3-point line, which is an added bonus considering all the experience that he brings.
Javontae Jones (#5)
Six-Foot-Five
185 lbs.
freshman
Forward
Beaver Hills, Pa. (Richmond Heights High School)
Richmond talked about Jones learning on the fly:
" Javontae has a lot of potential. He is going to play really hard, and give you solid minutes. As most freshman do, he will make some mistakes. We are excited about what he is going to bring though.
Pete's Take: Jones had a solid career at Richmond Heights. Was a good find for the program. Has shown flashes of what the future can bring.
Manny Hill (#10)
Five-Foot-Eleven
180 lbs.
freshman
Guard
Cleveland Heights, OH (Cleveland Heights High School)
International Sports Academy
Richmond talked about Hill:
" Manny is a local kid who will have to pay his dues just like a lot of guys his age do. Am excited to see him develop though."
Pete's Take: If the name sounds familiar, it is because his brother Yaheel started his career at West Liberty, and is currently a member of Cleveland State. Manny had a solid career at West Liberty as well. Another solid find for the Falcons.
Jalen Barnes (#11)
Six-Foot
150 lbs.
freshman
Guard
North Ridgeville, OH (Lutheran West High School)
Barnes spoke about when he first learned about NDC:
" I first heard about NDC when Coach Duncan (Williams) got the job. I love the school. Everyone here welcomes you with open arms and is ready to work everyday,"Barnes mentioned.
Barnes talked about the best part of being a member of this NDC squad:
" The best part of being a member of the team is making fun memories with your teammates on and off the court."
He also spoke about the expectations for the team this season:
" My expectations are to win games, and get better each and every day."
Barker gave his insight to Barnes off the court:
" Jalen is a sneaker head."
Barnes explained what makes the coaching staff at NDC so unique:
" They make us compete everyday, and get on us whenever we did something wrong. At the end of the day the coaching staff wants to see us get better."
Barnes talked about what makes him get up in the morning, and train everyday:
" What pushes me everyday is my little brother. I want him to follow in my footsteps one day."
Barnes talked about his Game Day routines:
" I eat Subway after school, and then eat some candy before the game, and listen to some music."
He also talked about the most unique part of this season:
" You never know what is going to happen. Anything can get canceled at any moment, so you have to appreciate these moments."
Pete's Take: Barnes is another guy in this talented Freshman class.
Tyland Crawford (#12)
Six-Foot-Three
200 lbs.
junior
Guard/Forward
Woodbridge, Va. (C.D. Hylton High School)
Northern Virginia Community College
2019-20: Played, and started in all 24 games for the NightHawks. Averaged 22.6 points- 7.8 rebounds- and- three assists per contest while playing 35 minutes per night. Also had 38 steals on the year. Shot 40 percent from the field- 30 percent from the 3-point line- and- shot at a 76 percent clip from the free throw line.
Barker talked about Crawford:
" He is a slasher who is most effective as a spot up shooter."
Pete's Take: Crawford is one of the bigger, and more athletic wings on this team. Look for him to carry a large part of the load on both ends this year.
Kameron Taylor (#13)
Six-Foot-Three
185 lbs.
freshman
Guard
Akron,OH (Spire Academy)
Pete's Take:Taylor is another Ohio product. Should help the Falcons down the road. If not this season, down the road.
Obinna Ugwuakazi (#14)
Six-Foot-Six
210 lbs.
freshman
Brockton, Mass.( Stoughton High School)
Springfield Commonwealth Academy
Richmond talked about Ugwuakazi:
" We were really excited to bring Obinna here. His size, and atheticism are two of his biggest strengths. Am excited to see what he brings this year, and for years to come."
Pete's Take: A new member of this squad who has size, and is athletic. We will see what he can do.
Isaiah Sanders (#20)
Six-Foot-Five
215 lbs.
freshman
Forward
Detroit, Mich. (Cass Technical High School)
Was a member of a pair of Michigan State Championship teams.
Classmate, and teammate Chris Richardson gave his thoughts on Sanders game:
" Isaiah is a mobile big that is a solid defender, on the inside, and out, and has the ability to knock down the mid-range jumper,"Richardson said.
Pete's Take: Sanders is in the early stages of his NDC career. The mid range game is a lost art, so in that regard he is a bit of a throwback.
Elijah Barnett (#23)
Six-Foot-Six
205 lbs.
junior
Forward
New York City, NY (Storm High School)
SUNY Ulster
2019-20: Played in 24 games, averaged 17.5 points per contest, while shooting 50 percent from the floor. Shot 39 percent from the 3-point line, and 73 percent at the free throw line.
Richardson talked about Barnett's game:
" Elijah is a long, athletic big with great shot block timing. He has the ability to stretch the floor".
Richmond talked about Barnett:
"Elijah is just starting to scratch the surface. He has so much potential, and is just learning. Will be exciting to see him continue to grow".
Pete's Take: Barnett is long, and athletic as well. He will be a big part of what the Falcons do, both on the defensive end, and on the glass. Also a big part of his game will be trying to get the Falcons some easy run outs in transition.
