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Men's Basketball

SVSU Men’s Basketball announces 2023-2024 recruiting class

SVSU Men’s Basketball announces 2023-2024 recruiting class
Posted: Sep 14, 2023

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. — Saginaw Valley State University Coach Randy Baruth enters his 12th season in 2023-2024 at the helm of the Cardinal men's basketball program with five new additions to his team's roster.

"We are pleased with the commitments we've received from our new recruits who are all excited to join our basketball program at SVSU," Baruth said. "These five new players fit the culture of our program and join the eight currently on our roster to help us compete at a high level."

The new seven-member recruiting class includes six Michigan products, including one from the local region:

Maurice Anderson is the son of Arlette and Maurice Anderson. He graduated from Arbor Prep High School (Ypsilanti, Michigan) in 2020. He signed to play at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where he averaged 14.9 points per game on 44% shooting and 4.7 assists per game. In his second season at UM-D, he scored his career high (32) against the University of Northwest Ohio.

"Even as a kid, I had known about SVSU," Anderson said. "When I made my campus visit, I could see the opportunity SVSU would give me to be successful in college and also continue my basketball career. I liked the culture that Coach Baruth was building with his team, and I felt like that was something that was important to me. I'm excited to be part of the program, and the experiences I've already had with my professors have been very positive."

"Maurice is another new late addition to our program who brings experience, high character, a commitment to his academics, and a work ethic that we like to see from our players," Baruth said. "His offensive game is very sound and he is a high-level athlete. Maurice is coachable and focused on improving every time he steps on the court. When he learns our system and our team culture, we expect that he will be able to make an impact at both ends of the court."

Cadin Augustine is the son of Carl and Cara Augustine. He graduated from Ypsilanti High School in 2019. His collegiate career includes three seasons (which included a year during the Pandemic) at Wayne State University (Detroit, Michigan). Augustine played his redshirt sophomore season (2022-23) at Redlands Community College (El Reno, Oklahoma), where the 6-8 center played in 20 games, scored 6.1 points per game and pulled down 4.3 rebounds per game.

"While at Wayne State, I had the opportunity to play against SVSU," Augustine said. "After my sophomore season at Redlands CC, I emailed the coaching staff at SVSU to learn about their program and talk to them about transferring there. When I visited SVSU, I was surprised by how nice the campus looked, and I had a feeling that this could be my new home. I liked that Coach Baruth was very direct with me about his expectations for how I could help the team, and he talked about how structured everything is, which is something I feel will help me be successful."

"Cadin provides immediate help on our front line with his rare combination of size, physicality, and athleticism," Coach Baruth said. "We are fortunate he was still available when we learned about him and certainly remembered the impact he had as a former GLIAC player. That experience in this league, along with his work ethic and physical gifts, will allow Cadin an opportunity to have great success on this team."

Curtis Jackson is the son of Cory and Leticia Jackson. He graduated from Harper Woods High School in 2020. After graduating from high school, Jackson signed with Ferris State where he was a two-sport athlete (basketball, football). However, he sustained an injury and was a medical red-shirt in his first season. In 2022-23, he transferred to Henry Ford College, which went undefeated in conference play to earn a No. 3 national ranking, won the MCCAA Eastern Conference Championship and the MCCAA State Championship. As a red-shirt freshman, Jackson led the nation in assists (8.5 apg) and earned All-Region and First Team All-Conference honors. He joins the Cardinal basketball program as a sophomore business administration major and at 6'0" and 165 pounds will see action at the point guard position. 

"I appreciated how the coaching staff invested time in recruiting me; I saw them at many of my games to evaluate me in person instead of just watching film on me," Jackson said. "Another thing I liked about SVSU is I'll be able to complete an M.B.A. in three years, which was really important to me. The campus culture at SVSU made me feel comfortable and it felt like SVSU was the place where the coaches were sold on me as a person and what I can do as a player to help the program win and be successful."

 

"Curtis is a very important addition to our roster," Baruth said, noting that signing a point guard was a recruiting priority. "We followed Curtis all throughout his freshman year at Henry Ford College and saw the improvement in his game, particularly in his ability to attack the basket and break down opponents' defenses with dribble penetration and passing. We also like the energy he brings, and he makes plays at both ends of the court."

Triston Nichols is the son of Tamika and Terrance Nichols. Nichols, at 6'2" and 200 pounds, is a shooting guard from Warren De Le Salle High School, which won the 2021-2022 Division I State Championship in basketball. Nichols also was a wide receiver for his prep football team, which won back-to-back state championships. As a junior, Nichols averaged 14.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2 assists per game.

De La Salle High School varsity Head Coach Gjon Djokaj noted Nichols forged a lasting impression at De La Salle. Due to injury, Nichols did not compete athletically in his senior season at De La Salle. But by the end of his junior year, Nichols had been named to the Catholic High School League All-Catholic Team, Bank Hoops D1 All-State Fourth Team, MLive Metro Detroit Honorable Mention, Detroit News All-East Third Team, and Macomb Daily Third Team.

"He has proven to be a great player, competitor, and champion," Djokaj said. "We are excited to see him take those qualities and many more to SVSU, where he will continue his development on and off the court."

"I am excited about all the opportunities SVSU has to offer," Nichols said. "I can't wait to win more championships with my brothers on the court. SVSU not only cares about my athleticism but my education as well," he added. "Philippians 4:6-7 teaches us to not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God — I did just that, which led me to SVSU."

