Senior Rynell Lawrence receives a pass during a drill during Tuesday’s practice in Galloway Township. “My goal is to help everyone on the team so we can win a championship,” he said.
Matthew Strabuk,
Staff Photographer
Martin Anguelov led the Ospreys in 3-point percentage last season. Stockton coach Scott Bittner hopes Stockton won't "live and die by the 3 as much" this season.
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — The Stockton University men’s basketball team will look different this season.
With transfers such as Jalen Collins (Alderson Broaddus), Chris Armstrong-Thomas (Georgian Court) and Jalen Freeman (Chesapeake), the Ospreys will be bigger, not as guard-heavy and more balanced, a formula that should help two of their best players, senior guards DJ Campbell (Vineland High School) and Rynell Lawrence (Millville).
Collins, a 6-foot-6 forward, and Armstrong-Thomas, a 6-foot-5 forward, both bring in playing experience at the NCAA Division II level, and “will be quality players” in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, Stockton coach Scott Bittner said.
Sophomore guard Diante Miles (Wildwood) took great strides going into his second season, and junior guard Martin Anguelov (Wildwood Catholic) is primed for another strong campaign after leading the Ospreys in 3-point percentage last season. Senior forward Charles Sapp (6-foot-9) also had a good offseason and is expected to contribute, Bittner said.
Stockton held its media day Tuesday and practiced in preparation for the start of the season Nov. 10-11 in the Widener Tip-Off for Autism Awareness Tournament in Chester, Pennsylvania.
“We played four guards the last few years; now we will play two guards and two forwards,” Bittner said. “Rynell and DJ won’t be caught doing the dirty work as much and will be more perimeter-oriented. We have a really solid seven or eight guys and then we have some guys still fighting to see where they would go. But I think we are extremely deep, like I think we have 13 players right now who can contribute. Not that you will play that many, but we have a few freshmen that are going to get better and better.
“We will look a lot different. We will play different. We will still try to play fast, but we really try to attack the basket and get the ball inside,” said Bittner, who added “we won’t live and die by the 3 as much.”
With 8 South Jersey players and plenty of seniors, the Stockton University women's basketball team, coached by Devin Jefferson, is optimistic about the coming season. The Ospreys, 12-13 last season, open the 2023-24 season at home against Penn State Harrisburg on Nov. 8.
Last season, Stockton finished 24-6 (15-3 NJAC) and made the conference finals and the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 for the second straight season. The Ospreys captured the NJAC title in the 2021-22 season. Campbell and Lawrence aim for even better results this season, their last with Stockton.
“I just have to lock in and do what I’m meant to do,” Lawrence said. “My goal is to help everyone on the team so we can win a championship, and that’s what we are going to do.”
Last season, Campbell was the Ospreys’ leading scorer. He was named to the All-Eastern College Athletic Conference and NJAC first teams and to the National Association of Basketball Coaches District IV and D3hoops.com All-Region 4 second teams. For the 2021-22 season, he was the NJAC Player of the Year.
“I’m just approaching it like it’s any other year,” he said. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity to play basketball on the college level. So ... I’m just approaching it like every other year.”
Said Bittner: “DJ has such a passion to have another good year.”
Stockton graduated two all-conference players — Ky Flanders (Wildwood) and Kadian Dawkins, but the Ospreys have players to fill those spots. The depth and the size of the lineup excites Campbell.
“When you get deeper in the (national) tournament, you play against bigger teams and more physical teams,” he said. “I think us playing a bigger lineup is going to help us get to our ultimate goal, and that is winning the national championship.”
Lawrence agreed.
“I’m very excited for this season,” he said. “This year is going to be a great year. I’m excited to have these new guys coming in. This year will be great. We have sizes from small to big. Everyone is going to be good.”
Campbell has been in the NJAC finals each of his four seasons.
“If I could go out and win an NJAC final in my last year, that’s the ultimate goal, and I have been working every day this summer toward that and leading up to winning the NJAC tournament and going (to the finals) for my fifth in a row, so I can’t wait,” he said.
Reaching the NJAC final is Stockton’s mindset each season, Lawrence said.
“That never changes. Our goal is to win the championship and keep going and keep pushing to where we can be and know we can be,” Lawrence said. “We are all talented, and we know what we are capable of. It’s time to put in the work.”
Lawrence said he enjoys helping the younger players transition from high school to college basketball. “It’s a different game, but all these new faces mean I’m getting older,” Lawrence said with a laugh.
Coaching new players is also fun for Bittner.
“It’s kind of reinvigorating me, in a way. Just coaching new guys who are wide-eyed,” he said.
“I think we can be pretty good, but we will see,” Bittner added. “I think we will be better on the glass and be very physical. We could be very good defensively, if I can get these guys to buy-in to our details. We are excited.”
PHOTOS Stockton men's and women's basketball practices
Coach: Scott Bittner (eighth Stockton season, 116-60)
Last season: 24-6 (15-3 NJAC)
First game: Widener TipOff Tournament (Roanoke College on Nov. 10 and Widener or King's on Nov. 11)
Returning all-conference: DJ Campbell, senior guard (first team)
Returning local players: DJ Campbell (Vineland), senior guard; Rynell Lawrence (Millville), senior guard; Martin Anguelov (Wildwood Catholic), junior guard; Diante Miles (Wildwood), sophomore guard
New local players: Drew Brosh (CedarCreek), freshman guard; Jalen Freeman (Pleasantville), sophomore guard
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Senior Rynell Lawrence receives a pass during a drill during Tuesday’s practice in Galloway Township. “My goal is to help everyone on the team so we can win a championship,” he said.
Martin Anguelov led the Ospreys in 3-point percentage last season. Stockton coach Scott Bittner hopes Stockton won't "live and die by the 3 as much" this season.
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