Every Player, Every Role: Inside the 2025 NKU Men’s Basketball Roster

Fall practice is in full swing and Northern Kentucky has had to deal with a lot of roster changes and movement this offseason. As the roster stands today, NKU has 14 players and the same coaching staff from last year, except for a change adding Max Johnson, who spent the last two seasons at Auburn, taking over sports performance for men's basketball.

The coaching staff has continued to reiterate that the college landscape is shifting and rosters are now being put together with just the upcoming season in mind. You do not know if players will choose to stay after having a big year. Coach Darrin Horn explains the situation facing college basketball and the Norse today on the first episode of the new season of the Darrin Horn show:

In a perfect world, we’d recruit mostly high-school or multi-year players and build. That’s better for players and our program. The biggest challenge in today’s college basketball isn’t NIL or transferring—players’ rights are great and we support them 100%. The challenge is you don’t know what you have year to year, which makes roster planning difficult. Until things change and there’s more structure, our approach is to build the best one-year roster we can each season. We’ll try to have guys we hope return and develop, but ultimately that’s their choice.

Northern Kentucky has 5 returning players (Gherezgher, Darbyshire, Wells, Rakotonanahary and Minor) that accounted for 20.5% of the total available minutes last season. LJ Wells led the way in minutes played for this group at 693, with Dan Gherezgher closely behind him at 665. If you take a look around the Horizon League, we can clearly see the large amount of roster turnover from last year.

Only 3 teams are returning more than 30% of last year's minutes played, and the top two teams in that category were the bottom two teams in the league resulting in a combined 12-52 record last season.

The bottom three teams paint a different picture — Robert Morris, last season’s Horizon League regular-season and tournament champion, and two programs undergoing coaching transitions in IU Indianapolis and Cleveland State. In today’s NIL driven landscape, strong performances on a big stage often lead to players being lured away by programs with deeper pockets. That’s exactly what happened with Amarion Dickerson (USC), Josh Omojafo (USF), and Alvaro Folgueiras (Iowa) all leaving Robert Morris.

Coaching changes often trigger major roster turnover. IU Indianapolis ushered in a new era in May, hiring Ben Howlett as its men’s basketball head coach after parting ways with Paul Corsaro, who was dismissed over concerns about his treatment of players. Cleveland State also made a change this spring, naming Rob Summers head coach on April 9 following Daniyal Robinson’s departure to take the same role at the University of North Texas.

Northern Kentucky sits near the bottom of the league when it comes to returning minutes. Sam Vinson’s status for the upcoming season remains undecided despite it already being October, while Josh Dilling, Trey Robinson, and Keeyan Itejere have all moved on from the program. That puts added pressure on Dan Gherezgher and LJ Wells to take significant steps forward as leaders for the Norse.

Athleticism has been the theme of the offseason, from the players to the staff, everyone was talking about getting a more athletic team. Now that the team is put together they continue to talk about how athletic of a team they have and what that can do for them this season. Fist defense is all about flying around and making plays, in the form of deflections and turnovers and you cannot do that quite as well when you do not have the players that fit that mold.

Last season, on defense NKU ranked 338th in three-point percentage, 313th in offensive rebound percentage and 262nd in effective field goal percentage (measures shooting efficiency by valuing 3-point field goals more than 2-point field goals). The effective field goal percentage and three-point percentage against were both the worst under Coach Horn in the 6 years he has been at NKU. The Norse went from giving up 31.2% from three in 2023-24 (33rd in the country) to 37% last season. Additions like Shawn Nelson, Donovan Oday, Tae Dozier and Addison Archer can all potentially help the Norse this season defensively. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at all 14 players on NKU’s roster and how they fit into the team as preparations continue from summer into fall workouts.

