ROCKLIN, Calif. – The inaugural recruiting class for Jessup Men's Basketball's NCAA Division II era is here, as head coach
Mark Darnall welcomes in his second team. Coming off a run to the national tournament to end their NAIA era, Darnall and the Warriors are looking to make noise again as the next chapter of the program gets underway.
Darnall went 18-12 in his first season as a head coach. Hired after a run to the NIT as an assistant with Division I Eastern Washington, the Warriors earned an at-large bid and a trip to Caldwell, Idaho, for the national tournament in Jessup's final NAIA season.
The incoming class for 2024 sees six newcomers join the roster. Four players will make their collegiate debut at Jessup as incoming freshmen, while Darnall and his staff also add two transfers to the ten players retained from last season.
"I am pleased to announce the latest additions to our program as we embark on our inaugural year in NCAA Division II," said Darnall. "We have successfully recruited a talented group of young men who will undoubtedly enrich both the Jessup community and our basketball team. This group includes a diverse mix of freshmen and transfers, complementing our strong contingent of returning players."
Darnall also touched on the players he brings back from his season. "Retaining ten student-athletes in the competitive landscape of college basketball reflects positively on our program. Benefiting from a year of experience, our returning players are well-versed in our operational approach and will help mentor this new class. I can't wait to get to work with this new group."
EDEN HOLT | HOUSTON, TEX. | WEBBER INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
A senior transfer,
Eden Holt, comes to the Warriors to wrap up his collegiate career after a First-Team All-SUN selection in 2024. The 5-9 guard was a three-time conference Player of the Week and helped lead his team to a 20-11 record and a berth in the 2024 NAIA National Tournament. Holt averaged 20.1 PPG, 5.4 APG and connected on 43.4 percent from the field.
From coach Darnall: "Eden has produced at a high level and brings a wealth of experience to our program. He has Division I experience and was an all-league NAIA player for a national tournament team. He has the ability to break down his own defender, play off of the pick-and-roll, and get paint touches at will. Along with his quickness, his ability to shoot and pass makes him extremely hard to guard. He also is willing to compete defensively, amassing over 50 steals last year."
TJ LATU | PORTLAND, ORE. | JEFFERSON HS
Freshman guard TJ Latu comes to the Warriors out of Jefferson HS in Portland, Ore. The 6-3 guard averaged 22 PPG while playing for coach Pat Strickland. Latu was a two-time Oregon All-State selection and earned PIL All-Conference all four years of his high school career.
From coach Darnall: "TJ is a skilled guard who confidently scores from all areas of the court. Beyond his scoring abilities, he excels as a distributor, making sound decisions with the ball. His leadership qualities and positive attitude are exactly what we seek in our program. TJ's energetic everyday approach, physical presence, and unselfish play will be a valuable addition to our team."
JOSH LINCOLN | IPSWICH, AUSTRALIA | PORTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Josh Lincoln comes to the Warriors as a 6-6 junior forward out of Portland Community College. Lincoln hails from Ipswich, Australia, joining
Aydan Janssan as Australian natives suiting up for the Warriors this season. Lincoln averaged 15.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and a 53 percent shooting percentage under coach Cameron Mitchell at Portland CC. He was a two-time Second-Team All-NWAC selection and earned First-Team All-Defense in 2024. Lincoln earned Portland CC MVP honors and helped lead his team to the NWAC Final Four.
From coach Darnall: "Josh is a very unselfish and adaptable player capable of filling various roles on the court. He has proven to be an efficient scorer who will give us a presence both inside and on the perimeter. Josh possesses a deep understanding of the game, excelling whether he has the ball or not. His alignment with our team's playing style is complemented by his valuable experience, character, and maturity, all of which he brings to our team dynamic."
MURPHY RODGERS | WELLINGTON CITY, NEW ZEALAND | WELLINGTON COLLEGE
Joining the Warriors all the way from New Zealand is incoming freshman
Murphy Rodgers. A 6-3 guard, Rodgers averaged 22.7 PPG, 7.2 APG, and 6.4 RPG while playing for coach Tom Grice at Wellington College. Rodgers was a team captain and helped lead Wellington to their first National Championship in school history. He was also named one of the nation's top 20 recruits, earning a selection to the Steven Adams High School Invitational.
From coach Darnall: "Murphy is an extremely skilled guard who can dribble, pass and shoot. He is a high-IQ guard who has good playmaking ability out of the pick-and-roll and has good court vision in the full and half court. He has a good midrange and three-point shot. He is patient with the basketball and plays with great poise."
NOAH ROTH | CHRISTMAS VALLEY, ORE. | NORTH LAKE HS
Noah Roth comes to the Warriors as a freshman out of Christmas Valley, Ore. A 6-6 forward, Roth averaged 19 PPG, 7 RPG, and 5 APG. Roth attended North Lake HS and also played under coach James Bolin of Athletes in Action Prep. Roth was a three-time First-Team All-Conference selection and twice was named to the Oregon State Playoff Team.
From coach Darnall: "Noah is another versatile forward who brings a ton of energy to our program. He is a team-first guy who can impact the game in many facets. He played for Athletes in Action Prep under a good friend of mine, James Bolin, and comes with a year of prep experience. We are excited to have Noah join our program."
CURRO SEGURA | GRANADA, SPAIN | ST. LAWRENCE COLLEGE
A 6-5 freshman guard out of Spain,
Curro Segura comes to the Warriors as the third international addition this season. Basketball runs through Seguro's veins, as his father is a highly regarded professional coach in Europe, and his mom played for the Spanish National Team. Segura played for St. Lawrence College, Olympiacos Basketball Club and was a member of the U17 Spanish National Team. He averaged 9.7 PPG and 2.7 RPG and shot 38 percent from the field during a fifth-place finish at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament in Paris.
From coach Darnall: "Curro brings a wealth of international experience to our program. Basketball is in his bloodlines with both his mom and dad having high-level basketball experience. Curro has a really good understanding of the game and will fit our read-and-react style of play with his ability to make the right pass or shot. He can play out of the pick-and-roll or be an attacker in space. He has a great frame to grow into, is an extremely hard worker, and is an unselfish teammate."
The 16 players that make up the 2024-25 Men's Basketball roster are all on campus this week as classes began at Jessup University on Monday. The Warriors are slated to begin official team activities following Labor Day.
Jessup's schedule for the 2024-25 season is now available
HERE. Tickets for the upcoming season, including single-game and season passes, will be on sale soon.
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Jessup University is a provisional member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Instagram & X).
