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The 2020-21 Holy Cross men’s basketball roster continues to evolve.

Joe Pridgen, the reigning Patriot League and ECAC Rookie of the Year, recently entered the NCAA transfer portal, and eight players on last season’s roster — Pridgen, Connor Niego, Kyle Copeland, Drew Lowder, Marlon Hargis, Lincoln Yeutter, Blake Verbeek and Ciaran Sandy — have left the team.

The Crusaders will have seven new players next season — six freshmen, including former Worcester Academy stars Judson Martindale and Mike Rabinovich, and junior Malcolm Townsel, a transfer from State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri.

“The seven newcomers I’m really excited about,” Holy Cross coach Brett Nelson said Tuesday. “They come from winning backgrounds. In the recruiting process, you’re able to build some relationships and find out about them. We needed upgrades in different areas, but I think they’re competitors. They have the humility where they want to grow.

“They really love the game. They have a joy to work. They’re good people, they’re high character, and they’re going to represent our program on and off the floor in a high-class way, so I’m excited about it.”

The Crusaders finished 3-29 last year, Nelson’s first at HC, set the program mark for most losses in a season and tied the 1934-35 team for fewest wins.

Pridgen, of Winchendon, was a bright spot during the difficulties. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound forward led HC in scoring (17.4 ppg), field goal percentage (55.8) and rebounding (6.8 rpg). His 521 points were the second-most by a freshman in Holy Cross and Patriot League history.

Pridgen was just the third ECAC Rookie of the Year selection in program history, along with Ronnie Perry (1976-77) and Ernie Floyd (1979-80).

Returning from last year’s team are seniors Austin Butler, a guard, and Matt Faw, a forward, junior forward D.J. Hart, a walk-on in 2018, and sophomore guards Ryan Wade and Joey Reilly.

Butler, HC’s spirited leader, averaged 11.8 points and 6.2 rebounds in 2019-20. Faw averaged 8.6 points and 4.2 rebounds (11.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg in Patriot League games). Wade played in all 32 games.

“We’re going to need those guys to continue to grow in leadership roles,” Nelson said.

Martindale, a 6-6 guard/forward, and Rabinovich, a 6-10 forward, along with DaJion “Bubba” Humphrey, a 6-4 guard, signed with the Crusaders last November.

Townsel, and freshmen Louth Coulibaly, a 6-8 forward, Randy Johnson, a 6-1 guard, and Bo Montgomery, a 6-5 guard, joined the incoming class earlier this month. Nelson likes the athleticism and versatility of the group.

“Having seven new guys,” Nelson said, “it’s going to be new for them. It’s going to be new for our staff having that many new faces, but it’s exciting. With that being said, I’m excited about our returning guys as well. We’re building it the right way with the right people. We’re on the right path. I really feel that way.”

Nelson still has a couple scholarships available for the upcoming season.

“There are still some good players out there,” Nelson said. “I want to get the right fit.”

In mid-March, Holy Cross, in response to the coronavirus crisis, shifted to distance learning and required students to move off campus. The NCAA recently extended the Division 1 recruiting dead period through May 31. In-person recruiting is not allowed during the dead period.

“We’re used to being out there right now, seeing kids and interacting with them,” Nelson said. “It’s been unique and different. We’ve had to adjust and adapt. The ’20-21 class, luckily we spent a lot of time going to see them during the year.”

Nelson is holding weekly Zoom meetings with his team, and last week they had a lively, one-hour discussion about “The Last Dance,” the excellent Michael Jordan documentary on ESPN.

Nelson remains positive and enthusiastic about rebuilding the Holy Cross program. HC has had just two winning seasons (15-14 in 2011-12 and 20-14 in 2013-14, both under coach Milan Brown) in the last 11 years.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the direction of our program,” Nelson said. “I want to build a program and I want to build a program in a way that it will sustain success, a transformational program where it’s not just about how many points did you score or did you win or lose a basketball game. It’s transformational in the aspect that we’re making an impact on these players’ lives and helping them grow as people just as much as players.

“It’s a process; we’re process-driven and we’re fighting every single day to get this program where it needs to be and where it deserves to be.”

First time Copeland's departure - long assumed - has been confirmed.

Was this article by Jen Toland ?
No question about why all the transfers !

—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com.

If you want to ask her something, send her an email.

You can’t possibly be that naive, can you?

This is not a criticism of the coach, but don’t you think this was standard coach speak and might have been said by any other coach at any other program?

Winning Culture? State Fair Community College went 16-14 this past season and 2-7 in their conference. In 2018-2019, they went 12-16 and 3-5 in conference. 

No question the way the article read that Reilly is on scholarship; Hart is clearly marked as a walk-on, no other returning player is.

Glad that Copeland's status has been clarified. In a perfect world, he'd still be on the team, ready and able to contribute; but that's clearly not the case. Hope at this point in his academic career, he has figured out that he's better off finishing school on Mount St. James; no one can make the case that he should scrap 3 years of work for a year of basketball.

Probably a stupid question , but what is a crimson violation?

Perhaps a "criminal" violation and, an overaggressive spellcheck?

Right on, man.