FIU set to start seasons strong in women’s and men’s basketball
FIU’s women’s basketball team is coming off its first 20-win season in 12 years.
FIU’s men’s basketball team, after an 11-22 season, has brought in three junior-college transfers and two freshmen with designs on improvement.
“This is the deepest team we’ve had,” said Jeremy Ballard, who is set to start his seventh season as coach of FIU’s men’s team. “It’s also our biggest team.”
With FIU’s women’s season starting on Nov. 4 at home against Florida National, and the men starting Nov. 4 at Rice, here are six takeaways regarding Panthers basketball:
1. WOMEN ON THE RISE
The Panthers, who went 21-12 last season while reaching the second round of the NIT, return Jesyka Burks-Wiley, who is Conference USA’s reigning Coach of the Year.
The Panthers also return 5-6 senior point guard Tanajah Hayes and 6-2 junior forward Mya Kone.
Hayes led FIU in steals (60) and made Conference USA’s All-Defense team. She also averaged 11.0 points and led FIU in assists (3.8).
Kone, Conference USA’s reigning Sixth Player of the Year; led FIU in scoring (11.4) and rebounds (8.1).
“(Hayes) is a fourth-year player for us, which is rare these days with all the transferring,” Burks-Wiley said. “And (Kone) is our league’s ‘Preseason Player of the Year.’”
2. REPLACEMENTS NEEDED
FIU’s women’s team graduated second-team All-Conference USA guard Kaliah Henderson as well as three players who made honorable mention: Courtney Prenger, Ajae Yoakum and Maria Torres.
Yoakum may be especially tough to replace because she led the team in rebounds (10.4) and field-goal percentage (52.6), She also scored a career-high 30 points against Alabama A&M.
In an attempt to immediately replace those contributions, the Panthers have brought in five transfers.
Burks-Wiley said all five are doing well, but she singled out 6-4 senior center Isnelle Natabou, who spent one year at Iowa State and two at Sacramento State; and 5-8 junior guard Paris Atkins from.
“Natabou is the biggest headline,” Burks-Wiley said. “She has three years of Division I experience, and she shot better than 50 percent from the floor all three years.”
Indeed, at Iowa State last season, Natabou averaged 4.5 points and 3.7 rebounds, shooting 53.4 percent.
Burks-Wiley also raved about Atkins, who started all 34 games last season at Dodge City Community College, averaging 14.5 points.
“She’s dynamic offensively,” Burks-Wiley said. “We were worried that she wouldn’t understand how important it is to play both side of the ball, but she has answered the call on defense.”
3. UPHOLDING TRADITION
Burks-Wiley said that one reason she took the FIU job in April of 2020 was the success coach Cindy Russo had with the Panthers previously, especially with six NCAA Tournament appearances from 1994 to 2002.
“I’m really proud of the job our players and staff have done to resurrect this program,” Burks-Wiley said. “When we first got here five years ago, (FIU) had been in a down stretch. But that tradition of FIU women’s basketball drew me to this job.”
4. TURNAROUND SOUGHT
FIU’s men’s team went 9-6 at home last season.
However, the Panthers went just 2-16 away from home, and they finished last in the league with a 5-11 conference record.
Statistically, FIU finished last in Conference USA in points allowed (76.5) and last in defensive rebounds, offensive rebounds and rebounding margin.
FIU was also last in the league in home attendance (934 per game).
Ballard, who has been FIU’s coach since April of 2018, went 20-14 and 19-13 in his first two Panthers season.
However, four straight losing seasons have followed. Over those four years, the cumulative record is: 49-74.
For this upcoming season, Lindy’s magazine has predicted FIU to finish last among the 10 teams in Conference USA.
5. DEPARTURES, ARRIVALS
FIU’s men’s team lost point guard Arturo Dean, who transferred to Oklahoma State in April.
Dean last season led the nation in steals (3.8) and finished fourth in the league in assists (4.0) and 12th in scoring (13.4).
FIU also lost shooting guard Javaunte Hawkins, who graduated. Hawkins finished 13th in the league in scoring (13.3) and fifth in 3-point shooting (38.4).
Hawkins and 7-footer Seth Pinkney, also an FIU graduate, are now playing pro ball in Cyprus.
Ballard has brought in those three junior-college transfers: 6-2 guard Asim Jones of New Jersey; 6-10 forward Olajuwon Ibrahim from Nigeria; and 6-11 center Vianney Salatchouum from Cameroon.
In addition, freshmen recruits 6-4 Texas guard Kole Williams and 6-2 Indiana guard Ashton Williamson are hoping to contribute.
Jones is the key. He was a top-50 junior-college recruit after averaging 17.5 points last season. He’s also a good passer.
“Asim and Ashton are conventional point guards who set up teammates for open shots,” Ballard said. “Vianney is a force in the paint.”
6. ROTATION RETURNERS
FIU will look for more from 6-3 guard Dashon Gittens (9.4 scoring average last season) and 6-6 guard Jayden Brewer (8.5). Gittens missed the final 11 games last season due to a toe injury.
Jonathan Aybar, a 6-9 forward, started 13 games and averaged 7.2 points last season before his season ended due to an ankle injury. He is the first second-generation player in program history as his father (Ramon Aybar) also played here.
“I think (Gittens) will be one of the best two-way players in our league,” Ballard said. “He has matured physically, emotionally and mentally.”
Brewer was productive last season despite averaging just 17½ minutes per game – 10 less than Gittens. Brewer is also “vastly” improved as a shooter, according to Ballard.
Jaidon Lipscomb, a 6-5 guard, started 19 games last season, averaging 6.3 points.
Up front, FIU will look for players such as Aybar, Salatchoum and sixth-year 6-6 senior Dante Wilcox to crash the boards.
“Last season, our bugaboos were that we finished last in the country in 3-point defense and next-to-last on defensive rebounding,” Ballard said. “That has been a point of emphasis all summer and fall.”