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Rockhurst University Athletics

Brian Hawthorne

Men's Basketball

Men’s Basketball begins season at GLIAC/GLVC Challenge

Brian Hawthorne averaged 8.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season
The Rockhurst men's basketball team tips off the 2024-25 season at the GLIAC/GLVC Challenge, as they face Davenport on Friday at 1:30 p.m. CT and Purdue Northwest Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. Both games will be played in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Kyle Blackbourn enters his first season as the Hawks' head coach with five returners who averaged over 11 minutes a game last season.

"I'm excited to compete with this team," Blackbourn said. "It has been a good preseason, and we have come a long way. We have a very challenging November; I'm interested to see how we respond to the ups and the downs of the early portion of this schedule."

The Hawks return an experienced nucleus from last season. Graduate student guard Nick Arensberg shot over 44 percent from the 3-point line and started all 28 games last season. Seniors Rron Thaci and Arol Kacuol combined for 191 points and 71 rebounds a season ago.

The Hawks also return graduate student guard Nico Felici, junior guard Davit Abuladze, sophomore center Spencer Engle and sophomore guard Brian Hawthorne. Hawthorne and Felici started 23 and 19 games last season.

"I think our biggest strength is our experience and our leadership," Blackbourn said. "We have six seniors on this team who have a lot of college experience. On top of having quality veterans, we have an outstanding group of people on this team."

"I believe we will compete on a nightly basis and continue to improve as the season goes on."

Rockhurst welcomes five transfers and five freshmen to the returning nucleus. Senior guard Jesse White and junior guard Jaylen Wesley have both scored over 1,000 points in their college careers.

Daniel Carr signed with the Hawks last season, but sat out the season with an injury. At Division III Augustana College, he averaged 13 points and 10.2 rebounds in four seasons.

Junior forwards Jaden Flournoy and Tyler DeGroote will add depth to the Hawks' frontline.

"The challenge of rebuilding a roster is how quickly we can all come together," Blackbourn said. "I think we have made great strides in this department throughout the preseason.

"We are in a good spot, and we have the people on board to continue to develop our cohesiveness and togetherness as we build throughout the season."

Freshmen guards Micah Deaver, Quincy Thomas and Aidan Page will provide added backcourt depth. Freshmen forward Dillon Mong, who played football a season ago at the University of Kansas, will provide more frontcourt depth for the Hawks.

"Our biggest goals are to compete at the top of the GLVC and to make the NCAA Tournament," Blackbourn said. "We understand this is going to take a tremendous amount of growth and work to get to this level.

"We are excited to continue to build and see what we can accomplish this season."
 
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Players Mentioned

Davit Abuladze

#3 Davit Abuladze

G
6' 6"
Junior
Nick Arensberg

#50 Nick Arensberg

G
6' 3"
Graduate Student
Tyler DeGroote

#12 Tyler DeGroote

F
6' 7"
Junior
Spencer Engle

#33 Spencer Engle

C
6' 10"
Sophomore
Nico Felici

#10 Nico Felici

G
6' 2"
Graduate Student
Brian Hawthorne

#2 Brian Hawthorne

G
6' 2"
Sophomore
Arol Kacuol

#21 Arol Kacuol

C
6' 9"
Senior
Rron Thaci

#11 Rron Thaci

F
6' 5"
Senior
Jesse White

#1 Jesse White

G
6' 1"
Graduate Student
Jaden Flournoy

#4 Jaden Flournoy

F
6' 6"
Junior
Micah Deaver

#5 Micah Deaver

G
6' 1"
Freshman
Dillon Mong

#13 Dillon Mong

F
6' 7"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Davit Abuladze

#3 Davit Abuladze

6' 6"
Junior
G
Nick Arensberg

#50 Nick Arensberg

6' 3"
Graduate Student
G
Tyler DeGroote

#12 Tyler DeGroote

6' 7"
Junior
F
Spencer Engle

#33 Spencer Engle

6' 10"
Sophomore
C
Nico Felici

#10 Nico Felici

6' 2"
Graduate Student
G
Brian Hawthorne

#2 Brian Hawthorne

6' 2"
Sophomore
G
Arol Kacuol

#21 Arol Kacuol

6' 9"
Senior
C
Rron Thaci

#11 Rron Thaci

6' 5"
Senior
F
Jesse White

#1 Jesse White

6' 1"
Graduate Student
G
Jaden Flournoy

#4 Jaden Flournoy

6' 6"
Junior
F
Micah Deaver

#5 Micah Deaver

6' 1"
Freshman
G
Dillon Mong

#13 Dillon Mong

6' 7"
Freshman
F