There is a lot of buzz and excitement surrounding the Ellsworth CC men's basketball program as Coach Bryan Bender enters his second season at the helm. After a 22-10 inaugural season campaign the Panthers saw 12 players sign to the 4-year level, including a NJCAA DII leading 5 players to DI programs. Despite the multiple departures, the ECC staff reloaded their roster with a mix of transfers, talented freshman, and some local talent to reload their 2023 class.
This offseason the Panthers played in 5 jamborees through the United States and picked up some quality wins over 3 NJCAA top 10 D2 programs and wins over multiple NJCAA DI programs. The rigorous schedule has prepped them well as they start their regular season on Friday, November 3rd where they will open against Blackhawk College (Moline) on a neutral floor at NIACC.
The Panthers will play a very difficult schedule this season. On top of the 18 conference games in the ICCAC, they will play 3 NJCAA DI programs and another 8 NJCAA programs highlighted by home games against Kansas City CC (November 7th) and Defending National Runner up, Macomb CC (November 10th).
ECC is pre-ranked #17 in the NJCAA national poll and is led by 4 returners from last year's team. Honorable Mention all-conference returner, Jordan Glenn (17 starts) is much improved from a season ago and will provide great leadership on and off the floor. Joining Glenn will be Arlandus Keyes (14 starts) who averaged 8.6 ppg a year ago, Zeke Thompkins (16 starts) who is the team's leading returning rebounder, and Clavance Alvares (1 start).
On top of the 4 returners the Panthers had 3 kids redshirting last year: DI transfer Cam Liggins from Queens will provide an athletic shooter who can get to the rim and can be an elite defender. Also sitting out was Mobi Ikegwuruka from Ireland who will be one of the best players in the country and provides an athletic rebounder and an efficient scorer. The other Red-shirt candidate is Hemed Khalifa from Canada.
ECC's recruiting class was highlighted by DI transfer Bessanty Saragba, who is a 6'10" 230-pound center from France who played at UIC and Clinton Efinda from Ireland who was signed at UMBC last fall and DMACC Transfer, Jaron Crews who averaged 11.3 PPG last season. Two top prospects from England also joined the roster who played in the EABL. Brennan Geoghegan from England will provide shooting from 3 and Lamarana Diallo (6'5" 230) will provide another productive big body for the Panthers. Veljko Munitlak from Serbian and Themba Tshuma from South Africa will also provide size in the front court this season.
Capping off the 2023-24 roster are 3 players with local ties Andrew Bickense from Iowa Falls who has expanded his game to 3 and will provide toughness on both sides of the ball, Chris Willis whose family is from Iowa Falls, but played his High School ball in Long Beach, CA. He will provide a backup PG role and can shoot the 3 and Jack Scrivner from Central Decatur HS in Leon, IA. Scrivner can stretch the floor and has an athletic 6'4" frame.
The Coaching staff also added some new faces. Demontrez Austin, Trevor Kingma, and Ankit Wadera all joined the staff, and they will join the returning Assistants, Ben Tanoff and Dwayne Melton.
To view the full 2023-24 roster please click here: https://www.eccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/roster
To view the full 2023-24 schedule please click here: https://www.eccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/schedule
To donate to the MBB program please click here: https://eccfoundation.square.site/shop/support-for-men-s-basketball/5