2024-2025 Preview: Men’s Basketball Yearns to Keep Hot-streak Alive

The Loyola men’s basketball team enters the 2024-2025 season after finishing their second season in the Atlantic 10 conference with a share of the regular season title. 

Despite ending the regular season hot, the postseason didn’t treat the Ramblers well. Loyola was eliminated by St. Bonaventure University during the quarterfinal round of the A10 tournament and after receiving an National Invitation Tournament bid, dropped the ball against former Missouri Valley Conference competitor Bradley University. 

The Ramblers managed a complete turnaround from their first season in the Atlantic 10, where they finished dead last. Loyola gained national recognition for their efforts on the court, especially after beating the University of Dayton in Gentile Arena, March 1. 

A majority of the squad’s key players graduated, leaving head coach Drew Valentine with three of five starters and a fresh bench, which he filled with nine new players as well as additions to the coaching staff. 

The Ramblers are entering the 2024-2025 season with a jam-packed non-conference schedule and the weight of two drastically different A10 seasons on their backs. 

The New Additions 

Jalen DeLoach is a fourth-year forward, who transferred to Loyola after one year at the University of Georgia and two at A10 foe Virginia Commonwealth University. DeLoach helped lead the Bulldogs to a final four appearance in the NIT in 2024. While at VCU, the Savannah, GA native won the A10 Championship in 2023 and earned A10 third team honors. 

Daniil Glazkov is a first-year guard from Krasnador, Russia. He is a four-star recruit, according to On3 Sports, and recently played at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. During his senior season at IMG, Glazkov averaged 16.3 points and 3.7 assists. In Russia, Glazkov played for the youth team of Lokomotiv Kuban. 

Third-year guard Justin Moore hails from Philadelphia and attended Drexel University before transferring to Loyola. In his first-year with the Dragons, Moore led the team with 77 assists. Last season, he recorded 19 games with over 10 points and averaged 12.4 points per game — the most on the team. 

Seifeldin Hendawy, a first-year guard from Cairo, Egypt, joins the Ramblers after completing his time with NBA Academy Africa. Hendawy was ranked 77th nationally by On3 Sports and helped lead the U16 Egypt National Team to win the 2021 FIBA Championship. While playing in Egypt, Hendawy averaged 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. 

Jack Turner joins the Ramblers from Los Angeles after being a 2024 All-State Selection and leading his high school — St. John Bosco’s — to a California Division I State Championship. The first-year guard averaged 13.2 points per game and reached 1,000 points during his high school career. 

Originally hailing from France, third-year guard Kymany Houinsou transferred to Loyola from Washington State University. During the 2023-2024 season, Houinsou shot 43.5% from the field and played in every game for the Cougars. 

Brayden Young helped Cypress Falls High School to a district title and a 26-5 record. The 6’9” first-year forward from Houston averaged 12 points per game during his high school career. Young has a history of shooting over 60% from the field and received multiple accolades while in high school. 

Fourth-year forward Francis Nwaokorie transferred to Loyola after three seasons with the University of California at San Diego. Last season, he reached the 1,000 point and 500 career rebound mark in the same game against the University of California Santa Barbara Feb. 15. Nwaokorie was named All-Big West Honorable Mention twice during his career. 

Games to Look Out For 

The Ramblers open their season Nov. 4 in Gentile Arena against Chicago State University. The team will play one exhibition game prior to the home opener against Calumet College Oct. 29. 

Loyola will travel to two neutral sites before conference play starts, facing the University of San Francisco at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee Dec. 15. The Ramblers will then spend their winter break in Honolulu during the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, playing against Oakland University — Valentine’s alma mater — and others. 

Conference play opens Jan. 4 against VCU in Gentile Arena. The Ramblers play the University of Dayton twice this season, first in Dayton Jan. 18 and then in Gentile Arena Feb. 21. 

The Ramblers will take on 2024 A10 conference champions Duquesne University in Pittsburgh Feb. 8 and look for redemption against St. Bonaventure University — who eliminated Loyola in the quarterfinal round of the A10 tournament — in Gentile Arena Feb. 4. 

Atlantic 10 Opponents

The A10 conference released the official preseason poll Oct. 7. The Ramblers placed fifth, receiving two first place votes and 368 poll points. Fourth-year guard Des Watson was named to the preseason first team and second-year center Miles Rubin received an all-defensive team shout. 

VCU ranks first in the conference, receiving 14 of the first place votes. The Rams have six returning players — three starters — and added two transfers to the mix. VCU made it to the A10 Championship game, ultimately losing to Duquesne, and lost in the quarterfinals of the NIT last season. 

