The last time the Cleveland State men’s basketball team took the court they fell to Illinois State in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) championship game. That game in March saw the Vikings shoot 41.7% from the field, 25% from three, and 68.4% from the free throw line. These stats were par for the course under head coach Daniyal Robinson.
Recent years involved a lot of defense but not much scoring by CSU. The wide-spread scoring in that championship game also encapsulated the team. Five guys were in double-figures (Tevin Smith led with 16), but no one was able to be the main threat all season.
Cut to a little over six months later and the team might not have a number one threat for a whole different reason. Instead of no one being able to put up consistent numbers, the 2025-26 roster built by new head coach Rob Summers is made up of guys who all can put up consistent numbers.
Summers enters a program on its third coach in five years that seems unable to win less than 20 games a season. With fun matchups against Missouri (featuring former Vikings head coach Dennis Gates), Valparaiso, and two games against Kent State (including a matchup in the Greenbrier Tip-Off River Division in November), the lineup will have a lot of early tests before conference play.
Summers brings a new look to the offense (which affects the defense as well) and his recruitment from every level of basketball makes the roster impossible to digest. Every time one looks at the roster, something else jumps out.
The team has six seniors, four juniors, four sophomores, and one freshmen. These are broken down into eight guards, six forwards, and a wing (Lucas Burton). Four guys are 6-0 or under, four between 6-4 and 6-6, and seven are 6-7 or above. The makeup of the team is truly well-rounded anyway one slices and dices it. High school, NAIA, D-I, D-II, etc. CSU recruited from everywhere.
“I think that the fun part about basketball is that it brings together people not only [from] different cultures and different people from a personality standpoint but different levels of basketball,” noted Summers.
With a clear focus on running and getting up as many shots as possible, Summers recruited players who can score quickly. There is not one player on the entire new roster that cannot score.
Gone are the days of 62-point games at the Wolstein Center. Fans would do well to bring some Gatorade and to stretch before games: it’s going to be back and forth so much you might get tired just watching.
While most are picking CSU to fall back a bit in the standings, Summers doesn’t see that as the case. “The great part about the Horizon League is it’s a league of parity,” Summers mentioned. “It’s anybody’s championship to go out and win or anybody’s to lose.”
Returning Players
No one
With no one returning from last year’s roster, Vikings fans will no longer see Dylan Arnett, Je’Shawn Stevenson, Reece Robinson, or Cole Franklin. If you watch North Texas, you can see all these players along with Daniyal Robinson.
The other biggest loss off the roster was Tahj Staveskie who transferred to Incarnate Word. Staveskie made 83 threes for the Vikings last season while averaging 12.5 points per game (PPG) including 30 points against Milwaukee in February.
With last year’s seniors of Smith (13.7 PPG), Ebrima Dibba (3.9 assists per game/APG), and Sixth Man of the Year Chase Robinson (8.4 PPG) all gone, the Vikings will look completely different.
The transfer portal isn’t fun when looking at all the departures but….read on…because it’s super fun for the arrivals.
Incoming Players
With only so much room in an article, Burton, Tre Beard, Kamari Jones, Preist Ryan, Waqo Tessema, and Holden Pierre-Louis were left out. Will they be a part of the rotation? Probably! Could they start? Maybe! Who can answer who will actually play? No one, not even Summers (and that’s probably a great thing and shows the strength of this team from top to bottom).
“[We’ll] probably have a different starting five every game with how competitive these guys are,” said Summers. “Everybody wanted to play…with the older group of guys.”
A great way to describe this team and how it will all work together also comes from Summers. “It’s the beauty of being like an orchestra of a symphony and being able to go out there and make sure every instrument is playing at the right level.”
Dayan Nessah, 6-7, F, Geneva, Switzerland, George Washington
Just getting Nessah would’ve been a great offseason. He recently shined for Switzerland’s National Team in the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup. He never really found his spot at George Washington but his size, rebounding (9.3 rebounds per game/RPG during the World Cup), and shooting (including shooting 51.9% from deep during the World Cup) shows a complete player ready to take the Horizon League by storm.
Nessah was the first player Summers mentioned in his interview. “As far as, you know, who’s been standing out for us, Dayan Nessah has been really good for us obviously coming off the summer that he had.” He continued, “he guards the ball really well…[he’s a] great ball handler for his size, and [he] rebounds it at a high level.”
