Northeastern State University’s “Riverhawk Nation” – Northeastern State Riverhawks Basketball Teams

NORTHEASTERN STATE RIVERHAWKS 2024-2025

Photos by Randy Edwards, NSU Sports Media

MEN’S OUTLOOK

The RiverHawks begin their quest for success with a combination roster of returning starters with proven results and the addition of newcomers that have already had an impact. Two regular starters are back including Tahlequah native Jaxon Jones (6-2, Sr.) who led the MIAA in assists last year and Keon Jones (6-8, Sr.) from Houston who has D-I experience.

“Jax is now in year five. His leadership, toughness and the ability to play through pain by never backing down carries through to the rest of the team,” said head coach Ja Havens.

“Keon had been at three Division-I schools and never found the right fit before coming here where he started all 28 games last season scoring in double figures in eight games,” said the NSU coach. “At 6-8, Keon can step out and make the 3-pointer as well as go inside and is a big plus for us on the defensive boards.”

The transfer portal is paying dividends for NSU as well thanks to the play of Oral Roberts transfer Trey Phipps (6-2, 5th yr.), whose father Conley Phipps also played collegiately for Northeastern State. 

“Trey has adapted well to our system and has quickly become one of the top scorers in our league averaging 27 points plus in our first five games,” said Havens.

Havens is all smiles when evaluating the impact of a pair of key performers from the junior college level.

“Taven Washington is a 6-4 junior college All-American from Richland College who is capable of scoring inside out.”

“Bryson Smith, is a 6-2 point guard we added from Northlake College in Dallas where he played a key role in his team winning the NJCAA National Championship and was the MVP of the national tournament. He can get downhill and score in the paintand he’s probably the best defensive player I’ve had in my five years here at NSU.”

Havens and the RiverHawks continue to develop the team depth that will be needed to make it to the post season this year.

“So far the chemistry and togetherness of this year’s team has been really good. We can shoot it, we can handle it and we’ll keep getting better defensively,” confirmed Havens.  “The big thing for us is to establish consistency on both ends of the court.  Good teams find a way to stack good possessions everyday. When we do this, I believe we have the ability to compete at a very high end of this league.”

WOMENS

The women’s program under new head coach Keith Ferguson qualified for the MIAA postseason tournament for the first time in six years in 2023 without a freshman on the roster. Fast forward to the 2024-25 season where the RiverHawks roster will have nine newcomers combining efforts with six players competing in their final year of college basketball.

NSU returns Courtney Lee (5-11, Sr.) a two-time All-MIAA selection from Central Sallisaw who averaged 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds last season. “Courtney is going to show up everyday and be the most physical kid on the floor,” said Ferguson.

Among the other upperclassmen is Grace Abercrombie (6-1, Sr.), a Jacksonville, TX native with Division-I stops who added double digit productivity (10.0 ppg) in the final five games a year ago. Four other players returning to the NSU roster that saw playing time last year include Aubrey Brown (5-4, Grad.), Emily Weathers (5-10, Sr.) who transferred at mid-season fromEmporia State, Madina Camara (5-9, Sr.) who made 16 starts last year and Brennan Kirchoff (5-4, Sr.) who returned last year after a knee injury shortened her sophomore year.

Ferguson began stockpiling future success in this year’s recruiting class with the addition of nine incoming freshmen plus a couple of transfers.

Displaying early season promise is Alex Hill (6-1, Sr.) who transferred from Arkansas Tech after leading her team with 12.3 points per game a year ago.

“Alex brings proven game experience to the court after her time at Tech. She knows how to score the basketball and can defend a lot of positions,” said the second year NSU coach.

According to Ferguson, growing pains continue to provide high-level competition from the incoming freshmen.

“We knew we’d have some bumps early playing a lot of young kids while working the freshmen into our rotation. They’ve been good as they learn how to adjust to the college game.”

An early season knee injury sidelined starting point guard Reese Shirey (5-6, Fr.) of Farmington, Arkansas as the other freshmen look to find their place in the RiverHawk’s rotation. The newcomers have an Oklahoma flavor including Tahlequah’s Jadyn Buttery (6-0, Fr.), Snowda Watie (5-2, Fr.) from Stilwell, Gracy Shieldnight (5-11, Fr.) from Wagoner, Annaston Brown (5-9, Fr.) of Sequoyah Tahlequah, Deyanna Douglas (5-11, Fr.) of Midwest City, Gabrielle Tilley (5-8, Fr.) from Yukon and Trinity Humphrey (6-0, Fr.) from Westmoore.

“We really like our group, we just need to find more consistency,” said Ferguson following their first six games. “I believe this year’s squad is more talented than the team that made the MIAA tournament but lacks the experience that helped us win a year ago. We’re making the adjustments that will get us on the same page, get to basketball speed and find our playmakers that will give us the chance to win by the time we get to January and February in a league that’s the toughest in the country.”