Ten Newcomers to Boost Men’s Basketball in 2023-24
Suffolk men’s basketball’s roster got a make-over over the off-season as head coach Jeff Juron brought in 10 fresh faces to the Rams’ roster for the 2023-24 campaign.
2023-24 SUFFOLK MEN'S BASKETBALL ROSTER
BOSTON – Suffolk men's basketball's roster got a make-over over the off-season as head coach Jeff Juron brought in 10 fresh faces to the Rams' roster for the 2023-24 campaign.
The group is comprised of six true freshmen in Declan Davis, Matt Draheim, Greg Keane, Cem Uner, Nick Verdile and Owen Walters with sophomore Aidan Kane getting his collegiate underway in blue-and-gold as well. Three transfers round out the group --graduate student Danny Yardemian, who made the shift to Suffolk from Bentley, junior Jonathan Donovan, also a member of Suffolk's men's golf team, who brought his talents from Penn State Harrisburg and sophomore Evan Cook, who began his collegiate career at Wheaton.
"Our newcomers are learning our ways. They've all made positive contributions this preseason," Juron said.
Position wise, 70 percent of the new additions are guards and three are forwards.
Suffolk will have a chance to see its newcomers in action in the 2023-24 season debut, which is on tap for tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Eastern Nazarene at 7 p.m.
RAMS ROOKIES RESUMES
EVAN COOK | SO. | G | 5-11 | 170 | DUNSTABLE, MASS. / GROTON-DUNSTABLE / WHEATON
BEFORE SUFFOLK – WHEATON (2019-23)
Began his collegiate career at Wheaton ... Captained the Lyons for two seasons ... Played in 74 games over three full seasons ... Totaled 790 points, 287 rebounds, 154 assists, 74 steals and seven blocks ... Two-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honoree (2021-22, 2022-23) ... Named to the Dean's List every semester at Wheaton ... Recipient of the Nancy Kurson Lubin'68 Wheaton Fund Scholarship and the Trustee Scholarship.
BEFOER SUFFOLK – GROTON-DUNSTABLE
Letterwinner at Groton-Dunstable and captained the team for two seasons ... Named the Mid-Wachusett League B Most Valuable Player, the Lowell Sun Player of the Year and was selected to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette First Team following his senior season for the GDRHS basketball squad ... Tabbed a Mid-Wachusett League All-Star, a Lowell Sun All-Star, a Central Mass Select Team honoree and the Crusaders MVP for both his junior and senior seasons for the basketball team ... Chosen a Captain for Groton-Dunstable Regional basketball for two seasons ... Finished his basketball career with 1,067 points for the Crusaders ... Helped Groton-Dunstable advance to the Central Massachusetts Division 2 District Championship game as a sophomore ... Two-time recipient of the Unified Basketball Coaches Award ... Received the Most Athletic Award as a senior at GDRHS ... Maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average all four years at Groton-Dunstable ... Selected Student of the Month during both his junior and senior years at GDRHS ... Named to the Honor Roll at Groton-Dunstable ... Played basketball for Mass Elite AAU.
DECLAN DAVIS | FR. | G | 6-0 | 150 | PLYMOUHTH, MASS. / PLYMOUTH SOUTH
JONATHAN DONOVAN | JR. | G | 5-10 | 160 | YORK, MAINE / YORK / PENN STATE HARRISBURG
BEFORE SUFFOLK – PENN STATE HARRISBURG (2021-23)
Began his collegiate career at Penn State Harrisburg ... Lettered in golf and basketball.
MATT DRAHEIM | FR. | G | 6-0 | 180 | PEMBROKE, MASS. / BC HIGH SCHOOL
AIDAN KANE | SO. | G | 6-1 | 170 | DERRY, N.H. / PINKERTON ACADEMY
BEFORE SUFFOLK – PINKERTON ACDAEMY
Letterwinner at Pinkerton Academy and captained the team as a senior ... Led Pinkerton to a 20-4 record as a season and the New Hampshire Division 1 State Final Four ... Helped Pinkerton capture the Lowell Holiday basketball Tournament in 2021-22 ... Member of National Honor Society ... Class President.
GREG KEANE | FR. | F | 6-9 | 210 | NAHANT, MASS. / ST. JOHN'S PREP
CEM UNER | FR. | F | 6-6 | 225 | ISTANBUL, TURKEY / BARKING ABBEY (UK)
BEFORE SUFFOLK – BARKING ABBEY (UK)
Letterwinner at Barking Abbey and captained the team ... Also lettered in rugby, tennis, golf and soccer ... Captained the rugby team and served as vice captain for the soccer team ... Three-time rugby league MVP ... Entrepreneur Group Leader ... Turkish Society Club member.
NIK VERDILE | FR. | G | 6-0 | 160 | BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. / BALLSTON SPA
BEFORE SUFFOLK – BALLSTON SPA
Letterwinner at Ballston Spa ... 1,000-Point Scorer at Ballston Spa ... Member of National Honor Society.
OWEN WALTERS | FR. | F | 6-6 | 210 | BLACKSBURG, VA. / MASSANUTTEN
BEFORE SUFFOLK – MASSANUTTEN
Letterwinner at Massanutten and captained the team as a senior ... All-Region and All-District First-Team.
DANNY YARDEMIAN | GR. | G | 5-9 | 175 | BELMONT, MASS. / BELMONT / BENTLEY
BEFORE SUFFOLK – BENTLEY (2019-21)
Began his collegiate career at Bentley ... Appeared in 13 games for the Falcons.
BEFORE SUFFOLK – BELMONT
Letterwinner at Belmont and captained the team as a senior ... Belmont's All-Time Scoring Leader with 1,401 points ... Set school record with 46 points against Lexington ... 2019 Boston Globe Division 2 Player of the Year ... Boston Globe All-Scholastic ... Member of the Boston Herald Dream Team ... Also lettered in soccer and baseball.