The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk men’s basketball team will begin the 2024-25 season ranked No. 16 in the nation, according to this week’s National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division 2 preseason poll.
Featuring two returning sophomores from last season’s NJCAA Division 2 National Championship squad—Mondo Watkins (Hot Springs) and Colen Thompson (Conway)—the Nighthawks welcome a talented group of local, regional, national and international newcomers this season including sophomore forward Brody Emberton (Clinton), sophomore forward Tevin Tate (Springdale), freshman guard Jonathan Easter (Bradley), freshman guard Addison Shelton (Little Rock), sophomore forward Jeremy Dixon (Monroe, Louisiana), freshman forward Joseph Washington (Miami, Florida), freshman forward Randy Emerson (Pine Bluff), freshman guard KJ McDaniel (Hot Springs), freshman guard Jayden Duffy (Searcy), freshman guard Julian Williams (Fouke), sophomore guard Shamir Caruthers (Rochester, New York), sophomore guard Micah Hill (Rogers), sophomore center Daniel Smith (London, England) and sophomore forward Kaharie Loggins (Chicago, Illinois).
National Park College completed the 2023-24 season with a 31-1 record, winning the NJCAA Region 2 regular season championship and capturing the NJCAA Division 2 National Championship. Led by head men’s basketball coach Dion Hargrove, the Nighthawks are ready to begin the season and climb the rankings in defense of its title.
“Our 2023-24 Nighthawk men’s basketball team had a season that will go into the record books for being National Champions,” Hargrove said. “With a new group of student-athletes, we are excited to begin a new chapter and continue the success and tradition that has been established at National Park College.”
Nighthawk men’s basketball opens its season against Northwest Mississippi Community College in the Greyhound Tip-Off Classic, hosted by Arkansas State University-Mid South in West Memphis Friday, November 1 at 5 p.m.
For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit Nighthawk Athletics online. Fans can also follow the Nighthawks all season on social media.
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