St. Francis Brooklyn Athletics

In the world of Northeast Conference hoops, a good portion of its members' early-season competition occurs on the road. Even though there may be some impressive collegiate basketball programs listed on their "away" schedules, NEC schools know that it is the conference tussles that really matter.

And continuing the program's rise and capturing the Northeast Conference crown remains the primary focus of St. Francis Brooklyn men's basketball head coach Glenn Braica and his Terriers, as another season gets underway.

"To tell you the truth," said Coach Braica, "I'm always excited about starting a new season. It's hard to tell how things will work out. It's early yet, but I think that we're working towards the point I'd like us to be at," Braica said.

Prior to last season, St. Francis Brooklyn was projected to finish last in the NEC. But, the guys from Remsen and Court wound up finishing the season tied for fourth place with a 10-8 mark in conference play and earned a trip to the NEC Tournament for the seventh time under Braica.

Although the team finished 13-18 last year, that record might be a bit deceiving. "We lost a few games that we had a real shot at winning, and we were right there, fighting for a second-place conference finish, towards the end of last season," Braica noted. The Terriers were involved in a number of tight contests in 2017-18. 

The team from Brooklyn Heights was able to score enough points in its 18 NEC contests (75.7 points per game) and surrendered 77.2 points per game, an uncharacteristic development for a Terriers' program, which has always prided itself on its defense.   

"This year, I think we have a chance to be a pretty good team," admitted Braica. "We can score; we're a lot bigger and more physical; we should be better defensively, and this is a good group of guys. We learned a lot about ourselves from last year – especially about how important it is to play good half-court defense and the sort of effort it takes to win on the road," he said.  

A core of nine players is joined by a group of six newcomers. Four of the five top scorers from last year return for coach Braica. And for a team that had been overly perimeter-oriented over the previous two years, there seems to be better balance across the board, as the Terriers continue to claw their way toward the top of the conference standings.

Heading the Terriers are two returning starters: Glenn Sanabria, a senior point guard (12.1 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game, 3.1 assists per game), and sophomore off-guard Jalen Jordan (11.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.0 apg). That duo provided steady, long-distance scoring last season, splashing an impressive 130 three-pointers between them, each at better than a 40 percent success rate.  

Coach Braica describes Sanabria, another of those heady City-bred guards who always seem to dot the St. Francis roster, as a tough, hard-nosed player who never wants to leave the court. An outstanding student-athlete, Sanabria will serve as the unquestioned leader of this year's group, given his skill for protecting the basketball and his ability to make the clutch plays and the big shots. The fifth-year senior from Staten Island led the NEC last season in assist/turnover ratio and finished among the conference leaders in assists, three-point field goal percentage, and three-point field goals made. Sanabria notched 89 assists while committing only 31 turnovers. He also recorded 29 steals and even managed to block nine shots despite being just 5-11. A lot of observers were surprised that Sanabria's well-rounded game didn't translate into All-NEC status last year. "I was disappointed that Glenn wasn't selected to one of the All-Conference teams," Braica said. "He's one of the best, all-around guards in the conference and had a terrific year for us."

However, a player who was selected to an All-Conference Team was Jordan, Sanabria's sharp-shooting backcourt buddy. He made quite an impression in his initial year in a Terriers' uniform, making the NEC's All-Rookie Team, while finishing among the top players in the conference in both free-throw percentage and three-point field goal percentage. The lanky 6-3 resident of Conyers, GA, put on some weight in the offseason and coach Braica looks for Jordan to continue as an integral part of the Terriers' perimeter offense. "Jalen has been through the wars and has shown he can be an effective scorer for us," commented Braica. "I think that he'll improve defensively this year and we look forward to him having a good sophomore season."

Sophomore guard Chauncey Hawkins opened a lot of eyes last season (6.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.5 apg) in his initial year in Division I. The speedy 5-8 guard from Spring Valley, NY, provided both an offensive and defensive spark (23 steals) off the bench, while shooting almost 75 percent from the free-throw line. Hawkins' aggressive, high-energy play netted him two starts during the season. "You'll see a lot more of Chauncey this year," said Braica. "He showed he could compete at this level."

