"It really wasn't intentional," said Northland College LumberJack Men's Basketball Coach Scott Sorenson. "That said, it was really hard to turn away any of our new guys. They're all so talented. Even more so, they're just great guys to have in our program."
 
With the LumberJacks taking the floor for their season-opening exhibition game tonight at 5:30pm versus Vermilion Community College in the Kendrigan Center, Sorenson and his staff will get their first look at their squad against outside competition. The 8 transfers and 4 freshmen will combine with 12 returners in the hopes bringing the LumberJacks back to the UMAC playoffs.
 
Shooting wing Jorden Andrews (6-3; Accokeek, MD) leads off the group of new LumberJacks having played the last few years at Bakersfield Community College in California. The 3-point shooting specialist will be looked to provide long-range shooting and pressure defense. Transfer center Adam Billingsly (6-10; Evansville, IN) comes to Northland having spent the last 3 seasons at Oakland City University of the NAIA. Billingsly gives the Jacks a big option on the inside that should shore up interior scoring and rebounding. Another California junior college transfer, this time from Merritt Junior College, Isaiah Campbell (6-0; Oakland, CA) is a pass-first point guard whose on-ball defense will be looked on to create havoc for opponents. Combo guard Langston Flowers (5-10; Dallas, TX) spent last season at Metropolitan Community College after 2 seasons at Division I junior college Hesston Community College. Flowers averaged 9.2 points per game last season and will bring an ability to play both guard spots to the Jacks.
 
"Jorden is the perfect '3-and-D' guy for our system," said Sorenson. "He can stretch the floor with his ability to shoot, but even more important is his speed and defense. His length can really cause some issues. He came highly recommended from his junior college coach, and dear friend of mine, Aaron Chavez. Adam could very well be the biggest player in the UMAC. His size is what everyone notices first, but it's his skill that is the difference. He's got great footwork, and I wouldn't leave him alone on the perimeter either. He can shoot too! Isaiah is the perfect point guard for our system. He sees things so quickly and is determined to get the ball to the right teammate at the right time. On top of that, he's an incredible on-ball defender. Langston allows us to have some versatility at the guard spot. He can easily play the point and get the ball to the right spot. However, he can also create his own shot which will allow us to play him off the ball as needed."
 
Forward Jaden Jones (6-7; Lemoore, CA) is the second recruit the Jacks have landed from Porterville Community College, after 2018 Northland grad Matt Zorn. The bouncy forward will help provide the Jacks with interior length, rebounding and the ability to play above the rim. Pure point guard Marvin McBroom (5-10; Vallejo, CA) is the fourth incoming LumberJack who played for a California junior college last year as he played at College of Marin. A defensive specialist, McBroom will be looked to give the Jacks a defensive spark, as well as a steady hand to run the offense. Wing-guard Marc Pilcher (6-2; Dalton, GA) spent the past 2 seasons at Southern Crescent Tech College. A smooth wing who heat up quick from outside, Pilcher can play multiple positions and is an outstanding rebounder from the guard spot. Wing Hunter Hannuksela (6-5; Aurora, MN) returns to the upper Midwest after spending last season as a redshirt freshman at NJCAA Division I member Cloud County Community College. The athletic wing will be relied upon to use his athleticism in a variety of way on both ends of the court.
 
"Jaden is a tremendous talent," Sorenson stated. "He plays above the rim and his length allows him to do things that can really help us. Marvin is as fast as they come. His lateral quickness will give us the ability to put pressure on the ball. It won't be long until he can contribute on both ends once he's fully acclimated with our offense. Marc is a Jack-of-All-Trades. He can certainly score, especially with his outside shot, but his rebounding and IQ should prove to be valuable right away. Hunter is a guy we've been wanting since I first saw him as a sophomore in high school. He scored 2,000+ points in high school and is his high school's all-time leading scorer. He's a tremendous athlete and his skill set is off-the-charts. He's really only begun to scratch the surface of how good he can be."
 
In addition to the transfers, four true freshmen come to Northland looking to be impactful. Carter Bascue (6-6; Cottage Grove, OR) is a long, hard-working forward who will provide immediate depth in the frontcourt. Hayden Harmoning (6-3; Becker, MN) is a high IQ wing who can play a multitude of positions in a variety of ways. Colton Sherer (6-1; Minneapolis, MN) is a scoring point guard who can create for both himself and teammates. Donovan Washington (6-3; Milwaukee, WI) is a long, smart wing who will be looked upon to provide defense and good decision making.
 
"Carter is someone we're really excited about," Sorenson said. "He picks up things so quickly. We only need to correct him once and he won't make the same mistake. His future is incredibly bright. Hayden's IQ is off-the-charts. He played some point guard in high school and that experience has really helped him adapt to the college level. He simply knows how to play. Colton is as talented as anyone. He's got a lightning quick first step and can score on all three levels. Donovan is long, smart and driven. He sees the game so well and knows how to play on both ends. This freshman class has all the potential in the world."
 
With such a large roster, Sorenson said he and his staff have placed a strong emphasis on team success over individual accomplishments. From the sound of it, the LumberJacks have bought into that mantra.
 
"Every season we try to come up with a slogan that we can use to show what'll be the most important aspect of having success," said Sorenson. "We knew a large group of guys will have to put aside personal feelings and make sacrifices for the team. We chose 'As One' to be our theme for the year. So far, they've bought into it better than I ever would've thought. They watch out for each other. They lift each other up. They enjoy being around each other. It's been a lot of fun thus far."
 
The Jacks host Vermilion Community College tonight at 5:30pm for an exhibition game. Northland will officially open the season next Tuesday, November 8^th at UW-Stout for a 5pm showdown.