Former Bucs Lighting It Up Across the Division I Landscape
On any given day, it is hard to turn on ESPN and not to see a former Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneer starring on the big screen at the Division I level. In fact, no NJCAA program has more former players than FSW’s 20 currently playing in the Division I ranks. But it’s not just having that many players at the Division I level, it is the impact those players are making. FSW’s 20 players in the Division I ranks have combined to average nearly 165 points per game this season and nine different players rank inside their conference’s top 10 of at least one statistical category.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- On any given day, it is hard to turn on ESPN and not to see a former Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneer starring on the big screen at the Division I level. In fact, no NJCAA program has more former players than FSW's 20 currently playing in the Division I ranks. But it's not just having that many players at the Division I level, it is the impact those players are making. FSW's 20 players in the Division I ranks have combined to average nearly 165 points per game this season and nine different players rank inside their conference's top 10 of at least one statistical category.
Take a look below to see where they are all at and how everyone is faring midway through the 2021-2022 season.
Keon Ellis- Alabama- FSW Class of 2020
A 2020 All-American for the Bucs, Ellis has caught the eye of many NBA scouts this season at Alabama with his two way game, putting up 12.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while proving himself as one of the top defenders in the country with just under 2 steals per contest. Wednesday he sealed a Tide win over rival LSU with a pair of free throws with just 4 seconds left.
Kario Oquendo- Georgia- FSW Class of 2021
A 1st Team All-Conference selection for the Bucs last season as a freshman, Oquendo has picked up at Georgia right where he left off with FSW, actually putting up better numbers in the SEC with 13.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, than he did last year in Fort Myers. He has been on fire of late for the Bulldogs with three 20+ point performances in Georgia's last four games including a 28 point outburst against Mississippi State last Wednesday.
Terry Roberts- Bradley- FSW Class of 2021
Roberts has been nothing short of spectacular for the Braves this season, leading Bradley in scoring, assists, and steals, while ranking in the top five in the Missouri Valley in all three categories. His 15.9 points per game is fourth best in the conference while his 4.4 assists and 1.7 steals per night are both second most. He flirted with a triple double last week against Evansville, finishing with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, which was good enough to earn himself Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week honors for the third time this season.
Charles Manning Jr.- South Alabama- FSW Class of 2019
A 2019 All-American at FSW, Manning has found his groove during his senior season at South Alabama, leading the Sun Belt Conference in scoring at 17.6 points per game through 17 contests. He has eight 20+ point scoring efforts this season including a season high 26 on the road at UT-Arlington and has led the Jaguars in scoring in 11 of their 17 games on the year.
Jermaine Marshall- Samford- FSW Class of 2020
No surprise to Bucs fans, Marshall has been a double-double machine for the Bulldogs this season. He has posted seven on the year and averages just under a double-double with 11.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game on the season. He ranks second in the SoCon with his 8.6 rebounds per game and his .468 shooting percentage ranks in the top 10 in the league.
Jaden Campbell- Samford- FSW Class of 2021
Marshall's teammate at Samford, Campbell has been equally as effective in his first season with the Bulldogs. Campbell has scored in double figures 12 times this season and is averaging 10.9 points per game after a season high 20 point effort Saturday against East Tennessee State. Like Marshall, he also finds his name among the league leaders in multiple categories as he ranks 12th, shooting 41% from the three point line on the year and 13th in steals on the other end with 1.3 a night.
Jalen Finch- Jacksonville State- FSW Class of 2020
Finch has led Jacksonville State to a perfect 4-0 start to ASUN play, averaging 9 points and 5 assists per game though their first four league contests. He has started 15 of 16 games for the Gamecocks this season and has scored in double figures five times while dishing out 10 assists on a pair of occasions.
CJ Lane- Eastern Illinois- FSW Class of 2021
Lane is one of just two players to see action in all 17 games for Eastern Illinois this season, averaging just under 20 minutes per game while putting up 7.7 points per contest. He has scored in double figures five times this season including a season high 20 point performance against Morehead State to close out 2021.
De'Lazarus Keys- Texas A&M Corpus Christi- FSW Class of 2020
Keys has helped lead the Islanders to their best start in program history at 15-4, starting 18 games and averaging 7.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting an even 50% from the field. Keys has scored in double figures six times this season and posted his first double-double of the season the Islanders last time out on Thursday with 12 points and 10 rebounds in a win over McNeese.
Berrick JeanLouis- Iona- FSW Class of 2020
After leading Iona to the NCAA Tournament a season ago, JeanLouis has again been a key cog in the lineup for the Gaels this season, starting all 17 games while averaging 5.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. While his offensive numbers don't pop off the page, his defensive numbers do as he is just one of two players in the MAAC to rank in the top 10 in the conference in both steals and blocked shots, adding to the later with a game saving swat in an upset win over former teammate Keon Ellis and Alabama earlier this season.
Ralph Bissainthe- Central Michigan- FSW Class of 2020
Bissainthe has been solid for Central Michigan this season, leading the Chippewas in minutes played at 27.9 per game while averaging 9.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game on the year. He has three 15 point performances on the year including in his last contest against Eastern Michigan when he went for 15 points and 8 rebounds on 5-7 shooting for the Chips.
Simeon Kirkland- New Orleans- FSW Class of 2020
Kirkland has found a home in the Big Easy where he is averaging 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for the Privateers while leading the Southland Conference shooting 62% from the field on the year. He has played in all 17 games, drawing 10 starts for New Orleans, scoring in double figures seven times and posting double-doubles with 14 points and 14 rebounds against Utah State and 12 points and 12 rebounds against McNeese.
Tra'Von Fagan- Buffalo- FSW Class of 2018
A key player off the bench for the Bulls, Fagan is averaging 4.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 49% from the field for Buffalo this season. He has his best two scoring efforts of the year in back to back contests, going for 11 against St. John Fisher and backing that up with 12 against Canisius one week later.
ShanQuan Hemphill- Drake- FSW Class of 2018
Hemphill has been rock solid for Drake in his final season with the Bulldogs, averaging 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 51% from the field on the year. He has started all 15 games he has played in this season, scoring in double figures eight times, including five straight in December.
Tremell Murphy- Drake- FSW Class of 2018
Teaming up with FSW teammates Tank Hemphill and DJ Wilkins, Murphy has been one of the top players this season for Drake, starting 18 ballgames and putting up 9.8 points and 5.2 boards per night for the Bulldogs. He has scored in double figures 10 times on the year including back to back 18 point performances early in the season against Richmond and Belmont.
DJ Wilkins- Drake- FSW Class of 2018
A third former Buc pushing the 10 point per game mark for the Bulldogs this season, Wilkins is the only Drake player to start all 19 games in 2021-2022. Wilkins has scored in double figures 12 times on the year including a 17 point effort against Alabama early in the season.
Tyler Morman- Southern Miss- FSW Class of 2019
Morman has been earning more and more minutes off the Golden Eagle bench of late, posting season highs in minutes (20), points (7), rebounds (5), and Assists (3) in Southern Miss' last contest against Southeastern Baptist.
DeShawn Thomas- Coastal Carolina- FSW Class of 2019
Thomas has seen action in 16 of 18 games for Coastal this season and drew his first start of the year in their last outing against Georgia Southern. His two most productive games of the year came back to back in December when he posted 25 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes of action against Methodist and Regent.
Sebastian Guitian- South Carolina State- FSW Class of 2020
Guitian has been sidelined due to an injury so far in 2021-2022 but is expected to make his season debut this weekend when the Bulldogs take on Maryland-Eastern Shore on Saturday.
