NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Niagara men's basketball head coach Greg Paulus has finalized the programs 2024-25 roster with the addition of 10 transfers and one true freshman. The 11 signees join AJ McBride and Landon Williams who signed their NLI's during the early signing period last November.
 
"We are excited to welcome these 11 student-athletes to Niagara University and the basketball program." Said Paulus. "The staff worked hard to identify student-athletes who are unselfish in attitude, hard working in effort and appreciative for an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than themselves. On the court, versatility was a point of emphasis. We can't wait to get started with this group and look forward to the positive impact they will make as a member of our basketball team."
 
The Transfers:
 
Olumide Adelodun | Senior | Wing | 6-5 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | Winona State
 
Adelodun is a 6-5 wing who played the 2023-24 season at Winona State (Division II) where he appeared in 16 games with five starts. He averaged 13.6 points and 6.8 points per game. He ended the season with eight-straight games in double figures, including three double-doubles. Prior to Winona State, Adelodun played two seasons at Ohio appearing in 32 games.
 
Coach Paulus on Adelodun: "Olumide is a versatile player. He can stretch the defense with his ability to shoot the ball and guard multiple positions."
 
Josiah Davis | Junior | Guard | 6-3 | Kitchener, Ontario, Canada | Tennessee Tech
 
Davis arrives on Monteagle Ridge after spending his sophomore campaign at Tennessee Tech. As a Golden Eagle, Davis played in 31 games averaging 12.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per contest. He shot 50.3 percent from the field while recorded double-digit points in 25 games, including a 11-game stretch to end the season. Davis recorded a career-high 24 points against SIUE on Feb. 22. Prior to his stop in Cookeville, Tenn., Davis spent a season at West Virginia where he appeared in six games for the Mountaineers.
 
Coach Paulus on Davis: "Josiah is a tough and physical two-way player. He puts a lot of pressure on defenses with his ability to get the ball to the paint and score in a variety of ways/"
 
James Henderson Jr. | Junior | Center | 6-9 | Miami, Fla. | Bethune-Cookman
 
Henderson Jr. played his first two seasons at Bethune-Cookman where he appeared in 53 games, making 36 starts for the Wildcats. In 2023-24 he averaged 1.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per contest while shooting over 50.0 percent from the field. He had a season-high eight points in the season opener at Minnesota and corralled a season-best eight rebounds on Nov. 24 against Lamar.
 
Coach Paulus on Henderson: "James is a physical big who knows who he is. He gives maximum effort and impacts the team in many ways that don't always show up in a stat sheet. His energy is contagious." 
 
Jaeden Marshall | Senior | Wing | 6-4 | Hinesville, Ga. | Omaha
 
Marshall comes to Niagara after playing the previous two seasons at Omaha. While with the Mavericks, Marshall played in 49 games, making 20 starts and averaging 7.4 points and 2.4 rebounds per game while shooting 36.6 percent from the floor and over 30.0 percent from the perimeter. In 2022-23 he set career-highs with 8.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per contest. Last season, Marshall averaged 6.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, recording 10 games with 10 or more points, including a season-best 20 against South Dakota State on Feb. 17.
 
Coach Paulus on Marshall: "Jaeden brings great experience to our team. He's an everyday competitor who takes pride in his dependability to his teammates. He impacts winning and has versatility on the defensive side of the ball." 
 
Jhaylon Martinez | Graduate Student | Center | 6-11 | Vallejo, Calif. | UC Riverside
 
A grad-transfer from Vallejo, Calif., Martinez joins the Purple and White for his final season of eligibility in 2024-25. Martinez spent the last three seasons at UC Riverside, appearing in 94 games for the Highlanders, averaging 3.0 points and 2.9 rebounds per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field. He recorded career-highs in points and rebounds in 2022-23 with 4.0 and 4.1, respectively. The former Nevada ESPN Top-50 prospect has five career double-doubles, including two during the 2023-24 season.  
 
