Loretto, Pa. – Saint Francis head men's basketball coach Rob Krimmel has turned the Red Flash into the most consistent basketball program in the Northeast Conference over the last three seasons.
 
Saint Francis has won 35 league games since the start of the 2016-17 season, tops in the NEC. The Red Flash took a step forward in its pursuit of an elusive NEC title, winning the regular-season title last season for the first time since 1990-91.
 
Saint Francis hosted the NEC Championship and fell to Fairleigh Dickinson, but it was its second title appearance in three seasons. The Red Flash secured a berth in the NIT for the first time since 1958 and continue to inch closer to achieving the ultimate goal.
 
With 2018-19 NEC Player of the Year Keith Braxton (Glassboro, N.J./Delsea), and 1,000 point scorer Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte) back in the fold, Saint Francis will once again be one of the favorites to contend for a title in 2019-20 and was picked third in the NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll behind LIU and Sacred Heart.
 
"Our guys are excited to get started with the 2019-20 season," said head coach Rob Krimmel. "We have a good blend of youth and experience that will provide us with depth and versatility as we prepare for the non-conference portion of our schedule."
 
Back Court
 
Saint Francis is deep and experienced in the back court starting with Braxton, who has a chance to become the first repeat NEC Player of the Year since LIU's Charles Jones in 1996-97 and 1997-97.
 
Braxton ranks ninth in Saint Francis history in career scoring, 6^th in rebounding, 8^th in assists and 7^th in steals, and elected to come back for his senior season despite testing the NBA waters in the summer, to improve his positioning among the school's greats and capture that Northeast Conference title.
 
He has an opportunity to join the legendary Maurice Stokes as the only other 2,000 point, 1,000 rebound player in school history and the first to achieve the status in 65 years. Not only is Braxton one of the best players in school history, but he is one of the top returning Division I players in the country. He enters his senior season 15^th among all active players in scoring, 2^nd in total rebounds and tied for first in double-doubles with BYU's Yoeni Childs.
 
Braxton isn't the only decorated player to return to the Saint Francis back court. Redshirt senior Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte) was SFU's leading scorer in 2016-17 en route to Second Team All-NEC honors and has battled through injuries to once again establish himself as one of the top scorers in the league, averaging 12.2 points per game last season.
 
The 38^th leading scorer in program history with a full year of eligibility remaining, Blackmon is 17^th among all active DI players in 3PT FG% at 42.6% and first among all returners in the NEC.
 
Fellow redshirt senior sharpshooter Scott Meredith (Pilot Mountain, N.C./Hargrave Military Academy (Va.)) also returns this season after missing 2018-19 with an injury. The three-year captain has connected on 59 career three-pointers and shoots it at 34.7% from behind the arc for his career.
 
Senior Randall Gaskins Jr. has been a consistent performer over his career and has his sights set on a big senior season. The gritty Gaskins has 76 career starts under his belt and shot a team-best 42.9% from three-point range in 2018-19 to go along with his superb perimeter defense.
 
Saint Francis will look to junior point guard Ramiir Dixon-Conover (Newark, N.J./South Kent) to get its scorers to good positions on the floor. Dixon-Conover played in 27 games in his first season in a Red Flash uniform and will take on an expanded role as the floor general with two-time First Team All-League guard Jamaal King (Salisbury, Md./Bishop O'Connell (Va.)) lost to graduation.
 
Redshirt freshman Bryce Laskey (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) has long-awaited to make his collegiate debut and should be in line for minutes due to his size and ability to knock down shots.
 
Freshman Luke Ruggery (Duncansville, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle), who wowed the local community at nearby Bishop Guilfoyle High School, brings his shooting ability to Saint Francis and is another player who provides the Red Flash with instant offense.
 
Junior Dan Henry (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg), sophomore A.J. Labriola (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) and freshmen A.J. Burch (Annapolis, Md./Severn School), Justen Anderson (Waldorf, Md./La Plata) and Ben Seidel (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort) will round out the team's depth at the position.
 
Front Court
 
Veteran five-men Deivydas Kuzavas (Kretinga, Lithuania/St. Mary's Ryken (Md.)) and Mark Flagg (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) will be counted on to provide production in the front court. Kuzavas, a senior, has played in 80 career games, starting 21 as a sophomore, and has showed flashes of dominance throughout his career, including a 16-point performance in a win over American as a sophomore.
 
Flagg continues to grow into a dominant player as evidence by the end to his sophomore season where he scored in double figures in six of the last 11 games and averaged 10.3 ppg and 5.1 rpg during the span. He is SFU's current leader in blocked shots with 57 in two seasons.
 
Sophomore Myles Thompson (Camden, N.J./Camden) had an impressive freshman season. His 16 points at Buffalo in his collegiate debut were the most by an SFU freshman since Will Felder in 2009-10 and he hit double figures in scoring in six of his first 13 games. His toughness and ability to finish inside will provide SFU's interior with a scoring presence at the rim.
 
Redshirt freshman Precious Ikediashi (Hoboken, N.J./Hudson Catholic) showed flashes before his season was cut short due to injury. An athletic leaper, he will be counted on to block shots, rebound and provide energy.
 
Redshirt sophomore transfer Tyler Stewart (Silver Spring, Md./St. Andrew's Episcopal) makes his way to the Red Flash by way of Binghamton. At 6'8" with a deft shooting touch, his versatility will create matchup nightmares for opponents because of his ability to shoot the three-ball and score out of the post. He made eight starts for the Bearcats as a freshman and averaged 5.7 ppg, including a career-high 14 vs. New Hampshire. His sophomore season was off to a quick start at Binghamton, which included a 13-point effort vs. Sacred Heart, before it was ended with an injury.
 
Freshman Brad McCabe (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) is another big wing player with an inside/outside game and the staff is excited to watch him grow.
 
Schedule
 
Saint Francis opens the season at No. 25 VCU on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The home opener is set for Saturday, Nov. 16, vs. American at 7 p.m.