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Size, Versatility, Athleticism: What UB Basketball Sought In Crafting Its 2024 Recruiting Class
The University at Buffalo men's basketball team had to pivot when it came to a last-minute change for its 2024-25 roster.
Frederiks Meinarts, a 7-foot center from Latvia who played at IMG Academy this season, announced his commitment to the Bulls on Saturday. His commitment came a day before Armani Mighty, a 6-10 forward, announced he had decommitted from the Bulls. Mighty originally intended to transfer to UB from Boston College.
Meinarts' commitment completed – and slightly reconfigured – UB's 2024-25 roster; as a true freshman, he'll take the roster spot of an anticipated addition who had two seasons of Division I basketball experience. But Meinarts' addition to UB's roster is part of a bigger picture for the Bulls, who enter the summer with 13 scholarship players on their roster: four returning players, two transfers and seven incoming freshmen.
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The UB men's basketball team will add seven freshmen to its roster for the 2024-25 season.
Buffalo News file photoWhat UB sought
The Bulls aimed for nine incoming players and Jake Presutti, UB's associate head coach, wanted experience and versatility among the incoming roster additions.
"We wanted to upgrade athleticism, at all areas, but we also wanted to bring in people that were energetic and wanted to be at Buffalo," said Presutti, who oversees UB's recruiting.
UB added Noah Batchelor, a transfer from Maryland who averaged 1.7 points and 0.7 rebounds in 48 games over two seasons with the Terps. UB also added Tyson Dunn, a 6-3 guard who averaged 15.5 points, 5.8 rebounds 6.4 assists and 63 steals in 24 games at Western University in London, Ontario.
Now at the University at Buffalo, Noah Batchelor averaged 1.7 points and 0.7 rebounds in 48 games over two seasons at Maryland.
Associated PressDunn played for three seasons at Western Ontario but needs to make a transition from Canadian college basketball to American college basketball. Presutti described Dunn as a player who can run the team and can score, but who creates opportunities for others on the court.
"They want to come be a part of something bigger than themselves, but also be pushed and coached," UB coach George Halcovage III said. "They'll get the most of out of an opportunity to help a team excel, but also know that individually they'll get what they want, in the end, too, out of it."
Versatility was a key quality sought by UB's coaching staff in its seven incoming freshmen. Omar Migues-Hibeljic, Kavon Bradford, Sam Akot and Braden Jackson are wings – though Bradford can play at point guard. Tim Oboh and Ben Michaels are forwards while Meinarts is a center. Five of the seven are at least 6-7. They'll likely need some seasoning as true freshmen, though.
"As a staff, we thought a lot about this roster and basically having to bring in nine guys," Presutti said. "We knew every area, every position and every skill set was thought out, and we wanted everything to match on this roster. We knew Armani had a physical presence but we saw an opportunity, when he decommitted, to find a stretch forward."
How UB got 7-foot centerMeinarts became an 11th-hour addition for the Bulls, to replace Mighty.
Meinarts had not officially signed with UB as of Monday afternoon.
Mighty posted a photo of himself on his Instagram account Sunday in a UB uniform, with the word "DECOMMITTED" on the photo, but has not announced which program he will join next. He did not respond to a message from The Buffalo News seeking comment regarding his decision to decommit.
"Armani wanted to be here, his mom wanted him here, and what happened, and is happening across the country is that higher-level schools are circling back and trying to get players and offering large NIL packages, and that's what happened," Presutti said. "I wanted him to do what's best for him."
UB's Ryan Sabol, driving against Western Michigan, went 81-for-221 on field goals as a freshman last season.
Buffalo News file photoWhat to expect this fall
The Bulls begin their summer offseason workouts Monday, and Presutti said UB's incoming freshmen will have the chance to earn playing time, while UB expects Batchelor to play immediately this season.
UB's new group of players will have the opportunity to earn immediate playing time, but coaches won't put pressure on them to take on the roles that players like Ryan Sabol and Anquan Boldin Jr. Did as freshmen in 2023-24. Sabol averaged 28.6 minutes per game in 31 games and went 81-for-221 (36.7%) on field goals, which included 62-for-165 (37.6%) on 3-point attempts. Sabol had a team-high 165 3-point attempts.
