College basketball is back, and the Norse have their goals set to return to the Horizon League Championship game after exiting in the semi-finals in the Horizon League tournament last season.
NKU has received high praise from the Horizon League, being picked to finish third in the preseason poll with key returning players Trey Robinson and Sam Vinson picked for the All-Horizon League first team.
With losing NKU’s all-time leading scorer Marques Warrick to the portal, as he transferred to Missouri for his final year of college basketball, and Michael Bradley graduating, the Norse will still bring a lot of experience to the court this season, returning eight players.
Key Returning Players
Trey Robinson returns for his fifth and final year of eligibility. Taking home Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year honors last season, Robinson has been a key player for the Norse on defense and offense. Last season, Robinson started in all 33 games, averaging 11.7 points, seven rebounds and 1.9 assists, shooting 43.9% from the field and had a career-high 33 points in the Horizon League tournament loss to Milwaukee.
Sam Vinson suffered a season-ending injury early last season, but many expect he will pick up where he left off. Vinson has made a name for himself since his freshman year, where he won Horizon League Freshman of the Year and set a new Horizon League record with 66 steals. Since then, he has been a staple for the team. In the 2022-23 season, which was his last full season, Vinson was named All-League third team. In his 13 games before the injury, he averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, shooting 44.9% from the field.
Keeyan Itejere completed his first season with the Norse after transferring from Marquette. At 6’9”, Itejere made his presence known on the court, shooting an impressive 67.6% from the field, averaging 7.7 points, and 4.9 rebounds. Itejere was a huge presence on defense, averaging 1.7 blocks and one steal per game.
Randall Pettus had a stellar freshman year, seeing an expanded role when Sam Vinson was injured, even starting a few games. Pettus averaged 5.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and one assist, shooting 41.2%, including a career-high 16 points in the 99-97 win over Wright State in the Horizon League quarter final.
LJ Wells has been a consistent player for the Norse for the past two seasons. Last season, Wells earned a starting role where he averaged 8.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists, shooting 47.1% from the field.
Jeramiah Israel looks to build off his freshman year after seeing more minutes on the court towards the end of the season as a consistent off the bench player. Isreal averaged 3.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, shooting 43.1%.
New Players
Dan Gherezgher Jr.- 0
A 6’4” transfer guard from Michigan Tech, Gherezgher averaged 15 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and shot 47.1% from the floor his sophomore year. Gherezgher was named Second Team ALL-GLIAC in both his freshman and sophomore year.
Paulious Rapolis – 9
A seven-foot forward freshman from Lithuanian, Rapolis was recruited as a three-star prospect as the number. 26-rated center in the nation, averaging 11 points, 10 rebounds and shooting 60% from the field in his recent season with IMG Academy. Rapolis also competed in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2022.
Rapolis looks to help bolster the front court beside Keeyan Itterje. At the announcement of the signee, Head Coach Darrin Horn added his excitement about Rapolis joining the Norse.
“He has been well coached at IMG by a seasoned NCAA Division I coach in Jimmy Carr, and most exciting, his best basketball is ahead of him,” said Horn.
Donovan Rakotonanahary – 10
A 6’8” guard and forward from Madagascar, Rakotonanahary attended Oak Hill Academy where he averaged 12.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.3 blocks per game this past season while being named First Team All-Charlotte Metro Athletic Conference. Rakotonanahary also played in the U19 World Cup in 2023 and the U18 Africa Championship in 2022.
The Norse struggled on defense last season, as they allowed teams to shoot 54.5% from inside the arc, 24th worst in the country per KenPom, which is a college basketball ranking based on analytics. At the player signing, Horn explained Rakotonanahary’s ability to improve the team’s defensive performance.
“He is a long, fluid wing/forward who moves like a guard and rebounds like a big. We also like what he offers on the defensive end of the floor, as with his size and ability to move, he has shown he can defend multiple positions at our level and will fit perfectly into our defensive concepts.” said Horn.
Josh Dilling – 12
A 6’4” guard transfer from Northern State University, he averaged 19.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists this past season, shooting 42.3% from the floor and 46.1% beyond the arc. Dilling was named NSIC All-Conference Second team.
With losing star player Marques Warrick, who led the team in scoring, Horn knew Dilling would be the perfect fit. At the player signing, Horn praised Dilling’s offensive abilities.
“His efficiency in pick-and-roll is outstanding, which is essential in our up-tempo flow style of play,” said Horn. “In addition, his 71 made three-pointers at 46% addresses our need for shot making on the perimeter.”
Coach Horn enters his sixth season with the Norse. After leading the Norse to the NCAA tournament two times during his tenure, Horn has become one of the best coaches in NKU history with a .636 win percentage. Just two wins away from surpassing 100 wins at NKU, Horn looks to guide his seasoned team back to the NCAA tournament.