#0 Dan Gherezgher

Dan Gherezgher is a 6'4 senior guard who joined Northern Kentucky before the 2024-25 season out of Michigan Tech. After starting last season with turnover issues, 19 turnovers in the first 10 games, Gherezgher mostly rode the bench. He averaged just over 5 minutes a game in the next 8 games and scored just 2 total points during that stretch. He was a complete non-factor and at this point the Norse were 9-10 overall, 4-4 in Horizon League play. The coaching staff reintroduced Dan to the rotation and he began to find his stride. Over the final 14 games he averaged 14.1 points and 3.4 assists per game while starting the last 11 games and NKU closing the season going 8-3. After that late-season surge, Gherezgher briefly tested the transfer portal but ultimately chose to return to Highland Heights, reflecting on the decision with honesty and perspective:

“I was in the transfer portal for 3–4 days—not wholeheartedly. I didn’t post, didn’t reach out. It was quiet because I was still deciding if I even wanted to be in. After talking to people I trust, I chose to stay. Coach Horn gave me time, and my teammates welcomed me back. For me it wasn’t about shopping options; it was about what was best for my career after college—and I believe that’s here.”

On March 28, Dan Gherezgher entered his name into the transfer portal and then just four days later he announced he would be returning to NKU. Dan is going to have a significant amount of offensive pressure on him this season, and I could see him pushing towards 18-19 points per game and being in the top 5 of Horizon League in scoring. He will draw significant focus from opposing teams all season and will have to rely on some of his new teammates in order to close out games.

#1 Ryan Tolliver

The 6'7 freshman forward Ryan Tolliver averaged 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals per game his senior year at Northwest Catholic High School. The coaching staff believes Tolliver could prove to be a hidden gem for the Norse: “We think he could be a steal with development—lots of upside as a freshman.”

Freshmen are an unknown commodity in today's college basketball world, and although Ryan has plenty of upside as a player, it would be a bit surprising if he made a meaningful impact on NKU's roster this season.

#3 Shawn Nelson

Shawn Nelson wasted no time finding his new home. The 6'3 fifth-year guard committed to Northern Kentucky during his very first campus visit, saying the connection with the program and the support from returners like LJ Wells made it clear there was no need to look elsewhere. “Not a lot of people know this, but this was my first visit and I committed on the spot,” Nelson said. “I felt the love from the fans and the returners. I had other visits lined up, but it felt like the right fit, so why wait?” That sense of belonging, paired with NKU’s need for a versatile backcourt piece, sealed the decision.

On the floor, Nelson is coming off a breakout year at Barton College where he averaged 18.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. He brings a downhill, attacking style that is complemented by a reliable jumper he’s worked hard to develop over the last three years. He describes himself as someone who can make plays, defend multiple positions, and knock down shots off the catch—all traits that should allow him to impact the game in several ways and make an immediate difference for the Norse. His transition hasn’t been without setbacks, though. Nelson suffered a knee injury during summer workouts, but he took it in stride: “Before July 4th my knee swelled up. I kept practicing, I thought it was normal soreness. Our trainer Nate said to get an MRI. The news was 6–8 weeks, not long. I’ll still practice before the season. I knew I’d get back and be better.” Now back in action this fall, he looks ready to bring that resilience and versatility into his first Division I season.

#4 Bryce Darbyshire

The 6'4 junior guard from Sycamore High School in Cincinnati is coming off a season where he appeared in seven games for the Norse. Bryce finished the season 0/2 from the field and one total rebound in 13 total minutes played.

#5 LJ Wells

LJ Wells, the 6'8 senior forward from Eau Claire Memorial High School, remained a steady part of NKU’s rotation last season, starting 16 of the 32 games he played. His numbers dipped slightly compared to his sophomore year, averaging 4.2 fewer minutes and 1.4 fewer points per game. After coming off the bench early, Wells moved into the starting lineup for 16 straight games before finishing the year in a reserve role. In an era where many players would look to the transfer portal, Wells never entered his name and stayed committed to the program. He finished the season strong, averaging 11.8 points and 8.6 rebounds over the final four games while going 57% from the field.

Looking ahead, Wells will be counted on as a mainstay in the paint and a key interior presence. NKU will look to feed him in the post, and a bounce-back year averaging double figures in scoring would go a long way in solidifying his role as a dependable force inside.

