Philadelphia, Pa. - (11/8/2017) – After a 2016-2017 season of various highs and lows, Head Coach Jesse Balcer and the Chestnut Hill College men's basketball team is looking forward to the clean slate that is the year to come. "After enduring last season's roller coaster ride, I would like to watch this team grow and not make any predictions," said Coach Balcer. "We are a senior-led group of men who compete. We are experienced, fast, and tough. If we play hard every night, I believe we will see a lot of good games in Sorgenti this season."
 


The experienced senior class includes forwards Chris Evans (Norristown, Pa.) (12.8 points/game) and Ed McWade (Wildwood, N.J.) (9.7 points/game), and guard Demetrius Isaac (Philadelphia, Pa.) (12.0 points/game), who finished the 2016-2017 season as the team's top three scorers by average. As the team's reigning Coach's Award winner, Evans earned a starting role and led the Griffins in scoring (334 points), field goal percentage (.504, 126-of-250), three-point percentage (.404, 38-of-94), rebounds (108, 4.2/game), and blocks (14) last season. As a big man, his ability to score from anywhere on the court allows Coach Balcer to spread the floor. McWade totaled 155 points (9.7/game), 67 rebounds (4.2/game), 25 assists, three blocks, and four steals in an injury-shortened season. When healthy, McWade is another forward who can attack from the wing or in the paint for the Griffins. The team's 2016-2017 Most Valuable Player (MVP), Isaac holds the Griffins' success in his hand. He is a true floor general, who has been extremely effective as a distributor and a scorer.
 
Additional returnees include sophomores, guards Billy Miller VI (Pine Hill, N.J.) and Nasir Bell (Philadelphia, Pa.), and forward Keith Williams (Deptford, N.J.), and juniors, guard Liban Awl (Manassas, Va.) and Tony Toplyn Jr. (Sicklerville, N.J.). Bell provides defense and athleticism that eventually earned him a starting spot in his freshman season, Awl quickness and ability to score offers Coach Balcer another reliable offensive threat, while Toplyn fills the space between with versatility, toughness, and intangibles that are sure to contribute to the Griffins' 2017-2018 success.

Replenishing the roster, Coach Balcer adds six new Griffins to the roster; among them are junior transfers Roman Letterlough (Harrisburg, Pa.), Cartier Talford (Reading, Pa.), and Dexter Thompson (Providence, R.I.), as well as, freshmen, guards Rich Dean Jr. (Bensalem, Pa.) and Colin Flach (Glenside, Pa.), and forward Trevonn Pitts (Wyncote, Pa.). Formerly of Lackawanna College, Letterlough will contribute toughness on defense and the glass, while Talford is a proven scorer (14.2 points/game) who engages on the defensive end as well (48 steals). Thompson, formerly of Lincoln Trail College, is a great athlete who can defend all five positions. His versatility will add a lot of toughness and rebounding to the rotation. As for the freshmen, Dean has shown a commitment to defense, Flach has demonstrated a consistent outside game, and Pitts offers a high ceiling with his size and athleticism. His ability to defend and score will earn him plenty of time in his rookie season.
 
The Chestnut Hill College men's basketball team begins their 2017-2018 season this Friday, November 10, with a 7:00 p.m. tip-off at Queens College.