JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida men’s basketball rings in the 2024-25 season as well as the 16th year under head coach Matthew Driscoll Monday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. from Columbia, S.C, when the Ospreys square off against the Gamecocks.
The contest will be streamed on SECN+, with live stats being offered through statbroadcast.
GAME DETAILS
Who | North Florida vs. South Carolina
What | 2024-25 Season Opener
When | Monday, Nov. 4
Where | Columbia, S.C. | Colonial Life Arena
Projected Starters
Sophomore, Guard | Jaylen Smith
Senior, Guard | Oscar Berry
Sophomore, Guard | Jasai Miles
Senior, Guard | Nate Lliteras
Freshman, Forward | Josh Harris
The Familiar Faces
North Florida men’s basketball returns five players, all of which started the majority of last year’s games or have been a starter throughout their collegiate career … Nate Lliteras started the most games among all returners, tallying 31 starts in 31 contests while averaging 10.4 points per game, the most among returning players … Jaylen Smith was thrust into the starting point guard position last year after junior guard Ametri Moss suffered a season-ending injury at the start of league play … the lefty guard out of Ocoee, Fla., went on to earn all-freshman honors from the conference … Oscar Berry is the most veteran Osprey in the Navy and Gray this year, having played two years with UNF after starting out his collegiate career at Fairleigh-Dickinson … after making his first collegiate start not far from home in Coral Gables last December, now-sophomore Jasai Miles returns after making 19 starts and averaging 5.7 points per game.
Rundown on the Newcomers
UNF’s roster features eight newcomers, not including redshirt-freshman Mason Lee who sat last year out after joining UNF from nearby Providence School of Jacksonville … four are true freshmen, including Josh Harris, Arden Begaj, Taylor Thompson and Dante Oliver … the other four newcomers bring in significant experience as transfers, two of which have already earned degrees in Liam Murphy and Nestor Dyachok … Murphy put up 12 points and seven boards a game at Columbia as a freshman, while Dyachok scored over nine points per game for Southern Utah … Alex Vargo joins the Ospreys by way of Garrett College, scoring over 26 points per game while lighting up Southern Maryland for 47 in a single contest … he started his collegiate career at Youngstown State after scoring 1,634 points at Wheeling Park HS … sharpshooter Kamrin Oriol comes back to his home state of Florida after earning league freshman of the year honors in 2022-23 … he was named conference player of the week once last season.
Coach Driscoll on Monday’s Game
“Wow, it’s our staff’s 16th season but it feels like the first year all over again. Our energy, effort and push for efficiency from our players and coaches has not diminished in the slightest over the years either. This group, like many in the past, really depend on the non-conference slate to establish cohesion, proper rotations, and most importantly, our identity. If you study our roster you see an amazing balance of returners and newcomers, with a lot of shared commonalities. Personally, there is nothing like this time of year as you establish your niche and expound upon the talents and treasures you’ve been given.” — Head Coach Matthew Driscoll
Series History
UNF and South Carolina are meeting for just the second time in series history … the last and only meeting between the two teams was Nov. 14, 2014 in Columbia, S.C. … the last time UNF opened the season against South Carolina the Ospreys went on to win the Atlantic Sun Championship … Dallas Moore scored a game-high 21 points in that matchup with the Gamecocks.
Scouting the Opponent
South Carolina is coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023-24, its first since the 2017 season … head coach Lamont Parris, the reigning SEC Coach of the Year, is 2-0 in season openers with the Gamecocks … South Carolina’s roster features eight in-state players … six letterwinners return for the 2024-25 season after making the Big Dance a year ago … preseason all-league selection Collin Murray-Boyles brings back a 10.4 points per game average from last year … Austin Herro, brother of Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, enters the season as a redshirt-freshman for the Gamecocks.