Boldin averaged 29.5 minutes per game in 22 games.
"The roster was put together with intelligence, and the pieces fit together," Presutti said. "We're going to play differently on both sides of the ball because the pieces fit. You'll see a high-energy, physical, tough team on both sides of the ball.
"But you'll also see guys who take pride in putting the UB jersey on. We can't wait to get them on campus, but we can't wait for the season to begin."
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UB Women's Basketball Coach Becky Burke Gets $25,000 Raise With Contract Extension
Winning pays off, particularly for the UB women's basketball program and head coach Becky Burke.
Signed to a contract extension in May, Burke will receive a pay raise of more than $25,000 as she enters her third season as the Bulls' coach.
For the second time in less than a year, UB has signed women's basketball coach Becky Burke to a contract extension.
The terms of Burke's contract extension, obtained by The Buffalo News from UB through a Freedom of Information Act request, state Burke will make an annual base salary of $215,014. She'll receive a pay raise of $25,014. Her original contract terms stated that she earned an annual base salary of $190,000, plus additional annual compensation of $60,000.
The structure of Burke's termination terms also have changed. If UB terminates Burke on or before April 4, 2025, the school would owe her $500,000 – up $100,000 from the terms of the contract extension in September – and that total would drop after April 5 of each year by $100,000, through the end of the contract.
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Burke and UB agreed to the new contract terms May 15, and her current deal runs through April 4, 2029.
UB originally announced Burke's second contract extension May 30, but did not initially release the terms of the extension. UB hired Burke in April 2022, and she received her first contract extension in September 2023, which had no changes to Burke's salary or buyout terms, but amended the contract to include a bonus structure for a potential Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament appearance by the Bulls.
University at Buffalo head coach Becky Burke will get a raise with her most recent contract extension.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo NewsBurke is 31-30 overall and 17-19 in the Mid-American Conference in two seasons at UB.
The Bulls were 19-14 overall and 10-8 in the MAC last season and lost to Kent State in the MAC Tournament championship game. The Bulls earned a berth in the WNIT and lost to Monmouth in a first-round game.
Watson is one of 42 players to earn honorable mention status, and 10 players earned All-American status, including Iowa guard Caitlin Clark.
The Bulls are set up for success. UB returns guard Chellia Watson, who was fourth in the nation in scoring last season (23 points per game) and was a Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-American honorable mention selection, as well as Kirsten Lewis-Williams, a guard and the reigning MAC Freshman of the Year.
Five players from this year's roster entered the transfer portal, but UB will add five transfers from Division I programs, including former Lake Shore standout Noelani Cornfield (Southern Mississippi), one junior-college transfer and four incoming freshmen. Among them are center Brianna Barr-Buday, a Nichols School graduate and a Buffalo News All-Western New York selection.
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Fifth-graders Try Out College Basketball For A Day With 'Basketball 101' Session At UB
A program called "Basketball 101" brought a group of fifth graders to center court at UB on Wednesday morning, with the university's basketball players and staff.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — A program called "Basketball 101" brought a group of fifth graders to center court at the University at Buffalo on Wednesday morning, to run drills and get exclusive coaching from the basketball staff and players at SUNY Buffalo.
It's a partnership between the university's athletic program and M&T Bank.
Men's bastketball coach George Halcovage III said aside from the physical experience on the basketball court, they also spent time sharing what it takes to be a college athlete.
"At this age, it's really inspiring for them to know that's anything's possible," he said.
The students came from Westminster Community Charter School and Highgate Heights Elementary.
"I think it's good that they came today, because they get motivation from our players to look forward to the future and being a college athlete," women's basketball assistant coach James Ewing said.
"I went to a lot of camps, school camps and seeing those players and people that were there, it definitely made me want to be there," UB point guard Noelani Cornfield said. "I hope we did the same for these kids."
Westminster student Brandon Rochester shared a little of what he took away from the experience with 2 On Your Side.
"Don't give up, and have self confidence," he said. "Be respectful, be responsible and make eye contact when someone is throwing."
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