Ivan Spirov, 6-8, F, Varna, Bulgaria, Cherno More Ticha Varna
The latest addition to the Vikings roster might be the most intriguing. He will turn 22 in October and has a lot of professional experience. Last season in Bulgaria he had a season-high of 17 points and a season-high of 10 boards in different games. He can do basically anything on the floor and his experience should help in the close Horizon League conference games. Summers was excited about his “big body” and how he “shoots it at a high clip” while being a “physical, tough presence.”
Josiah Harris, 6-7, F, Canton, OH, Akron
The first of many local transfers, Harris was hurt most of last season at Akron. Not only is he from Canton, but he also went to high school at Richmond Heights. Before his injury, he was averaging nine PPG and has shot over 30% from three in his career. If he is fully healthy, he could quickly establish himself as a top offensive target. With two years of eligibility left, he could end his collegiate career on a high note.
“Josiah Harris has been good for us. He’s a great leader,” Summers remarked. “He plays down the post a little bit and can play inside-outside.”
Jaidon Lipscomb, 6-5, G, Columbus, OH, Florida International
Another Ohio transfer who also was sidelined most of last year with injury, Lipscomb has now completed his Ohio big city passport. His hometown is Columbus (where he played high school ball at Pickerington Central) and then he played at Dohn Prep near Cincinnati. Coming to CSU, he adds another above-30% three-point shooter. Another player with tons of experience, he could be leaned on in tight contests.
“He’s got a great IQ but I think he can score in bunches too,” stated Summers.
David Giddens, 6-7, G, Atlanta, GA, Coastal Alabama CC
A 6-7 guard at CSU sounds strange but after looking at Giddens stats it makes sense. Last season at NJCCA Coastal Alabama CC, Giddens made 23 starts and averaged 16.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 1.8 APG. A season-high 30 points in February and a 38.8% three-point percentage seems to show Giddens rolling right into this new season getting better and better.
Foster Wonders, 6-5, G, Iron Mountain, MI, Green Bay
The HoriZone Roundtable loves some good ol’ Horizon on Horizon crime. Wonders comes over from Green Bay with one year left of eligibility and should slot right into the rotation. Last season, he started 14 games, and although he had a slightly down shooting year, in his two seasons at Green Bay he shot 33% from three. Either starting or coming off the bench, his deep shooting should play very well in Summers’ fast-paced offense.
“I think he could be one of the best shooters if not the best shooter in the Horizon League with his ability to shoot long, tough threes,” praised Summers.
Ice Emery, 6-0, G, Appleton, WI, Western Carolina
The second shortest player on the squad, Emery comes over (with Jones) from Western Carolina where he made 13 starts last season. He averaged 9.3 PPG and dished out almost two APG. A high school state champion, he brings the winning mentality that Summers seems to want in every recruit. He shot 28.9% from three last year but his ability to get to the hoop will be his greatest offensive weapon for the Vikings.
Kevo St. Hilaire, 6-10, F, West Lafayette, IN, West Lafayette HS
The lone freshman for CSU, St. Hilaire is also the tallest member of the team. On a team with a 7-footer as the head coach, St. Hilaire will be interesting to watch. He averaged over 10 points in his senior year of high school while grabbing almost seven boards. He also had two blocks a game and this should flourish as Summers trains him more.
Manny Hill, 6-0, G, Cleveland, OH, Heidelberg
One cannot pass up another chance to talk about the Hill family. Former Viking Yahel Hill played 93 games and scored over 500 points for the Green and White. Manny now looks to follow right in his brother’s footsteps with his last year of eligibility. Last season at D-III Heidelberg (including 17 starts), Hill shot over 36% from deep. He adds in another experienced guard option for Summers.
Summers called him a “pleasant surprise” and someone who “plays extremely hard from the guard position and gets downhill.”
Projected Starting Roster
G Jaidon Lipscomb
G Foster Wonders
G Josiah Harris
F Dayan Nessah
F Ivan Spirov
Preview Week 2025-26
MBB: Preseason Poll | Preseason All-League | Preseason Awards
WBB: Preseason Poll | Preseason All-League | Preseason Awards
Cleveland State (MBB | WBB) | Detroit Mercy (MBB | WBB) | Green Bay (MBB | WBB) | IU Indy (MBB | WBB)
Milwaukee (MBB | WBB) | Northern Kentucky (MBB | WBB) | Oakland (MBB | WBB) | Purdue Fort Wayne (MBB | WBB)
Robert Morris (MBB | WBB) | Wright State (MBB | WBB) | Youngstown State (MBB | WBB)