Dayton took the second place spot with six first place votes. The Flyers are returning three of their starters after finishing third in the conference standings last season and making it through to the second round of March Madness. Three of their players — fourth-year guards  Nate Santos and Enochs Cheeks and redshirt fourth-year guard Posh Alexander — received preseason accolades. 

Saint Joseph’s University came up third in the poll, receiving 376 total poll points. Seven Hawks — including three starters — return to the court, including fourth-year guard Erik Reynolds II. Last season, the Hawks went 9-9 in conference play and received an NIT bid after being eliminated in the conference tournament semifinals by VCU. 

Saint Louis University placed fourth on the poll after gaining new head coach Josh Schertz and top transfer third-year center Robbie Avila from Indiana State University during the off season. Only three players are returning to the Billikens, in addition to seven transfers and three first-years. Last season, the Billikens went 5-13 in conference play and were eliminated by Duquesne in the second round of the conference tournament. 

George Mason University follows Loyola in the poll, receiving the sixth place spot. Five players are returning to the court for the Patriots, including fourth-year guard Darius Maddox — who received a second-team preseason accolade. George Mason fell to Saint Joseph’s in the second round of the conference tournament after going 9-9 in conference play. 

After winning a share of the regular season title with the Ramblers last season, the University of Richmond placed seventh in the preseason poll. The Spiders gain nine new players and eight returners for the upcoming season. Richmond finished 15-3 in conference play and exited the conference tournament after losing by five points to Saint Joseph’s. 

Conference champions Duquesne placed eighth in the poll after making a historic March Madness run. The Dukes are returning nine players and are under new leadership with Dru Joyce III, who took over for long-time head coach Keith Dambrot April 1. Duquesne went 10-8 in conference play last season. 

The University of Massachusetts came in ninth in the poll, while fourth-year guard Rashool Diggins was the only member to gain preseason accolades. The Minutemen finished last season in fourth place with a conference record of 11-7, and were eliminated by VCU in the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament. 

St. Bonaventure follows UMass in the poll, rounding out the top 10. Only one player returns to the Bonnies, who will field an entirely different team than the one who took down the Ramblers in the conference tournament. St. Bonaventure finished 9-9 in conference play last season. 

The University of Rhode Island takes the 11th place spot after finishing last season 6-12 in conference play. Fourth-year guard Jaden House was the only Ram placed on a preseason team. 

Davidson College earned 12th in the poll. The Wildcats had a first-round exit in the conference tournament last season and went 5-13 in conference play. 

George Washington University took the 13th spot on the poll. Redshirt second-year forward Darren Buchanan Jr. was named to the preseason second team. The Revolutionaries finished last in the conference last season, going 4-14 in conference play and were defeated by La Salle University in the first round of the tournament. 

Fordham University came in 14thl, with fourth-year forward Abdou Tsimbila earning a spot on the all-defensive preseason team. The Rams were eliminated by VCU in the second round of the conference tournament and finished conference play 6-12. 

Rounding out the poll is La Salle University, who went 6-12 in conference play and fell to St. Bonaventure in the second round of the conference tournament. 

Drew’s Views

Valentine is heading into his fourth season as head coach at Loyola. Last season, Valentine and the Ramblers had the NCAA’s fourth highest win improvement over the previous season. 

With nine new players on the roster, Valentine said at A10 media day he’s emphasized maturity and consistency to the group, focusing on growing the physicality of the first-years and adapting the transfers to the Loyola style of play. 

On the court, the coaching staff has been working to get the players to know each other more, while team leaders, like Watson, have helped the team gel off the court, according to Valentine. 

“Our leadership has done a good job off the court, making sure everybody’s together and feels included, loved, valued,” Valentine said. “We’re picky with who we bring into the family.” 

The returning members of the team have grown during the offseason as well, according to Valentine, and are hungry to have more success than last season.

Non-conference play is extremely important to the A10 in the eyes of Valentine. He said the league helps provide opportunities to enhance playing at each different school. 

Valentine dug into the philosophy of scheduling non-conference games and what he hopes to get out of it, and said mixing quad 1 and 2 opponents helps challenge the team with harder competition. He also highlighted how he tried to target conference champions and top teams for non-conference competitors. 

“I think we have a shot to be one of the best defensive teams we’ve ever had here,” Valentine said. “Last year, we finished number one defense in the A10 and 28th in the country. This group should be better.”