2023-2024 Men's Basketball Preview
Notre Dame, Ind. The Holy Cross College men's basketball team will begin their season on Halloween night when they host East-West University in a non-conference matchup. The Saints will rely on ten returners and a talented recruiting class for their 2023-2024 season.
Entering his 11th season at the helm, head coach Mike McBride will look to guide the Saints to another post-season run. Under McBride, men's basketball has made eight conference tournament appearances, and two National Tournament appearances in his 10 seasons.
Holy Cross will be led by returners Nash Hostetler, Justin O'Neal, Phil Robles II, and Tommy Snyder. Snyder returns for his sophomore season. After averaging team-bests of 20.3 points per game and 8.6 rebounds, he was awarded Conference Freshman of the Year, as well as being awarded to the All-Freshman Team and First Team All-Conference. The 6'6 post was also named to the NAIA All-American Honorable Mention team for the 2022-2023 season. Robles returns for his second year for the Saints. The 5'9 guard was named to the CCAC All-Freshman Team last year. O'Neal and Hostetler begin their 3rd season at Holy Cross. O'Neal appeared in all 29 games last year, while averaging 5.6 points per game. Hostetler averaged 9.8 points per game while shooting 38.8% from three.
Junior Hunter Zezovski returns for this third season, after appearing in eight games last year. Drew Adzia, Beau Barhams, Joe Kelly, Asher Puhalski, and AJ Roseman return for their second seasons. Adzia appeared in 23 game last year, while shooting 41.9% from three. Barhams, Puhalski, and Roseman will provide depth to the guard position. Kelly, a 6'6 post player, will bring experience to the front court.
Men's basketball adds five transfers to this year's roster. Isaiah Cabrera, from Presentation College, will look to make an impact in the backcourt. The 5'11 guard averaged 10 points per game last year, while shooting 43.4% from three. Aris Duni comes to Holy Cross from Cardinal Stritch University, where he averaged 5.8 points and 4.0 rebounds. Joining Duni from Stritch is Greg Wells. The 6'1 guard averaged a team-best 13.8 points last season. College of San Mateo transfer, Justin Milch will begin his first year with the Saints. The 6'2 guard shot 35.4% from three and averaged 8.8 points. Jordan Montrose come to Holy Cross from Irvine Valley College. The 6'6 post averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds last season.
Holy Cross brings in two freshmen in this recruiting class. Drew Mata is joining the Saints for his first season out of Whittier, California via Schurr High School. Donovan Mukes also joins the Saints from Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Holy Cross College men's basketball team will start their Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Wednesday, November 18 when they travel to St. Ambrose.
For the entire men's basketball schedule, please click HERE.
The Holy Cross College Saints compete in eight intercollegiate sports for men and women. Holy Cross has produced 244 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic Team honors and 114 All-Conference members, and seven NAIA All-Americans. Founded in 1966, Holy Cross College is a Catholic, residential, coed, four-year institution of higher learning, offering an applied liberal arts curriculum. The mission of Holy Cross College is to educate and form global citizens with the competence to see and the courage to act.