Coach Paulus on Martinez: "Jhaylon gives our team a different dynamic and presence around the rim. He moves well for his size and his skillset gives him the opportunity to go inside out on offense"
 
Damondre McKnight | Sophomore | Guard | 6-2 | McKinney, Texas | Paris (NJCAA)
 
McKnight, a 6-foot-2 guard from the state of Texas, comes to Niagara from Paris Junior College where he played in 31 games as a freshman, averaging 15.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per contest. He shot 44.9 percent from the field, 37.9 percent from 3-point land, and 75.2 percent at the line. The Texas product finished the season with 17 games in double-figures, including a season-high 31 on Feb. 7 against Trinity Valley.
 
Coach Paulus on McKnight: "Damondre is a versatile guard that can play on and off the ball. His ability to score in a variety of ways is a strength that will help extend defenses." 
 
Justin Page | Sophomore | Guard | 6-5 | Peoria, Ill. | Cal Poly
 
Page is a guard from Peoria, Ill., and played his freshman season at Cal Poly. While a member of the Mustangs roster in 2023-24, Page tallied 5.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. Page made a total of seven starts for the Mustangs, including each of the last six games of the season where he averaged 10.6 points and shot 50.0 percent from the floor, including 54.2 percent from the perimeter. He scored a season-high 21 points at UC San Diego on March 9.
 
Coach Paulus on Page: "Justin has great size for a versatile guard. He can play on and off the ball. He knows how to play and can create opportunities for himself and others." 
 
Zion Russell | Redshirt Junior | Guard | 6-2 | Upper Marlboro, Md. | NIU
 
Russell played the last three seasons at Northern Illinois (NIU), appearing in 64 games, including 14 starts. As a Huskie, Russell averaged 3.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. He is coming off his most productive season as he averaged 3.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists over 31 games. He scored a season and career-high 14 points at Buffalo on March 8 and has a total of three double-digit scoring efforts in his career.
 
Coach Paulus on Russell: "Zion brings enthusiasm and energy to the court. His quickness and ability to play on and off the ball give him versatility on both ends of the court." 
 
Justice Smith | Graduate Student | Wing | 6-6 | Lyons, N.Y. | East Tennessee State
 
Smith, Niagara's first in-state player since 2021-22, played the last two seasons at East Tennessee State. In 2023-24, he appeared in 13 games and averaged 4.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in 14.2 minutes per game. In 2022-23 he played in all 32 games averaging 7.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest while recording double figures in 12 games. He recorded a career-best 20 points against Wofford during his first season at ETSU. Prior to ETSU, Smith was a member of the men's basketball program at Mansfield (Division II) for three seasons but only played the 2021-22 season, where he was named PSAC Rookie of the Year after starting 27 of 28 games and averaging 20.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. His 56 points against Bloomsburg is a Mansfield single-game record.
 
Coach Paulus on Smith: "Justice brings a lot of versatility to our group. He can impact the team and game as a two-way player with his ability to make plays at multiple positions." 
 
Jahari Williamson | Sophomore | Guard | 6-1 | Pickering, Ontario, Canada | Valparasio
 
Williamson played his freshman campaign at Valpo where he averaged 7.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per game while handing out 28 assists and swiping 17 steals in his 30 games played. The Canadian guard recorded double figures in 11 contests, including two 20-point outings. He scored a career-high 24 on Dec. 29 at Elon. He finished his first collegiate season with a 35.7 percent clip from the perimeter and an 81.3 percent mark at the charity stripe.
 
Coach Paulus on Williamson: "Jahari is a quick guard who can play on and off the ball. His scoring and passing give him the ability to create opportunities for his teammates and self."
 
The Freshman:
 
Will Shortt | Freshman | Forward | 6-8 | Aukland, New Zealand | IMG Academy
 
Shortt is a 6-foot-8 forward who hails from Aukland, New Zealand and played basketball at IMG Academy in Florida, one of the top basketball academies in the country. He played club basketball for Basketball Auckland and graduated from Aukland Grammar School in 2022.
 
Coach Paulus on Shortt: "Will comes from one of the best programs in the country in IMG. He is a tough and physical player who loves to compete. His versatility gives him the ability to guard and play multiple positions."
 
The Purple Eagles are one of six teams in the country that do not return a scholarship athlete from its 2023-24 roster in 2024-25.
 
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