The Iona Gaels’ men’s basketball team endured a subpar campaign in 2023-24. At the end of the season, the team had accumulated a 16-17 record, which would be an average finish for most programs, but was Iona’s worst finish since the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season. The 2023-24 season also saw the Gaels get eliminated in the semifinals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship Tournament, which snapped a three-year streak of the team making the finals.
Over the offseason, every player on that previous year’s roster either graduated or transferred, leaving second-year head coach Tobin Anderson having to replace a roster for the second time in his Iona career.
Anderson and the Gaels have seemingly brought in some great talent, which has been reflected in MAAC coaches naming three players to the preseason All-MAAC teams, tied for the most players with Sacred Heart. Those three players were senior guard Dejour Reaves, junior guard Biggie Patterson, and senior forward Clarence Rupert.
Reaves, who transferred in from Northern Colorado, will more than likely be Iona’s go-to guy for this season. Reaves’ 15.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.6assists at a bigger mid-major last season was enough to get coaches to name him to the All-MAAC first team. Outside of his stats, Reaves works well in a pick-and-roll situation as the passer, which should really benefit the big men on Iona’s roster this season.
One of those big men will be Clarence Rupert, who is transferring in from Southern Illinois. Rupert, who averaged 7.5 points and 6.8 rebounds last season, will more than likely be Iona’s starting center this season. Rupert also has championship experience in the MAAC, as he was a member of the St. Peter’s team that made it to the EliteEight in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. A big man that can do a little bit of everything on the court, Rupert was named to the preseason All-MAAC third team.
The other Gael named to the preseason All-MAAC teams was Biggie Patterson. Transferring in from Division II school St. Thomas Aquinas, Patterson averaged 23.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game last season for the Spartans. Patterson will more than likely be one of the top scoring options for Anderson this coming season.
Other notable Gaels on the team this season include freshman guard Adam Njie, who will be the highest ranked recruit to ever play for Iona, junior forward Yaphet Moundi, who averaged a double-double for Panola College last season, and senior guard Jalen Barr, who was able to guard all positions at the Division II level.
The Gaels kick off their season on Nov. 4 when they take on Princeton, with their home opener coming on Nov. 12 when they host Delaware. Other notable non-conference events for the Gaels would be the Nassau Championship.