Head Coach Randy Baruth said the SVSU Men's Basketball program is "thrilled to add Triston to our Cardinal family because he is a great example of the qualities we look for in a recruit: toughness, physicality, and a motor on both ends of the court. He has a high character and is a great student and blue-collar worker on and off the court.

"He is a winner," Baruth added. "Triston and his family are great people and we have loved building a relationship with them. We know our fans and university will quickly grow to love Triston as well."

D'Juan "Toodles" Seal is the son of Wanda Daniels and Darryl Seal. He graduated from Detroit Pershing High School in 2018 and signed that fall with Ferris State. After one season in Big Rapids, where he red-shirted. In 2019, Seal transferred to Macomb Community College, where he was named All-Conference. The following year, he transferred to Henry Ford College, where he averaged 19.7 points per game on 57% shooting, 7.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists. As a sophomore at HFC, Seal was named a 2022-23 National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Men's Basketball All-American. His senior year at Pershing, Seal was a first-team All-Detroit Public School League honoree, and also an all-state choice by the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, and Bank Hoops. Seal led Detroit Pershing to a PSL runner-up finish and claimed All-Detroit recognition as one of the city's top players.

Chris Shepard, who in 2022-2023 was MCCAA Coach for the Year for the fourth time at HFC, noted Seal "accomplished (earning All-American recognition) in a little over half a season, which speaks to his talent and the numbers he put up."

"I felt welcomed and wanted when I visited SVSU, and I felt this was the place that will help me grow on and off the court," Seal said. "SVSU can help me better myself as a man and person by learning how to better communicate with others. When I visited SVSU, the guys on the team welcomed me with open arms and made me feel like I was already part of the team."

SVSU Coach Randy Baruth said the 6'4", 180-pound Seal will make an immediate impact. "Toodles comes to SVSU with an already well-established record of winning against outstanding competition," Baruth said. "His versatility is one of his strengths — he can play effectively at four positions because of his athleticism. Toodles is the nephew of NBA great Mel Daniels, so he has the pedigree to be a great player for us."

Dylan West is the son of Adorn West and Dion West. He graduated from Hillcrest High School (Chicago) in 2019. His collegiate career includes three seasons (which included a year during the Pandemic) at Trinidad State College (Trinidad, Colorado), where he averaged 14.8 points on 59% shooting, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. West played his junior season (2022-23) at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis, where he played in 22 games, scored 6 points per game, and pulled down 3.2 rebounds per game. 

"The coaching staff at SVSU provided a lot of good information about the basketball program and the school that answered all my questions," West said. "I also felt the coaches really believed in me whenever we spoke, and it impressed me how they were willing to give me a second chance to come to SVSU after having recruited me earlier in my playing career. During my campus visit, I felt welcomed, and all the returning players made me feel comfortable. I hope to continue playing at the next level, and I feel like Coach Baruth knows how to help me achieve that goal."

"We needed to add some immediate help on our front line, and Dylan will provide that," Baruth said. "We had recruited Dylan before, and we're happy to finally get him in a Cardinal uniform. He will bring experience, physicality, and a high basketball IQ, which will be valuable qualities when we enter the conference portion of our schedule. At 6'7" and 220 pounds, Dylan gives us some bulk to make us a better rebounding team and he is a solid defender around the basket."

Christian Zielinski is the son of Mark and Mary Zielinski. He graduated from H.H. Dow High School in 2023. After playing home-school basketball for several years, the 6'2" shooting guard made a huge impact in his one season at Dow, earning First Team All-Saginaw Valley League honors after averaging 20.5 points, 3.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game. He shot 52 percent from the floor, including 44 percent from 3-point range, and 84 percent from the foul line. Along the way, Zielinski notched multiple 30-plus-point performances, including a school-record 47 points in a win over Flint Powers.

Dow boys' basketball coach Mike Skinner, who was the Chargers' assistant coach during Zielinski's one season at Dow High School, said it was "an absolute pleasure" to work with Zielinski. "What amazed me throughout the season was that he was our best player, but he was also our hardest worker, and that says a lot about him as a person. He would work on basketball even outside of our practices."

"Honestly, I feel super blessed and thankful to God," said Zielinski. "I owe a big thanks to the coaching staff at SVSU for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. This is something I've worked for since I was a little kid, and I'm very grateful to be where I'm at."

"It's not often a player like Chris becomes available," Baruth said. "He played just one season in the Saginaw Valley league, which makes him something of an unknown prospect. Even so, Chris will be a good fit in our program at the shooting guard position. He has good physical strength for a newcomer to college basketball, and he can score at all three levels. We feel that once Chris gets comfortable in our system, he will be able to contribute because he has a high work ethic."

The Cardinals finished the 2022-23 season at 9-9 in the GLIAC, earning a six seed in the GLIAC tournament, falling to eventual champion Northern Michigan. Three Cardinals earned All-GLIAC honors: Freddie McIntosh (All-GLIAC Second Team), Tre Garrett (All-Defensive and All-GLIAC Second Team), and Kevonne Taylor (All-Defensive Team). Garrett broke program records for free throw makes and attempts in a single season. Taylor led the Midwest Region and was 8th in the country in Division II in blocks per game. In addition, SVSU also returns seniors Jio Miles (Novi) and Maurice Barnett (Chicago), junior Alijah Harrison (Tampa, Florida), sophomore Ethan Hill (Muskegon), and red-shirt freshman Elvis Machul Jr. (Saginaw).

For more information, including the full 2023-24 season schedule, go to svsucardinals.com/sports/mbkb/.