Seton Hall Basketball: KC Ndefo gives Pirates needed interior presence
New Seton Hall Basketball head coach Shaheen Halloway has a familiar face joining him in KC Ndefo, one of the better defenders in college basketball.
One of the biggest coaching carousel hires this offseason involved Seton Hall Basketball, who replaced current Maryland head coach Kevin Willard with Shaheen Holloway, who led Saint Peter’s to the Elite 8 in the historic NCAA Tournament run as a 15 seed. Already one of the rising young stars in the coaching world, Coach Holloway became a priority for the Pirates and now will be building a new roster for the Big East program.
Seton Hall rebuilt its backcourt this offseason, landing a trio of transfers in Femi Oduakle, Dre Davis, and Al-Amir Dawes to pair with Kadary Richmond and Jamir Harris. The perimeter is in solid shape but the frontcourt has more holes, especially with Ike Obiagu going pro this offseason.
That leaves Yenta forwards Tray Jackson and Tyrese Samuel on the roster, along with Alexis Yetna, who has a history of health issues, which would provide an issue of depth for the Big East program. And neither are great options at the five-spot. But the good news is that reinforcements have arrived in another key part of Saint Peter’s run in KC Ndefo.
St. Peter's transfer KC Ndefo has committed to Seton Hall, reuniting with his former head coach Shaheen Holloway.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) May 28, 2022
Officially withdrawn from the NBA draft process.
Story: https://t.co/PHPah5sWi9 pic.twitter.com/qomjML4ZKc
Ndefo has started 78 games in four years with the Peacocks, with career averages of 10.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, and 2.6 bpg. His scoring production has increased in the past couple of years but the 6’7 forward is known for his elite defense. Not only is he a quality shot-blocker but he’s also capable of defending bigger bodies inside and can defend on the perimeter as well.
There are few players in college basketball history that can claim Defensive Player of the Year three times, as Ndefo did in the MAAC with Saint Peter’s. He slides perfectly for the Pirates at the five-spot and helps the team become even stronger on the defensive end for next season.
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Coach Holloway is building a roster at Seton Hall that is looking similar to the one that just had great success at Saint Peter’s. Not saying that the Pirates are destined for the Elite 8 in 2023 but the newcomers, including KC Ndefo, can put them in contention for a top-tier spot in the Big East.