Season Recap of Kean University’s Men’s Basketball Team

By Wayne Dawes | Published March 13, 2023

After last season’s New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament loss to Rutgers-Newark on Feb. 22, 2022, with the score being 89-70, the Kean University men’s basketball team felt that they were a few pieces away from being a real contender in the NJAC tournament. 

Going into the offseason, Assistant coach Jerry Henderson emphasized last year that keeping key players such as senior forward Letrell West and fifth-year guard Jailen Jamison was one step along with recruiting talent to join the team. 

That plan worked out well for the Cougars as they got four transfers from all over the country, Griffin Barker from previously Bellevue College in Seattle Washington. Heem Burno, a point guard from Union County College, Corey Thelisme, a 6 ‘2 forward from Bloomfield College, and DJ Alicia a 6’ 2 guard from Georgian Court University.

Keeping key players and bringing in new talent worked out for the team as they improved their win total by 4 wins. In the 2021-22 season, the team went 14-10, but in the 2022-23 season, they went 18-8 and started the season with 13 wins and zero losses. 

“Better talent this year helped improve the team overall,” Henderson said.

Going into the NJAC tournament, Coach Henderson was asked what the team needed to do to come out with the victory against TCNJ.

“Play solid defense, play as a team, and speed up the tempo,” Henderson said.

Defense is known for winning championships and for the basketball team that is one of the keys to coming out on top.

Barker in his first season at Kean University along with being one the team and has had a huge impact on the team with his size and consistently high level of play. At 6’6 and 225 pounds, he is averaging 18.6 points per game which is good enough to be one of the leading scorers on the team. 

“He plays so hard it becomes contagious and it makes the others want to win,” Henderson said.

During an interview in October about the season preview Coach Henderson stated that in the 2022-23 season, the team had their eyes on the NJAC championship and playing in the nationals and coach Henderson was asked if that still stands going into the NJAC tournament.

“Yes that expectation still stands, it is championship or bust,” Henderson said.

Barker transferred to Kean University to help the Cougars win a championship and play in the nationals. Barker is an example of how the Cougars recruit as the team got him to come to play for them as he previously played across the country in Seattle, Washington.

As his first season being a Kean Cougar is coming to a close, Barker Explained how his first season has been with the team.

“My first season on the men’s basketball team I really enjoyed, I think as a team we went through a lot of highs and lows together but came out together in most cases,” Barker said.

Having a good relationship with your teammates and coaches is very important especially when the team is on a title run but Barker praises his teammates and coaches for being honest and helpful throughout the season. 

“What I like most about my coaches and teammates is the honesty that you can have with them, if something is not going right on the court something will be said because of the high expectations that we have for one another,” Barker said.

Going into the NJAC tournament Barker was asked what is the main goal going to the tournament for the team.

“The main goal for the NJAC Playoffs is to just have fun and enjoy the experience,” Barker said.

The Cougars have their eyes set on one thing and that is winning the NJAC tournament and playing in the nationals, but to also have fun while playing the game they love to play and coach and to enjoy the experience. 

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