Last season, the men’s basketball team ended a successful season with its third-consecutive trip to the NAIA Division II National Championship and claimed the regular-season GPAC title with a 17-3 conference record.
The Raiders ended their season with a 24-7 record and a first-round exit to California Maritime at the national tournament last March. However, NW lost three starters to graduation and returned only six players from last season’s roster.
“I do feel confident in this group, and as the season goes on, we will continue to get better,” senior guard and returning starter Zack Leeper said. “I think we can use the team’s youth and speed as a strength.”
At the guard, seniors Rob Gill, Leeper and sophomore Joey Habtemariam return to give the Raiders stability at the position.
Leeper will be a three-year starter for NW after transferring from Northern State University. Leeper averaged 12.2 points per game last season. Gill played in 30 games last season, averaged 5.5 points per game and tallied 62 assists. Habtemariam played in 28 games as a freshman and averaged 4.6 points per game.
Sophomores Ryan Kliegl, Taylor Francis, T.J. Buyert and Keegan Mulder will be newcomers at the varsity level. The guard positions will also be bolstered by transfers Isaiah Taylor, Jordan Hamamoto and Tyler Goldston.
At the forward position, junior Levi Ettleman returns after starting all 31 games last season. Ettleman averaged 6.6 points per game and pulled down 3.3 rebounds.
Sophomore Bryce Moss also returns after playing in all 31 games last season. Moss averaged four points a contest on 55 percent shooting from the floor and also grabbed 3.1 rebounds per game.
Junior Gerasimos Mantalvanos will also be in the mix after transferring to NW from Athens, Greece.
Inside, the post position will be manned by freshmen Justin Van Kalsbeek and Jordan Baker. Sophomore Ben Guhl will also be a newcomer to the varsity squad.