Several new faces are bolstering that returning backcourt trio.

Coach Braica is excited about the play of 6-5 junior Rosel Hurley, who brings an athletic presence to the wing position. Hurley is a transfer from the same New Mexico Military Institute junior college program as former Terrier Jagos Lasic. "Hurley is an aggressive offensive player," noted Braica. "He's a very physical driver who attacks the rim," he said, "and he handles and passes the ball very well for a guy that size." Hurley originally signed with Kent State University out of the high-profile Shaker Heights High School program in Cleveland, where he was touted as one of Ohio's top wing players. One of his teammates there was Terry Rozier of the NBA's Boston Celtics.

The Terriers also added two "true" freshmen guards and a player who attended St. Francis last year but did not play.

Stevan Krtinic, who played point guard last year at the Carnegie Schools in Riverside, CA, at 6-5, is a versatile athlete who can also man either backcourt spot. Originally from Novi Sad, Serbia, he was named to the Division 4A First Team by the California Interscholastic Federation. "Stevan's another player who shoots the ball well and is a good passer," Braica commented. "He is also very strong going to the basket, and has nice size for a guard," he added.

Larry Moreno, a 5-11 combo guard from the Brooklyn High School of Law & Technology where he racked up over 2,000 career points as a four-year starter, was named a Class A All-New York State First Teamer both as a junior and senior. Moreno is well-known in New York City circles as a dynamic scorer but will likely have to add some additional muscle to absorb the nightly pounding of Division I hoops. Moreno will be sidelined with an injury but is a promising young player for the Terriers. "Larry will have to get a bit stronger, but he has tremendous potential as a college player once he gets some experience at this level," said Braica.

Another player who has nice size for a guard is 6-4 Jordan Williams. He graduated from Brooklyn's St. Edmund Prep but sat out his freshman year at St. Francis. Williams is a three-time Catholic High School Athletic Association Class A All-League player, as well as a two-time All-New York State Honorable Mention selection. "Jordan has looked good during the offseason," said Braica, "and we look forward to his progression in his first year at the Division I level."

An area where the Terriers also got stronger is in the frontcourt. Joshua Nurse, a 6-10 senior from Queens, NY (1.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, and 16 blocked shots), gained valuable experience last season as a starter. Nurse will miss some time with an injury, but coach Braica feels that the front line will remain well-manned by the other returnees and some talented newcomers. "We'll have more size, physical presence, and depth now at the five position and I think we'll be more effective defensively," Braica emphasized.

Junior Milija Cosic will again be at forward once he returns to the court, along with classmate Yaradyah Evans. The very seasoned Keon Williams is primed for his last go-round in a Red and Blue uniform, while juniors Cori Johnson, a 6-9 center, and Bryant Beckford, a 6-5 forward return as well.

The 6-6 Cosic (7.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg) was somewhat of a surprise last season after arriving from Frank Phillips Junior College in Texas. The Belgrade, Serbia native played his way into more and more playing time as the season wore on and was eventually rewarded with two starts. His ability to hit the three-point shot from the deep corner stretches defenses. "Milija is a tough player, a solid shooter and a very effective driver," commented Braica. "If he can rebound a bit better and cut down a bit on his turnovers, he'll be a great player for us," Braica added.

Evans (1.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg) worked hard this summer on getting stronger and put on 10 pounds. "Yaya is a very talented player with great length, and he can be effective with his outside shot," Braica said of the 6-6 Brooklynite. "We need him to rebound, be a little more active defensively because he has such a tremendous reach, and he needs to take better care of the basketball," Braica noted. "If he can be more consistent, he has the sort of ability that will help us up front."

Keon Williams, the 6-4 small forward from Atlanta, GA (1.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg), is one of only three seniors on this year's roster and has started over 30 games for the Terriers in his career in Brooklyn Heights. Despite his size, the rugged Williams has always been able to battle much taller opponents and provides Braica with an experienced defensive presence in the frontcourt. "Keon hits the boards and runs the floor very well, and we're counting on him to give us quality minutes at forward," said Braica. 

