Six To Join Men’s Basketball In 2018-19
Langel Inks Four Incoming First-Years, Two Transfers
HAMILTON – Colgate men’s basketball head coach Matt Langel has announced the addition of four first-years and two transfers that will join the Raiders for the 2018-19 season.
The two transfers will come to Colgate from Northwestern and Bowling Green while the four incoming first-years hail from four different states. The six newcomers are set to join a Raiders squad that is coming off a historic 2017-18 season in which Colgate set a program record with 19 wins and made its first national postseason tournament appearance since 1996.
“We are thrilled to add this group to our Colgate Basketball family,” said Langel, the 2018 Patriot League Coach of the Year. “We anticipate them being great additions this year and over the duration of their careers. Understanding there will be lots for them to learn at Colgate, we believe they are extremely well prepared to encounter great success. Although they come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, they share strong family-based values that match our program.”
#14 Liam Courtney
Kitchener, Ontario
Saint John’s Kilmarnock (Ontario)/Chaminade College Prep (Missouri)
Forward/Center – 7’0 – 205 lbs.
Before Colgate
The 7-foot forward helped guide his Chaminade College Prep squad to a Missouri State Championship…captained his Saint John’s Kilmarnock team for two seasons and led squad to an OSBA Championship…member of the Canada Elite program and the National Honors Society.
Personal
Born: Liam Paul Courtney in Cambridge, Ontario
Family: Son of Dan and Linda Courtney…has one brother.
Langel on Courtney: “Liam’s experiences at Chaminade, a prominent High School program in the USA, in Canada playing in the OSBA, and on the AAU circuit with Canada Elite are significant. He is well prepared to hit the ground running. At nearly seven feet tall with great mobility, work ethic, and a strong desire to learn, we believe Liam is capable of achieving great things on and off the court over his four years at Colgate.”
#0 Nelly Cummings
Midland, Pa.
Lincoln Park/Bowling Green
Guard – 6’0 – 180 lbs.
Will sit out from competition in 2018-19 due to NCAA transfer rules
Before Colgate
Saw action in 30 games as a key reserve during freshman season at Bowling Green in 2017-18…tallied 109 points (3.6 ppg), 34 rebounds, 29 assists and 20 steals as a Falcon…graduated from Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in 2017 as a three-time All-State and three-time All-WPIAL selection…led high school team to at least the state quarterfinals in all four years…ranked as a three-star prospect by ESPN.com coming out of high school… finished fifth on his conference’s (WPIAL) all-time scoring list with 2,411 career points … scored 37 points in his final career game to surpass T.J. McConnell of the Philadelphia 76ers…named the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Player of the Year in 2016-17, which earned him a spot on the Post-Gazette’s Fab Five team for the second-straight year…averaged 30 points and 5 assists per game during senior season…finished high school career with averages of 22 points and 6 assists per game…member of the National Honors Society.
Personal
Born: Renell Cummings II in Midland, Pa.
Family: Son of Renell Cummings and Brandi Gomez…has one brother.
Langel on Cummings: “Nelly was a highly-touted high school prospect who gained invaluable experience on and off the court in his first year at Bowling Green. As with the successful transfers we have coached at Colgate in past years, we expect Nelly to use his first year to improve himself as a player and solidify his contribution to our campus in preparation for when he is eligible to compete during the 2019-20 season. There is no doubt in my mind, however, that Nelly’s presence will be felt much sooner as he uses next season to challenge his new teammates on a daily basis.”
#25 Rapolas Ivanauskas
Barrington, Ill.
Barrington/Brewster Academy/Northwestern
Forward – 6’10 – 225 lbs.
2018-19 eligibility to be determined
Before Colgate
Spent two seasons at the Big Ten’s Northwestern…redshirted during 2016-17 season and was limited to three games in 2017-18 due to injury… ranked No. 89 recruit in the nation in Class of 2016 by Rivals.com and rated as a four-star recruit by 247Sports.com and Rivals coming out of high school…ranked as the No. 5 recruit in the state of Illinois by ESPN.com…spent senior year at Brewster Academy (N.H.) following three years at Barrington (Ill.) High School…was named the Mid-Suburban West Conference Player of the Year at Barrington after leading the Broncos to the team’s first league title since 1977…averaged 18 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a junior at Barrington to earn second team All-State honors and All-Area accolades…was an honor roll student.
