2 Ex-Merrimack Men's Hoops Players Find New Schools, Warriors Add 1

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Two standout players from Merrimack College's men's basketball team have found new homes, while a former Warrior has returned to the program.

The end of the season has ushered in a period of player movement throughout college basketball, and Merrimack, like many schools, is locked in what CBS Sports pundit Jon Rothstein calls "portal kombat," referring to the transfer portal.

The Warriors roster is certain to look different next season than it did in 2022-23, when the team went 18-16 and won the NEC regular-season and tournament titles.

Star forward Jordan Minor entered the transfer portal on March 17 and recently visited Virginia and Florida Gulf Coast, and he has visits scheduled to Iowa and Seton Hall.

Two other former Warriors made decisions on their next college destination this week.

On Sunday, Javon Bennett, a 5-foot-11 point guard who was a freshman last season, announced he had committed to play at Dayton.

Bennett, an Orlando, Florida native who averaged 9.6 points, 3.4 assists and 2.9 steals last season, had entered the transfer portal on March 22.

On Monday, Ziggy Reid, a 6-6 guard/forward, announced that he was transferring to Youngstown State. Reid, a Baltimore native, also had been pursued by Towson, UMBC, Purdue Fort Wayne and Chattanooga, according to reports.

As a senior this past winter, Reid averaged 14.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. He entered the transfer portal on March 17.

With those core players gone, Merrimack clearly is on the lookout for replacements. On Tuesday, the Mack Report reported that Malik Edmead, a 5-10 guard from the University of Albany, would be transferring to Merrimack, or actually back to Merrimack.

Edmead, from Deer Park, New York, played for Merrimack during the 2020-21 season, when he was named to the NEC All-Rookie team.

As a junior last season, Edmead started two of the 23 games in which he appeared for Albany, averaging 5.6 points and 1.8 assists per contest.