The college basketball offseason brings significant change to almost every roster in the Division I landscape. As part of an offseason series highlighting local men’s hoops squads, PressBox takes a look at what Coppin State men’s basketball has been up to.
Head Coach: Larry Stewart
Last Season: 7-24 overall, 5-9 MEAC
Returners: Favour Aire, Josiah Brown, Tyler Koenig, Nelson Lamizana, Daveyon Lydner, Jamari Piercy, Baasil Saunders, Camaren Sparrow, Elijah Taylor, Hussain Williams
Portal Additions: Brendan Johnson (Merrimack)
High School Additions: Malik Shackleford (Friendship Tech Prep Academy)
Portal Departures: Khali Horton
Out of Eligibility: Torrin Andrews, DeMariontay Hall, Hassan Perkins, Taj Thweatt
Coppin State brings back 10 players from last season’s squad. Those returners include 6-foot-5 guards Williams and Piercy, who averaged 7.3 and 6.8 points per game, respectively, mostly in reserve roles. The group also features 6-foot-9 forward Lamizana and 6-foot-4 guard Sparrow, both of whom showed flashes but missed time due to injuries.
“It means a lot. It means that we must be doing something right,” Stewart said of bringing back 10 players in the modern era of college hoops. “The guys respect what we’re doing. They want to win. They see a good opportunity for themselves to win and get better.”
The biggest splash of the offseason for Coppin is the addition of Johnson. The Perryville, Md., native earned Jerry Savage Player of the Year honors in the Baltimore Catholic League as a senior at Calvert Hall. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound combo guard averaged 26.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game for the Cardinals in 2023-24.
Johnson played in just 11 games for Merrimack the past two seasons due to injuries. His mother, Vera Carrington-Johnson, is the assistant athletic director for academics and compliance at Coppin, so the coaching staff had a connection to Johnson and his family.
“He can do a lot of different things on the basketball court,” Stewart said. “I’m just looking to keep him healthy. I know he’s excited to be back home, excited to be playing in front of friends and family. He’s really looking forward to getting off to a good start for us.”
Coppin is also keeping Shackleford close to home after the 6-foot-3 combo guard starred at Friendship Tech in D.C.
“A multi-faceted player, had a really, really good high school career,” Stewart said. “I believe he’s going to be a great addition for us.”
Photo Credit: Tim Rice/Coppin State Athletics