NSU looking to build off second South Region title in four years
Following a memorable run to the Elite Eight that included a near-perfect 31-1 record, head coach Jim Crutchfield and the Nova Southeastern men's basketball program have begun the process of rebuilding the roster with the addition of four signees as part of the 2022 recruiting class. The Sharks continue to replenish their depth across the board, welcoming in a trio of guards in Ryan Davis, Maxwell Gordon and Will Yoakum, along with former Division I forward Tomas Murphy.
Ryan Davis (6-4, 210, Guard)
Player Profile: The lone early signee of the bunch, Davis joins the Sharks after a massive senior season in which he guided his Martin County High School team to a Class 6A State Championship before being selected as the Class 6A Player of the Year. Davis was also named a finalist for Florida's Mr. Basketball and is a two-time Treasure Coast Player of the Year. At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Davis is a strong guard that passes very well and likes to get to the rim. He has proven the ability to carry the load for his team and has the capability to guard positions 1-5 on the floor. Beyond his physical traits, Davis will bring plenty of toughness and leadership to the Sharks.
Davis on why he chose NSU: "I committed to NSU because of the way the team all looks out for each other. I could tell that it's like a family and I wanted to be a part of it."
What Crutchfield is saying: "Ryan just finished an incredible career at Martin County High School, where he captured a state championship and was named 6A Player of the Year in Florida. The way Ryan plays the game, I would label him as an outstanding competitor. That competitive nature is always sought out by coaches and I am glad he is bringing it to NSU."
Maxwell Gordon (5-9, 170, Guard)
Player Profile: With the departure of both Eddie Puisis and Nick Smith, Gordon will provide depth to a fairly youthful backcourt that will include Davis, along with Dallas Graziani, Jake Maranville, Mike Moore, Jonathan Pierre and Kobe Rodgers. Gordon joins the Sharks following a successful career at one of South Florida's premier programs, Cypress Bay High School, where he played under NSU alumni Jason Looky. A true lead guard with a pass-first mentality, Gordon guided Cypress Bay to the Elite Eight in 2022 before finishing as an All-Broward County Second Team selection. He's a big-time competitor that makes those around him better.
Gordon on why he chose NSU: "My biggest reason for deciding to go to NSU was that I felt truly wanted by the program, not only as a player but also as a person. They put a big emphasis on the type of person they recruit, and after watching their program over the last few years, that really stuck out to me. I wanted to be a part of it."
What Crutchfield is saying: "I'm always glad to have a local player with such high character like Maxwell join our program. He comes from an outstanding and successful high school program at Cypress Bay, and played a significant role in their recent success. I know he will blend well with the players on our roster."
Tomas Murphy (6-8, 225, Forward)
Player Profile: Murphy becomes the highest-rated prospect coming out of high school to join the program, earning a four-star rating by ESPN and three-star ratings by both Rivals and Scout in the 2017 class. The 6-foot-8 forward has an extensive basketball lineage, including his father, Jay, who played at Boston College from 1980-84 before going on to a notable professional career that featured four years in the NBA. His mother, Paivi, played professionally in Sweden, while oldest brother Erik was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 2013 NBA Draft after four successful years at the University of Florida. His other older brother, Alex, spent his collegiate career at Duke, Florida and Northeastern.
Murphy signed with Northeastern out of high school, where he was named to the 2017-18 CAA All-Rookie Team, and later played a pivotal role on the Huskies' 2018-19 CAA Championship team that faced Kansas in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. He also spent two years at Vermont, redshirting in 2021-22, and was a member of the Finnish U20 National Team in 2017.
Expect Murphy to compete for a considerable role in the NSU frontcourt. He exhibits an inside-out game with pick-and-pop capabilities, flashes rim-running athleticism, plays unselfishly as a willing passer and is a solid rebounder.
Murphy will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Murphy on why he chose NSU: "I chose Nova Southeastern University because of the high-level program led by Coach Crutchfield and Coach Fee. They made me feel welcome during my visit and am looking forward to the chance to compete for a National Championship next season with the Sharks."
What Crutchfield is saying: "Tomas is the prototypical, multi-skilled big man that fits well in our system. He has proven himself to be a quality player at the DI level, and after a couple years of battling injuries, I know he's chomping at the bit to hit the court at full strength. I'm just glad it will be in a Shark uniform."
Will Yoakum (6-5, 185, Guard/Forward)
Player Profile: Signed by Crutchfield at West Liberty prior to his move to NSU back in 2017, Yoakum will finally get the opportunity to play for the Sharks' head coach in his final collegiate season. At 6-foot-5, Yoakum is an ideal fit for the way NSU plays, possessing plenty of versatility, a strong shooting stroke and the ability to cut and move without the ball. During his time at West Liberty, Yoakum earned D2 Bulletin All-America honors, was a two-time, All-MEC First Team pick, was named the 2020 MEC Tournament MVP in addition to being recognized as the MEC Freshman of the Year. He helped lead the Hilltoppers to a combined five conference titles, a trip to the Elite Eight in 2021, and heads to Fort Lauderdale already with 1,355 career points under his belt.
Yoakum will have one year of eligibility remaining.
Yoakum on why he chose NSU: "I chose NSU because of the high-quality education, but also the opportunity to be a part of one of the best DII programs in the nation. It's exciting to get to play for the NSU staff and Coach Crutchfield, who recruited me out of high school. They don't just win games here, they strive to win championships."
What Crutchfield is saying: "How often do you get the opportunity to sign a player twice? I liked Will's game five years ago and I like it even more now. He is a proven winner and comes in already familiar with our system."
The Sharks return 10 players from last year's NCAA South Region Championship team that finished the season with a record of 31-1.
Original source can be found here.
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