During preseason workouts, I noticed LJ Wells stepping confidently into a leadership role. Now entering his senior year, Wells has spent his entire college career with the Norse and appears ready and willing to guide this group. His influence began even before official practices, as he reached out to potential newcomers like Shawn Nelson to help bring talent to Highland Heights. On the Darrin Horn Show, Wells reflected on his offseason growth, saying, “I’ve grown most in effort and motor, and as a leader.”

#6 Ethan Elliott

Ethan Elliott, a 6'3 freshman guard from Perth, Australia, joins Northern Kentucky with a mature presence that’s already impressed the staff. “Ethan’s very mature and communicates well,” Assistant Coach R.J. Evans said on Episode 3 of the Darrin Horn Show. Though delays with visas and paperwork kept him from arriving until school and fall workouts started, he brings valuable experience after two seasons with the Joondalup Wolves in Australia’s NBL1 semi-professional league. Elliott thrives as a pick-and-roll ball handler, transition scorer, and spot-up shooter, showing confidence creating his own looks and attacking downhill when opportunities appear.

After talking with the coaching staff, Northern Kentucky’s point guard group of Ethan Elliott, Dan Gherezgher, and JJ Apathjang has been a solid group this offseason. All three are playing well, bringing good speed and ball movement to the floor. Each has shown a knack for creating opportunities and getting their teammates quality looks, an encouraging development for the Norse offense heading into the season.

#8 Donovan Oday

Donovan Oday, a 6'2 senior guard from Arlington, Texas, transferred to Northern Kentucky after spending the past two seasons at Cal State Fullerton. He was the Titans’ leading scorer last year, averaging 12.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, and was their only player to finish in double figures. Remarkably, he also led Fullerton in rebounding with 156 boards which is an impressive feat for a guard of his size.

Oday joined NKU late in the portal process but wasted no time making an impression. “We were fortunate to find him late in the portal,” Coach Darrin Horn said. “He gives us instant athleticism on the perimeter and is proven at the D-I level. Since arriving, his work ethic and motor have impressed us. He raises our competitive level.” That athleticism has already shown up in workouts, where teammate Shawn Nelson called him “a great on-ball defender… very physical,” noting how tough it is to go against him daily. Horn echoed that assessment, saying Oday “may be as athletic as any perimeter guy we’ve had here in terms of speed and quickness. He’s physical, can take and deliver contact defensively, and really gets above the rim.”

With NKU's Fist Defense, having strong athletic guards out front is extremely important. They set the tone for the defense and can be major disrupters to the opponent's offense when they are flying around and making plays. Oday has the ability to be a great defender for the Norse, and the sooner he gets comfortable in this defense, the quicker he makes an impact for this team.

#10 Donovan Rakotonanahary

Donovan Rakotonanahary, a 6'8 redshirt freshman, spent last season developing with the program while sitting out. Listed at 190 pounds, adding strength will be key for him to hold his own in the paint, battle on the glass, and defend bigger opponents. He has worked to smooth out his jump shot—which could pay dividends at the free-throw line—but his primary role is expected to be as a screener, rebounder, and inside presence.

#11 Tae Dozier

Tae Dozier, a 6'5 graduate guard with a 6'9 wingspan, joins Northern Kentucky from Georgetown College (NAIA), where he averaged 11.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks as a redshirt junior.

“If there were ‘steals of the portal,’ Tae Dozier might be one,” said Coach Darrin Horn. “Length + athleticism, defends, steals, blocks shots at 6-5, runs in transition, excellent passer, can make shots, and has a real chance to be an elite offensive rebounder on the perimeter.” That offensive rebounding presence already shows in the numbers with Dozier scoring 67 points last season on putbacks alone, creating valuable extra possessions. NKU has long valued guards who are willing to battle on the boards regardless of size, and Dozier projects as a reliable rebounder on both ends of the floor with the versatility to impact the game in multiple ways.

