The Bearcats men’s basketball team added six walk-on players to its roster Thursday after open tryouts were held earlier this month.
According to a report from the Press & Sun-Bulletin, the six players were chosen from around 35 students who attended the tryouts.
The new players include senior Charlie Fackler, junior Preston Pena, sophomore Anthony Valerio, and freshmen Ramon Bernardez, Javon Ralling and Mike Horn.
“The roster for this season is finalized,” said interim athletic director Jim Norris. “Whoever emerged from the walk-on combined with the 11 [players] who are already in the program.”
The walk-ons brought the team to 16 players, since one of the original 11 players, junior Kraidon Woods, is a transfer and ineligible to play this season based on NCAA regulation.
According to Norris, the walk-on players are now practicing with the team.
“My understanding is that they will practice and dress for home games, and the away games are to be determined,” Norris said. “What [interim head coach Mark] Macon determined is that two or three of the walk-ons will be rotated [for away games]. This is not uncommon, most teams have a squad and a travel squad.”
At this time, it is undetermined whether or not these walk-on players will continue with the team past this upcoming season.
“In general, across our department there is never any guarantee of anything,” Norris said. “Anyone can be cut at any moment. That includes kids on scholarship. Anyone can be cut at any time.”
There is no remaining scholarship money for this year, and although the walk-on players were offered a spot on the team, they were not offered scholarships, Norris said.
Macon was unavailable for comment since, according to Norris, he is currently out of town recruiting.
“The one thing Macon told me is that they [the walk-on players] are good kids and they are working real hard,” Norris said.
At a men’s basketball media day held on Thursday, current players spoke about their feelings on the upcoming season.
“We have good chemistry,” said junior guard Chretien Lukusa on media day. “We are having fun in the locker room and working hard on the court. We are still trying to find our identity as a team with the new guys.”
The decision to hold open tryouts was made after the dismissal of six players from the team, including leading scorers from last year’s America East Conference championship roster.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 30, Binghamton University President Lois DeFleur requested for Kevin Broadus, the men’s basketball coach, to provide her with a “recruitment and supervision plan” for the basketball program. On Wednesday, Oct. 14, Broadus was placed on paid leave.
According to the associate director of athletics for communication John Hartrick, this plan is still being finalized.
“It is still a work in progress,” Hartrick said. “It will be the plan that Macon will follow, so he is involved in [the planning].”