Men's Basketball Announces 2022-23 Roster
MIDLAND, MICH. – The Northwood University men's basketball team has announced its roster for the 2022-23 season.
The Timberwolves will have a new look for the upcoming campaign, with 13 of the 14 players being in their first season at Northwood. Junior De'Airrus Ware is the lone returner to the team.
"I am very excited about this group," said head coach Lonnie Griffin, who is in his third season leading the program. "We have a great mix of transfers and freshmen that I fee fit our core values and what we about as a program. They are a great group of kids from very good families that love the game of basketball. I am really looking forward to working with them.
"I really was looking for characteristics that fit the STAUP (Sacrifice, Toughness, Accountability, Unity, Passion) mentality. Yes I wanted talented kid, but more than anything I wanted kids who fit our core values and had something to prove. I feel we hit a home run with this," said Griffin.
Here are the 13 newcomers to the program:
#0 Xavier Bargesser
Sophomore
Forward
6-5/191
Grass Lake, Mich. / Grass Lake
Coach Griffin on Bargesser: "X is a player that will impact our program right away with his experience and his ability to make winning plays."
#1 Christian Nunn
Freshman
Guard
6-3/219
Indianapolis, Ind. / Crispus Attackus
Coach Griffin on Nunn: "His size will allow him to play multiple positions, along with his athleticism he will be a very hard guard."
#2 Kyle Jackson
Sophomore
Forward
6-7/195
Mansfield, Ohio / Madison Comprehensive (Lakeland CC)
Coach Griffin on Jackson: "Kyle will set a tone with his effort and energy when he plays, his experience playing on a championship team last year will be invaluable."
#3 Jude Drake
Freshman
Guard
6-4/167
Detroit, Mich. / Jalen Rose
Coach Griffin on Drake: "Jude is a kid whose best basketball is ahead of him. He can do a lot of good things for his size and I look forward to working with him.
#4 Anthony Sanders
Junior
Foward
6-6/203
Saginaw, Mich. / Saginaw
Coach Griffin on Sanders: "His versatility will allow us to show a lot of different looks and give us the ability to guard a lot of different line-ups."
#5 Maurice Sain Jr.
Freshman
Guard
6-5/188
Muskegon, Mich. / Muskegon
Coach Griffin on Sain: "Mo will be a big guard that will be able to guard multiple positions and will be really tough to guard."
#11 Bennie Crenshaw Jr.
RFr.
Guard
5-11/173
Waterford, Mich. / Kettering (Ferris State)
Coach Griffin on Crenshaw: "Bennie will be a great fit with his ability to both make others better and score the ball from the guard position."
#12 Noah Pruitt
Sophomore
Guard
5-10/172
Okemos, Mich. / Okemos (Mid Michigan CC)
Coach Griffin on Pruitt: "His ability to lead a team will be a big help as we look to put this roster together. He will help make others better."
#13 Devin Smith
Freshman
Guard
6-1/166
Saginaw, Mich. / Heritage
Coach Griffin on Smith: "Devin brings us quality depth at the guard position. I am looking forward to his continued development."
#20 Savon Wykle
Sophomore
Forward
6-5/186
Smyrna, Tenn. / Smyrna (Parkland CC)
Coach Griffin on Wykle: "Savon is a player that has the ability to impact a game on both sides of the floor and who has played in a lot of big games."
#24 Will Young II
Freshman
Forward
6-4/174
Okemos, Mich. / Okemos
Coach Griffin on Young: "His ability to score the ball is very good, but I think he can be a very good defender and look forward to his growth on that end.
#32 Quinton Steele II
Freshman
Forward
6-7/189
Southfield, Mich. / Birmingham Groves
Coach Griffin on Steele: "His motor will be a very good piece to the roster. He will also give us a player that will improve every day."
#44 Ethan Dunn
Freshman
Center
6-10/233
Lansing, Mich. / East Lansing
Coach Griffin on Dunn: "His skill level for his size will be a very good thing for our program. His upside is very big.
Northwood will open the 2022-23 season with an exhibition game against Central Michigan November 3. The regular season will start November 11 at Drury.