#12 Addison Archer

Addison Archer, a 6'9 junior forward, joins NKU after two seasons at Ranger College, a JUCO program in Texas. He averaged nine points and five rebounds per game last season while shooting better than 55% from the field and 84% at the free-throw line. Archer played a do-it-all role, scoring much of his offense without the ball—whether through cutting, running in transition, working the pick-and-roll, or cleaning up the glass. The Norse value big men who can stay active without clogging the paint, and Archer has the tools to fit seamlessly into that system.

Archer is one of the players who helps improve the team's athleticism. He thrives in the open court and likes to play above the rim. He can be a lob threat within the offense, and he moves well defensively. His rebounding and ability to handle bigger, more physical players in the paint will determine a lot of his role.

#17 Juanma Ruiz

Juanma Ruiz, a 6'9 freshman forward from Begíjar, Spain, enters NKU listed at 200 pounds, and like fellow young big Donovan Rakotonanahary, he’ll be looking to add strength as he develops. Ruiz’s length immediately jumps out — he gets his hands on everything, and his arm span makes him a disruptive presence. At this stage, he projects more as a developmental piece in the mold of Ryan Tolliver, but his upside is clear. He officially joined the team once school began this fall.

Assistant coach R.J. Evans praised how smoothly he fit in from the start: “The guys took Juanma under their wing right away—Addison, Kael, and Shawn had him over the first week. The group has done a great job helping him feel at home.”

Before arriving in Highland Heights, Ruiz showed flashes of his potential in Spain. He competed in the U19 League with Real Betis, averaging nearly 11 points and 8 rebounds on close to 60% shooting over four games. He also logged 19 appearances with Real Betis 2 in Spain’s Tercera FEB, where he averaged 9.9 points and 7.5 rebounds while recording three double-doubles. Head coach Darrin Horn highlighted Ruiz’s versatility, noting his ability to run the floor, finish at the rim, rebound on both ends, and even handle the ball facing the basket — a valuable skill for forwards in NKU’s system, which relies on bigs to initiate action through dribble handoffs and ball movement.

#22 JJ Apathjang

JJ Apathjang, a 6'4 freshman point guard from Salt Lake City, Utah, comes to NKU from Judge Memorial Catholic, where he led his team to a state championship as a senior and scored in double figures every game of the season. He joins a point guard group that includes Dan Gherezgher and Ethan Elliott, giving him the opportunity to develop his game under the guidance of assistant coach David Harris.

#24 Kael Robinson

Kael Robinson, a 6'7 graduate forward from Hamilton, New Zealand, joins NKU after using a waiver to regain his NAIA year of eligibility. He most recently played for the Montana State Billings, where he established himself as one of the top players in the GNAC, averaging 17.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while earning First Team All-Conference honors.

“Kael Robinson was a huge priority for us because losing players like Trey Robinson showed us we need that versatile player like LJ Wells or Trey on both ends,” said Coach Darrin Horn. “Kael is skilled with great size, can play inside and out, and has a high basketball IQ. We also wanted depth so we can go deeper into the bench and have a bigger rotation.”

Offensively, Robinson gives the Norse a player who can score in a variety of ways—whether posting up, spotting up on the perimeter, or running in transition. He brings an additional three-point shooting element that fits well with NKU’s system, while also having the ability to take defenders off the dribble and create in isolation. When discussing the forwards as a whole, NKU’s coaching staff pointed to the group’s versatility as a major strength. The group has size, touch around the rim, the ability to defend multiple positions, and has shown strong instincts moving the ball and reading the game. Robinson fits seamlessly into that mix and has the chance to be an important two-way contributor for the Norse.

#26 Mitchel Minor

Mitchel Minor, a 5'10 senior walk-on guard, continues to play a valuable role for the Norse. Now in his fourth season with the program, Minor helps elevate practices by working closely with the coaching staff and teammates to provide different looks on both ends of the floor, ensuring drills run effectively. While he has appeared in just three games during his time at NKU, his contributions in preparation and behind the scenes are an important part of the team’s day-to-day development.