Philadelphia, Pa. - (11/9/2015) – "I think we are going to surprise a lot of people," simply stated Head Coach Jesse Balcer, whose Chestnut Hill College men's basketball team looks to regain their playoff form that earned them seven straight CACC Championship Tournament berths through the 2013-2014 campaign. "Our team's goal is to win, just win. We are a very unselfish, team-orientated group with a bunch of talented players who have demonstrated a lot of speed and an undeniable willingness to play defense."
 
The Griffins' recipe for success will include a trio of returning starters in senior captain Noel Hightower (Easton, Pa.), senior guard Luke Dickson (Pitman, N.J.), and sophomore forward Edward McWade (Wildwood, N.J.). Hightower, a defensive stalwart and high-character captain, led the team in rebounding (5.6 RPG) and blocked shots (39, T4^th CACC) a year ago. With his length and athleticism, he will look to provide more offense than in years past. Dickson, who opens the year 310 points shy of the Griffins' 1,000-point club, figures to be Chestnut Hill College's top scorer after turning in his best offensive season with 10.6 points-per-game (PPG) and 43 assists in 2014-2015. Meanwhile, McWade offered an impressive freshman season with a pair of double-doubles en route to averaging 5.8 points-per-game (PPG) and 5.0 rebounds-per-game (RPG) over 12 starts. Adding muscle and a jump shot, McWade could be the renaissance player to bring the whole thing together. Other key returnees include sophomore guard Demetrius Isaac (Philadelphia, Pa.), sophomore center Christopher Evans (Norristown, Pa.), junior forward Gerald Evariste (Philadelphia, Pa.), and senior guard Ryan Griffin (West Friendship, Md.). A two-sport student-athlete, Isaac has shown tremendous growth in just one year at the College. With blurring speed, relentless ball defense, and distributive approach to the point, Isaac has clearly demonstrated the potential to be one of the better point guards in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC).
 
Coach Balcer has backed his returning roster with a deep class of newcomers which features a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I transfer, a Friends League champion, and three talented individuals who could impact the Griffin lineup in a number of ways. Transferring from Campbell University after a red-shirt season, freshman Antonio Toplyn Jr. (Sicklerville, N.J.) was a state champion at local basketball powerhouse Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School in 2013-2014. Highly athletic, Toplyn's focus will be on the defensive end where, when paired with Hightower, he could contribute to one of the conference's stingiest post presences. A Friends League champion at Westtown School, freshman forward Dakpe Yiljep (Kaduna, Nigeria) is a 6-5 athlete from Kaduna, Nigeria, who along with freshman Bryant Quill (Pottstown, Pa.) fits Coach Balcer's game plan of defense and open jumpers. In the backcourt, he adds sophomore James Lewis (Philadelphia, Pa.), a transfer from Manor College that grew up tough in the Philadelphia Public League before recording four triple-doubles with the Blue Jays.
 
"We are going to play 28 games together for an opportunity to challenge for the CACC crown," stated Coach Balcer. "I think this is going to be a playoff team that GriffinNation can be proud of, on and off the court."
 
The Chestnut Hill College men's basketball team faces their first test on Saturday, November 14, when they visit Philadelphia University for a 6:00 p.m. contest versus the University of the District of Columbia.