John Godinez (#24)
Five-Foot-Nine
162 lbs.
freshman
Guard
Baltimore, Md. (Parkville High School)
Richardson talked about one of the many new Falcons, and what he brings to the team:
" John is a quick, crafty combo guard that likes to shoot the spot up jumper. He also has the ability to create his own shot whenever he wants, and has strong playmaking ability off of the pick and roll."
Barnes talked about the tenacity that Godinez brings:
" John is a floor general, who fears no one. He has a very high basketball IQ, especially in using the pick and roll."
Pete's Take: Godinez can play both guard positions and handle the ball if needed. A good guy to have with some teams that press a lot in the MEC. He has earned his way into the starting lineup as a freshman.
Mohamed Alkadi (#25)
Six-Foot-Eight
190 lbs.
junior
Forward
Morgantown, West Va. (John Marshall High School)
Olive Harvey College
Barnes talked about the relationship he has with Alkadi:
" Mohamed and I just clicked, and became close. We have a big brother, little brother relationship,Barnes said.
Richmond talked about Alkadi:
" Mohamed's got great length, so he can kind of change some shots. We've been trying to find a situation where he can help us, because he is a very skilled kid who can shoot the basketball."
2019-20: Was a team captain at Olive Harvey. Averaged 11 points, seven rebounds, and shot a blistering 53 percent from the 3-point line on the season.
Pete's Take: Alkadi is a solid player. Is very long. As the season has progressed he has seen his minutes increase.
Michael Sampson (#30)
Six-Foot-Four
180 lbs.
junior
Forward
Houston, TX (Klein High School)
Barker talked about Sampson:
" Mike is a slasher, and a very hard worker."
Barnes talked about the intangibles that Sampson brings:
"Mike is a gamer."
Richmond talked about what Sampson brings:
" Mike is definitely efficient and he plays with great energy, and a great motor. We don't have to run any plays for him. These are some of the reasons why he plays as many minutes as he does."
Pete's Take: Sampson will man the post for the Falcons. He has a very high basketball IQ- and- is very fundamentally sound with size.
Colby Dillenbeck (#34)
Six-Foot-Six
230 lbs.
freshman
Forward
Dallas, TX (Andrew Osborne Academy)
Richmond talked about Dillenbeck:
"Colby is another big that we are excited about. He will really help this team on the boards, and defensively."
Pete's Take: Dillenbeck is another long post player. He will have to earn his minutes in practice.
Chris Richardson (#44)
Six-Foot-Five
210 lbs.
redshirt freshman
Forward
Akron, OH (Revere High School)
Lakeland Community College
2019-20: Played in 27 games, starting 20 for the Lakers. Averaged 9.9 points- and- five rebounds per night. Shot 50 percent from the floor- 32 percent from the 3-point line- and- swatted 0.6 shots per game. Also shot at a 74 percent clip from the free throw line.
Pete's Take: Richardson is learning on the fly just like many of these guys are. He is long, and athletic.
Meron Ghebreyesus (#45)
Six-Foot-Two
175 lbs.
junior
Guard
Washington D.C (Theodore Roosevelt High School)
Garrett College
2019-20: Was a member of the Garrett team that went 24-8 on the season.
Pete's Take: Another in the long line of Falcons who will have to pay his dues before getting minutes.
Gabe Simpson (#46)
Six-Foot
160 lbs.
junior
Guard
Warren, OH (Warren Harding High School)
Owens Community College
Began his JUCO career at Owens in the 2018-19 season. Had a career high 33 points in a game that season.
Pete's Take: Simpson is a guy who can really score. In just caught in a logjam at his position right now. Another piece to look forward to down the road.
Redshirts:
DeAirius Barker
Six-Foot-One
170 lbs.
freshman
Guard
Cincinnati, OH (Princeton High School)
Barker talked about the best part of being a member of this team:
"Building connections, and relationships is definitely the best part,"Barker opined.
When asked about his expectations for the team this season here were the thoughts of Barker:
"To always be better the next game is definitely the expectation".
This was Barker's thought about his first impression of the school, and team:
" On my visit I really liked the coaches is what stuck out."
Barker told me that the thing that makes Coach Rich and the rest of the coaching staff unique is they want to win just as badly as the team does."
When asked what drives him to get up in the morning, and train everyday Barker told me he wants to be the best.
This is one Game Day ritual of Barker:
" I write my best friend's name on the back of my hand because he passed."
When asked what the most unique part of this season in the midst of a pandemic these were the thoughts of Barker:
" Wearing a mask while working out."
Pete's Take: A guy from the queen city who is looking to make his mark at NDC.
Dyshawn Jackson
Six-Foot-Two
160 lbs.
sophomore
Guard
Cleveland, OH (Cleveland Central Catholic High School)
Cuyahoga Community College
Was on the First Team All Defensive team in both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons as a player at Tri-C. Was an All District player in basketball his senior season of high school at Central Catholic. Was also all-conference in both basketball, and football his final year of High School.
Pete's Take: The talent is definitely there with Jackson. It is now just a question of fitting into the system at NDC. The redshirt season should be instrumental in his development.
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