Personal
Born: Rapolas Ivanauskas in Kaunas, Lithuania.
Family: Son of Tomas and Gintare Ivanauskas…father played college basketball at UMass Lowell and professionally in Lithuania…cousin played professionally in Turkey, Spain and Italy…has one brother.
Langel on Ivanauskas: “Rapolas suffered two season-ending shoulder injuries in his time at Northwestern. Although he has been physically unable to live up to the national recognition he earned as a high school player, Rap would be the first to share that he learned invaluable lessons on and off the court at Northwestern. It is also important to note that Rap is the type of individual to find a silver lining in unfortunate circumstances and believes those obstacles have not only helped him gain an understanding and appreciation for the game, but also helped him grow as a man. With good health ahead of him, we believe he has the skill, athleticism and character to be the type of versatile and dynamic player that can help lead Colgate to new heights.”
#2 Zach Light
New York, N.Y.
Riverdale Country School/Northfield Mount Hermon
Guard – 6’3 – 195 lbs.
Before Colgate
Helped lead Northfield Mount Hermon prep school to a pair of NEPSAC AAA Championships in 2016 and 2018…guided the Hoggers to National Championship Finalist status in both 2017 and 2018…named 2015 Ivy League Honorable Mention while playing at Riverdale Country School.
Personal
Born: Zachary Morris Light in New York City.
Family: Son of David and Jill Light…has one brother and one sister.
Langel on Light: “Zach’s time on and off the court at NMH, one of the best prep school programs in the country, has prepared him well for Colgate. He has been extremely well coached and knows what it takes to find success in basketball and in the classroom. Z is a tireless worker with a wiry strong basketball frame. His ‘swiss army knife’ approach to the game has helped every team he plays on find ways to win, and we are confident that he will do the same for us.”
#15 Tucker Richardson
Flemington, N.J.
Hunterdon Central/Blair Academy
Guard – 6’5 – 205 lbs.
Before Colgate
Led Blair Academy team to a 2018 MAPL Conference Championship while averaging 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists per game…named First Team Prep All-State at Blair Academy…guided Hunterdon Central High School team to back-to-back Skyland Conference Championships in 2016 and 2017, as well as a County and Sectional Championship in 2017…was a two-time County Player of the Year (2016, 2017) and the 2017 Central New Jersey Player of the Year…three-time first team All-Conference pick at Hunterdon Central and two-time team MVP…wrapped up time at Hunterdon Central with career numbers of 17 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists per game.
Personal
Born: Tucker Allen Richardson in Flemington, N.J.
Family: Son of Will and Wendy Richardson…has one sister.
Langel on Richardson: “Tucker had a phenomenal career at Hunterdon Central and has continued to grow as a player since. Much like Jordan Burns and Will Rayman before him, we believe that Tucker’s year as a postgraduate student at Blair has positioned him to achieve all of his goals at Colgate and beyond. He has great size for a perimeter player, which when combined with his basketball IQ and his ability to shoot with range, will make him a valuable weapon.”
#42 Jimmy Yfantopulos
Lowell, Mass.
Brimmer and May School
Guard – 5’11 – 165 lbs.
Before Colgate
Averaged 18.5 points and 6 assists per game during senior season at Brimmer and May School…earned All-NEPSAC honorable mention status as both a junior and a senior…named Brimmer and May’s Most Outstanding Athlete following junior campaign.
Personal
Born: James Thomas Yfantopulos in Lowell, Mass.
Family: Son of George and Susan Yfantopulos…has one brother and two sisters.
Langel on Yfantopulos: “Jimmy is a winner. Every coach who has worked with him says the same. He has shown the ability to be a scoring point guard, but what I most like about Jimmy is his willingness to share the ball and his passion for doing whatever is needed for his team to win.”