The 6-9, 270-pound Johnson (2.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, nine blocked shots) is in the best shape of his Terrier career after struggling the last several years with knee problems that severely limited the Brooklyn resident's playing time. Coach Braica sees Johnson as a key player this year at the five or center position, teaming with two other talented newcomers who should be in the mix. "Cori has worked hard this summer to get where he is, and he's in a position to get minutes this year," said Braica. "At his size, he can shoot from outside, which can create problems for opponents. He needs to improve on the boards and be more active defensively."

Beckford, a 6-5 walk-on (0.7 ppg, 0.3 rpg), saw limited minutes last season. "Bryant is a solid player," said Braica. "He plays hard and can rebound well," he added.

Coach Braica considers the center spot as probably the Terriers' most improved area because of the size and depth that now occupies that position. The 6-9 Johnson returns and is joined by junior college transfers Christian Rohlehr and Deniz Celen. Both Rohlehr and Celen will have two years of remaining eligibility.

"We're much bigger at the five spot than we were in the past," Braica pointed out. "We'll be more physical, and our shot-blocking and rebounding should be improved. All of our post players are at least 6-8 and 230, have good hands, are threats from the outside, and are pretty solid passers," he noted.

Rohlehr is an active 6-9 rim protector who led all U.S. Division III junior colleges twice in blocks. He rejected an amazing 272 shot attempts – an average of more than five a game --- during his two seasons at Jefferson County College in Watertown, NY. The Ajax, Ontario resident, is also a capable scorer around the hoop, hitting on over 67 percent of his field goal attempts as a sophomore. That percentage was third nationally in NJCAA Division III. "Christian has tremendous upside. He only played one year of high school ball as a senior, before going to junior college," Braica noted. "We really haven't had a shot-blocker like Christian here since Amdy Fall graduated, and that should certainly help improve our half-court defense." Fall finished his Terriers' career in 2016 as a two-time NEC Defensive Player of the Year.

The 6-8 Celen joins St. Francis Brooklyn from Harcum College in Pennsylvania, where he showed a high basketball IQ and good court awareness by finishing second on the team in assists. Celen, who's from Ankara, Turkey, had originally attended Fairfield University as a freshman, and he brings some additional rebounding intensity and physicality to the group. He has also shown an ability to hit the three-pointer. Coach Braica believes Celen can be effective at either the four position or the five position. "Deniz gives us some size and flexibility and will fit in well with our rotation up front," said Braica. "He has excellent hands and a terrific feel for the game."

Overall, Coach Braica seems pleased with his team's progress for the upcoming season. One of the reasons is the continuing stability of the coaching staff at St. Francis.

Assistant Coaches Clive Bentick, Ron Ganulin, and Jamaal Womack all have been at Braica's side for several years. Coach Ganulin is a former Head Coach at St. Francis, as well as a former Assistant Coach at UNLV during their 1990 NCAA Championship campaign. Says Braica of his staff: "Each of these guys are great teachers and excellent talent evaluators." The number of former Terriers currently playing professional basketball overseas attests to the ability of the St. Francis staff to get the best out of the student-athletes in the Program.

Coach Braica believes that the Terriers' 2018-19 schedule will test his team. Included are two Division III Brooklyn neighbors, and a quartet of games in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. As part of the Tip-Off, St. Francis will play both Boston College and the University of Richmond on the road, before playing two games in a four-team bracket to be hosted by Niagara University. The three other teams in that bracket will be Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Grambling University, and Niagara.

The Terriers will also meet St. John's University, as well as Manhattan College and Saint Peter's University, the latter two at the Pope Physical Education Center. The Red and Blue will be meeting two programs for the first time ever this season: The University of Massachusetts – Lowell and Presbyterian University. And, as expected, there are the 18 high-intensity conference games scheduled against the other NEC member institutions.

The coaching staff is very excited about this year's edition of the Terriers. No doubt, they'll be a deeper team roster-wise, and the defensive effort will most certainly intensify under Braica's direction. The only question will be how quickly all those pieces come together and propel the Terriers towards success in the NEC.

"I like where we are right now," repeated Coach Braica, who won the NEC Coach of the Year award twice – in both 2012 and 2015.

When asked where he thought his team would finish in this coming year's NEC standings, Braica responded, "I like the work ethic, maturity, and ability of the current roster."