The NSU Sharks men’s basketball team looks stronger than ever. The team ranked No. 3 in the NABC Coaches poll, behind Northwest Missouri State and Lubbock Christian. The Sharks scored an astounding 98.3 points per game, second in D-II, and stole the ball like no other. It forces a Division-II leading 17.5 steals and 26.8 forced turnovers per game. Though their defense is one of the best in D-II, their offense is even more of a strong suit.
Led by two strong, efficient scorers and an elite point guard, the Sharks are as dominant a team as any in Division II. The Sharks have their own version of a South Florida “Big 3” with senior forward Sekou Sylla, redshirt sophomore forward R.J. Sunahara and senior guard Nick Smith.
Sylla transferred to NSU from the College of Saint Rose in Brooklyn and has been a strong acquisition for Coach Crutchfield and his staff. The 6’5” forward averages 23.4 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. His 23.4 points are the eighth most in all of D-II.
Smith is a veteran point guard that the offense runs through. The senior guard is the main facilitator and ball handler for the dominant Sharks. Through 2022, Smith averages 11.4 points, 7.7 assists and 3.9 steals per game. His 3.9 steals lead D-II, and his 7.7 assists are second in D-II.
Sunahara is averaging 19.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game on 60.7% from the field. The sophomore is a candidate for “Most Improved Player” in the Sunshine State Conference, as he averaged 12.8 points in 2020. The 6’8” forward has been scoring the ball with ease thus far.
The “Big 3” have been in the SSC awards since their inception on Dec. 6. Sylla and Sunahara have each been named as the SSC Player of the Week once this season, with Smith being named as the Defensive Player of the Week twice. Sunahara averaged 24.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 2.3 steals per game when he won the award. Sylla’s dominant week included 26 points per game en route to two wins. Smith racked up 19 steals in three games, earning him two awards.
Though the “Big 3” have been dominant, the Sharks are also getting great production from others. The team has three other players that average at least nine points per game, with senior guard Eddie Puisis averaging 12.4 points, junior forward Lukas Speidel averaging 9.9 points and freshman guard Kobe Rodgers averaging 9.4 points per game.
Since Sylla, Smith and Sunahara score the majority of their points inside the three-point line, the outside ability of Puisis, Spiedel and Rodgers is imperative. The three lead the team in three-point attempts and percentage for those that have taken at least 40 three-point shots. They each shoot at least 32% from behind the arc, with Speidel shooting 40.9%, Puisis at 39.3% and Rodgers at 32.1%.
