Tag: Iona Basketball

New Mexico Secures Commitment From Iona Transfer Nelly Junior Joseph

New Mexico Secures Commitment From Iona Transfer Nelly Junior Joseph Lobos add first commitment of transfer class. Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire New Mexico finds their big man for the 2023-2024 season. Richard Pitino and his staff filled a …

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New Mexico Secures Commitment From Iona Transfer Nelly Junior Joseph

Lobos add first commitment of transfer class.

Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

New Mexico finds their big man for the 2023-2024 season. 

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Richard Pitino and his staff filled a glaring need on their 2023-2024 New Mexico roster on Tuesday. Securing the commitment from 6-10, Iona transfer big man Nelly Junior Joseph.

The Beninese Junior announced his decision his twitter around noon on Tuesday. After a visit to Albuquerque last weekend, which was followed up by a stop in Dallas to visit his other finalist Southern Methodist.

Lobo fans should be familiar with Junior Joseph’s game and what he brings to Albuquerque next season. After a dominant 21 points, 6 rebounds & 3 steal performance (in just 27 minutes of action) against New Mexico inside the Pit back on December 18th, 2022. Coach Pitino and their staff know they are getting a big who can run the floor, play with his back to the basket, excels in open space & has a great feel for off the ball movement.

The need for a demanding offensive force in the paint next season was evident with the departure of Morris Udeze this spring. The 6-8 graduate transfer excelled in Albuquerque this past season. Averaging a near double-double en route to All-MWC Third-Team Honors, but exhausting his college eligibility.

Fellow starters Javonte Johnson & Josiah Allick opted to his the transfer portal last month. Leaving Richard Pitino with two all-conference guards Jaelen House & Jamal Mashburn Jr. as the only returning starters. And an obvious need for an offseason in the transfer portal looking for an impact big man.

Junior Joseph was the 2020-2021 MAAC Freshman of the Year, well also receiving back to back All-MAAC 1st team selections during his time at Iona. Prior to his time in Rochelle, he was a part of the NBA Academy Africa in neighboring Senegal.

“Nelly is one of the premier players to come out of Africa this year. He is a tremendous athlete who is great in the open court. He is a powerful player with a very good mid-range game.” said former Iona head coach Rick Pitino

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

St. John’s fires Mike Anderson, targeting Rick Pitino as replacement

St Johns has joined the coaching carousel after firing Mike Anderson.

St. John’s has decided to move on from head coach Mike Anderson according to CBS Sport’s John Rothstein and is eyeing Iona’s Rick Pitino to be his replacement. 

Anderson just finished his fourth season with the Red Storm, trying to help restore the program to its former glory. His departure comes after an 18-15 season including a 7-13 conference record, after beating Butler in the first round of the Big East Tournament, the Red Storm lost on Thursday to the top-seeded Marquette Golden Eagles 72-70 in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

Anderson departs St. Johnson’s despite leading the Red Storm to four-straight winning seasons and an overall record of 68-56. However, the Red Storm failed to make the NCAA Tournament during his tenure.

With his success not just at St. John’s but in his career overall with a career record of 437-256, Anderson should be a popular name this offseason in the coaching carousel and should be able to find another job quite easily if he looks to continue his coaching career. During his 21 years of coaching, he has led his programs to nine NCAA Tournament appearances.

As mentioned above, Rick Pitino appears to be St. John’s top target and has reportedly been vetting Pitino for several weeks.

The long-time head coach is currently in his third season with Iona, leading the program to the NCAA Tournament in his first season in 2020-2021 as well as back-to-back regular season titles each of the last two seasons.

Pitino, of course, is best known for his tenures at Kentucky and Louisville from 1989 to 1997 and 2001 to 2017 respectively. As a head coach, he has won two national titles, one at both Kentucky and Louisville while also leading his programs to seven Final Four appearances and 23 combined regular season or conference tournament titles.

While success has followed Pitino, the 70-year-old head coach has also had his fair share of scandals during his career including a “pay-to-play” scandal at Louisville that ultimately resulted in his departure as the Cardinals’ head coach..

While Pitino’s name is thrown around in these job searches, the Iona Gaels are preparing to play tonight in the MAAC Tournament Semifinals.