When Joe Mihalich took the head-coaching job at Hofstra, he did so despite the advice of many of his coaching friends.
“It’s a mess there,” everyone told him, citing last year’s 7-25 record under head coach Mo Cassara, the six players arrested after three different issues — including on-campus burglary for allegedly stealing more than $10,000 worth of Apple products from fellow students — and just four returning players.
It isn’t a mess anymore.
Mihalich has quickly upgraded the talent base for next year, landing difference-making and high-character transfers Ameen Tanksley, Juan’ya Green and Brian Bernardi. He also added two impressive freshmen in Chris Jenkins and Jamall Robinson, and last week Mihalich and company gained a verbal commitment from forward Andre Walker, a 6-foot-10 big man from Maryland with high-major scholarship offers to complement the three perimeter standouts. Furthermore, Hofstra is involved with a handful of local standouts, such as Lincoln senior guard Elisha Boone, Wings Academy junior point guard Desure Buie and Wadleigh junior guard Lenny Kadisha.
Getting Green and Tanksley was a big first step, bringing in two experienced and successful players who knew Mihalich’s system and what he expected.
When Mihalich left Niagara for Hofstra, the duo from Philadelphia spent a week discussing their future, whether to stay at Niagara, follow Mihalich or go elsewhere. Eventually, they settled on Hempstead, and rebuilding the dormant program, because of the trust and relationship they had developed with Mihalich and his staff over the last three years.
Green admitted it was a “risky move” to head to Hofstra, but his decision underscored the faith he had in Mihalich, who successfully recruited him to Niagara and helped turn him into an All-MAAC First Team performer last year.
“I think Coach Mihalich is the right guy for the job,” Green said. “I felt it was best to come with him. Maybe we can change things around, change the fan-base, build a good team, and maybe we can win a championship.”
Green and Tanksley made Hofstra enticing to Bernardi, a Staten Island sharpshooter and Xaverian product who received limited playing time in his one year at SMU. Their presence, in turn, made the school appealing to Walker, who turned down the opportunity to play at programs such as SMU, Xavier, Cincinnati and DePaul in favor of Hofstra. Mihalich also made him a priority, Walker’s high school coach Bruce Kelly at the Bullis School said.
“Joe Mihalich came in, he was aggressive, he showed Andre he wanted him,” Kelly said. “He was here the first day [NCAA rules allowed] and he was here all the time.”
Mihalich hasn’t skimmed over last season at Hofstra, but he has used it as a positive, as an opportunity for himself and the players he’s recruiting. There are open spots, a plethora of playing time and a chance to make everyone on campus forget about last winter’s ugly on-court performance and uglier off-court incidents.
“Hofstra is a great place,” Mihalich said in is his pitch, “Those kids are not indicative of what Hofstra is all about.”
Despite the talent upgrade, the basketball team still carries negative connotations around campus. Green and his new teammates have done their best to convince classmates this is a new era. They attend all of Hofstra’s other teams’ games, and have made a effort to be friendly and entice students to fill the Mack Sports Complex once the year begins.
“There is hesitation,” Green said. “Some students on campus, they kind of still think of the basketball team from last year and stuff that happened last year. It’s a whole different team, a whole new team. We’re better guys. It’s a brotherhood.”
Hofstra is still likely in for a rough season, though Mihalich thinks the Pride can overachieve. The three transfers have to sit out this season; Walker won’t be on campus until the summer. But the future certainly seems bright.
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Wings Academy point guard Buie landed his ninth scholarship offer, from Duquesne, on Wednesday. The dynamic junior holds offers from a series of local programs, such as Fordham, Manhattan and Seton Hall.
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New Jersey forward Dom Uhl of Point Pleasant (N.J.) High School committed to Iowa, picking the Hawkeyes over Temple and Boston College.
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Rutgers recently offered Christ the King sophomore Rawle Alkins, joining Villanova, Fordham, Seton Hall and Cincinnati in pursuit of the standout guard.
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Manhattan College hosted recent verbal commit Rickey McGill Jr. a point guard from Spring Valley, N.Y., on Sunday, along with teammate Kai Mitchell. Tottenville forward Nakye Sanders, Brooklyn Collegiate guard Jahlil Tripp and Norwalk (Conn.) forward Steve Enoch were also on the visit. Afterwards, Tripp received his first scholarship offer from the Jaspers.
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Chipola College (Fla.) JUCO guard Sam Cassell Jr ., the son of the former NBA star, verbally committed to UConn on Tuesday.