HARTFORD, Conn. - The Trinity College men's basketball team is excited to return to the court for its 2021-22 season opener against Mitchell College in the Eastern Connecticut State University Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, November 12 at 7 p.m. The Bantams, coached by James Cosgrove (12th Season), were 17-9 two years ago when they reached the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Semifinals, but were unable to play any games in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With leadership provided by senior tri-captains Donald Jorden Jr. (Tampa, Fla.), Darius Lue (Tampa, Fla.), and Tyler Mola (Leominster, Mass.), Trinity should be one of several teams vying vying for the conference title this season.
"We have a talented roster with size, shooting ability, and athleticism," said Cosgrove. "Our success will be determined by how we are able to pull it all together once we start playing games."
Jorden, a 6'6" C/F, is one of the top low-post scorers in the Northeast, having averaged over 11 ppg the last two seasons while shooting well over 60 percent from the field last winter. He has the size and strength to defend larger centers in the post and already has over 500 rebounds in his career. Senior C Jared Whitt (Hanover, Mass.) is an experienced 6'9" center with shooting range, and classmate Chris Dean (Richmond, Va.) also has frontcourt experience. Junior forward Dana Smith (Providence, R.I.) has developed steadily over the last 18 months following a promising rookie campaign in 2019-20. Sophomore Ben Callahan-Gold (New York, N.Y.),a 6-foot-8 transfer with three-point shooting ability from Division I Tulane, should have an impact.
Lue and Mola have both been steady performers in spots throughout their careers, and the pair is eager to take advantage of the opportunity to play major roles in the Trinity backcourt this winter. Both have displayed not only tremendous leadership but also tenacious defensive skills and shooting range from beyond the arc this pre-season. Junior guard combo Joe Hoch (South Ozone Park, N.Y.) is also strong defensively and shooting the ball, while classmate Miles Davis (West Roxbury, Mass.) rounds out the experienced guards. Rookies Will Dorion (Needham, Mass.) and Ethan McEachern (York, Maine) will push Mola at the point guard spot. Dorion is a natural playmaker who can play right away and McEachern is a speedy, sharp-shooter.
On the wing, junior C.J. Redd (Peekskill, N.Y.) has emerged as an exciting player at both ends of the floor and should have a breakout year after showing an ability to score in a variety of ways in 2019-20. The Bantams are loaded with young athletic finishers who could all contribute in their first collegiate seasons. Sophomore Sean Okpoebo (Leominster, Mass.) and Gilbert Otoo (Burtonsville, Md.) have benefitted from a year of development as first-years in 2020-21. Rookie guard Ethan Yetman (Sydney, Australia) has a knack for getting to get to the basket and fellow rookie Kualim Johnson (West Boylston, Mass.) is another exciting prospect. Two more first-years, Alex Douglas (Glen Cove, N.Y.) and Sean Macarchuk (Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.), further add to Trinity's deep squad .
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