Men's Basketball Gears Up for Costa Rica

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College men's basketball team returns to George W. Jenkins Field House July 12 for two weeks of practice before a trip to Costa Rica to compete in three games. This will be the team's first international trip since 2005, a trip to Costa Rica.
 
"Having the opportunity to take a summer trip is extremely beneficial to our program in so many ways," head coach Mike Donnelly stated. "We are permitted to have two weeks of practice with our team prior to our trip, and we will play three games in Costa Rica. I have been a Division II head coach for 20 years, and this is the first time we have had the opportunity to conduct summer practices, so it is very exciting. The biggest thing for us this summer is to build team chemistry and to also get a a head start with implementing our philosophy and style of play. I'm looking forward to seeing our newcomers out on the floor with our returners, and it will be important for our players to hang out with each other both on and off the court."
 
The Moccasins finished the 2022-23 campaign in the Sunshine State Conference semifinals and with a 19-9 overall record behind Jadin Booth's run to being named a First Team All-American by the NABC.
 
Florida Southern's 2023-24 roster features 10 returners and six newcomers including three transfers and two first-year student-athletes. The Mocs return five of the team's top-six scorers from last year's season behind Booth's 22.0 points per game, looking to replace E.J. Dambreville's 18.1 ppg and 9.9 rebounds per game production.
 
The Mocs' added a 6-5 forward from Nebraska Omaha, Akol Arop as a graduate student transfer along with a pair of guards from Bryant University, Erickson Bans, a redshirt sophomore, and Joe Moon IV, a redshirt junior. Along with those three new Mocs, Sam Walters and Luke Reilly join as true freshmen while Conor O'Connell transitions to donning the jersey after serving the past few years as a student-assistant for head coach Mike Donnelly's staff.
 
Florida Southern College men's basketball gets the 2023-24 campaign underway on November 4 at home against Virginia Union with a 5:45 p.m. tip. The Moccasins welcome in the Small College Basketball National Hall of Fame Classic to Jenkins Field House for the second-straight season, which will feature 10 teams for 10 games across the two-days, Nov. 4 and 5. The Mocs face UNC-Pembroke in game two of the tournament on Sunday at 5:45 p.m. The SCB National Hall of Fame Classic Tournament Page can be located HERE.
 

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