Navy head men’s basketball coach Ed DeChellis is confident his team will show significant improvement in 2024-25.
Navy finished the 2023-24 season with a 13-18 record, bowing out in the quarterfinals of the Patriot League tournament. But DeChellis, now in his 14th year at the Naval Academy, believes the Midshipmen have all the right tools to make a name for themselves this upcoming season.
“If we have some key players that go down with injuries, those are always things you can’t control,” DeChellis said on Glenn Clark Radio Oct. 30. “I think we’re deep enough to put guys in those positions, but we’ll see how they respond. … We have what we need to be successful.”
Navy enters the season seeking its first NCAA Tournament bid since 1998. Having gained valuable experience gained from a challenging previous season, players like junior guard Austin Benigni offer a solid foundation and renewed hope for a serious run at Patriot League contention this season.
Benigni led the team in scoring (17 points per game) and assists (3.8) a year ago. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound guard has worked hard on his body, according to DeChellis.
“I think he’s improved,” DeChellis said. “For us we see him every day, but when you see him you’ll see his shot is better. He looks a little thicker. And in the naked eye, trying to see how the guy reads ball screens, I think he’s done a really good job on that.”
The college basketball landscape is defined by frequent turnover, but Navy players are likely to stay in Annapolis for four years. Having experienced players return is invaluable for any team, but those returning from injury can also provide a lift.
Sophomore guard Jinwoo Kim (2.4 points, 2.0 rebounds) only played in five games last year due to a knee injury, but DeChellis is optimistic he can make an impact this season.
“He played early in the nonconference and then he had a knee injury and didn’t play the whole Patriot League season,” DeChellis said. “He’s played very well for us. He’s been very consistent — 6-5, 6-4 wing player, can shoot, can drive it. His best skills — he can drive the basketball, make free throws, strong kid, creates contact. He’s been very good for us.”
DeChellis takes pride in building a team filled with players who are passionate about the game and eager to compete. That includes junior forward Donovan Draper, who averaged 9.5 points and 9.1 rebounds a year ago. He committed to basketball after originally coming to Navy as a football player and has emerged as a crucial asset for the Mids.
“Drape’s best attributes is he’s very athletic, he’s very strong, he’s got good instincts, he leads us in steals, he leads in offensive rebounds,” DeChellis said. “If you say … in a timeout, ‘Drape, we need an offensive rebound, go get a rebound,’ he can go do that. He can just go get it.”
The Mids carry the responsibility of putting on a show for Annapolis. That includes the annual Veterans Classic, which this year takes place on Nov. 8 with Boston College-VCU at 6 p.m. and Navy-Harvard at 8:30 p.m.
“We want to try to challenge ourselves as a program to play really good teams and we want to challenge ourselves as a program to do something special,” DeChellis said. “I think the way that we can honor our veterans through a basketball game — it’s Veterans Day weekend and we all should be thankful for the service that our veterans have given our country. It’s just an opportunity for us to say thank you.”
For more from DeChellis, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Navy Athletics