'Ville men's basketball introduces nine newcomers
6/5/2026 1:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Millersville men's basketball head coach Casey Stitzel and his staff had to do some heavy lifting in recruiting after graduating six players, including the PSAC East Athlete of the Year Day Waters, the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year Aamir Hurst, and three-time All-PSAC East selection Saraj Ali. The staff filled the roster's ranks with six transfers and three freshmen and set up the team for another run at a division title.
The Marauders have claimed at least a share of the PSAC East title in three of the last five seasons, and with between 18 and 25 wins in each season since 2021-22, the program is enjoying its most successful five-year stretch in just over 30 years. But with four starters lost, the 2026 recruiting season afforded Stitzel's staff a chance to reset the program's culture and build a roster that was ready not just to win now but also set up for sustainable success, which is so crucial in a college basketball world filled with uncertainty from season to season. The key returners include senior guard Dante Weise--a defensive dynamo and outstanding distributor of the ball--and a pair of rising sophomores in Carnell Henderson and Jase Holland, who both proved to be cornerstone players after strong rookie seasons.
The 2026-27 recruiting class features a mixture of winning veterans, high upside athletes and trio of freshmen accomplished freshmen. The class includes: guard Anthony Prunell (West Chester transfer), forward James Barlow (Penn State York transfer), wing Brandon Russell (Saint Francis transfer), guard Josiah Rickards (Concord transfer), forward Veron Talla (Penn State Mont Alto transfer), DeMajh Salisbery (Bryant & Stratton transfer), forward Gerald Edwell (Payne Tech High School), guard Kasey Fleming (William Penn Charter), and guard Shazier Bethea (Minersville Area High School).
ANTHONY PURNELL
6-0 | 155 | Guard
Previous School: West Chester
About Purnell: Purnell played 84 games and started 23 at West Chester from 2022-23 through 2024-25 before redshirting last season. He averaged 21.8 minutes, 6.5 points and 2.8 assists with a nearly 2:1 assist to turnover ratio. He had success against Millersville, scoring 15 points with six assists in a 2024 match-up.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "Anthony provides us with a great deal of experience in the PSAC. He's battle-tested, played in big games including some of our games against West Chester. Anthony brings that edge and competitiveness. He also brings a different dynamic on the floor with his speed, athleticism and ability to get downhill. He's lightning quick. We haven't had a guard in a while that has this kind of speed. We also are hoping that Purnell can bring that veteran leadership given his journey and experience in the PSAC."
JAMES BARLOW
6-7 | 220 | Forward
Previous School: Penn State York
About Barlow: A physical big man with exceptional athleticism and strength, Barlow exploded on the scene in 2025-26, helping Penn State York to a USCAA National Championship by starting all 33 games, averaging 11.7 points per game on 67.1% shooting and 9.9 rebounds. Barlow helped his team go 30-4, and in the national title game, he totaled 15 points and 21 rebounds. He also grabbed 24 rebounds in the national semifinal.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "We are very excited about James. He had a very good career at PSU York and dominated the USCAA. He also brings a winning pedigree. James plays how he appear--very strong, physical, and is an elite athlete. James values the little details and is very selfless. He's going to set screens, post hard, rebound and block shots all at a high level. We didn't rebound the ball as well as we should have last year. Barlow will immediately be an elite rebounder. We are looking forward to James's presence on and off the floor."
BRANDON RUSSELL
6-5 | 215 | Forward
Previous School: Saint Francis
About Russell: A versatile wing, Russell played with Division I players in high school and led Archbishop Ryan in scoring at 15 points per game as a senior. He landed at Saint Francis in 2025-26 and started three games while playing an incredibly challenging schedule that included Oklahoma, TCU, Temple and Florida.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "Brandon is your prototype PSAC forward that has been successful in this league in the past. He's big, strong, a good athlete and very versatile. You can play him 1-4 on both ends, which is unique at our level with him being 6-5. I think offensively he can cause match-up problems given his versatility and size. We obviously want to continue our success on the defense of end being one of the more physical teams and lowering opponents field goal percentage. Brandon can be elite on the defensive end and possesses a competitive spirit about him that I think will rub off on the team."
JOSIAH RICKARDS
6-3 | 175 | Guard
Previous School: Concord
About Rickards: Rickards transfers in-region from the Mountain East to the PSAC and brings 41 career starts, including 27 last season as he averaged 9.9 points, 2.0 assists and nearly a steal per game for the 15-15 Mountain Lions. Rickards is a career 82% free throw shooters and 34.4% shooter from three. He scored 19 at IUP in the 2025-26 season opener, and as freshman, he dropped 23 against national power West Liberty in the MEC Tournament, earning a spot on the All-MEC Tournament Team.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "Josiah is an excellent get for us and will balance the roster out with his ability to shoot and score. Josiah has played on some successful teams both in high school and while at Concord, which is in a good league. Some of his biggest games came against nationally ranked teams in the postseason. In other words, he won't be phased and won't shy away from the moment. Josiah fits the '3 and D' criteria because of his shooting and his ability to guard on the perimeter. However, he is sneaky athletic and is very good off-the-bounce to drive for finishes at or above the rim."
VERON TALLA
6-7 | 220 | Forward
Previous School: Penn State Mont Alto
About Talla: Talla was voted the PSUAC Co-Player of the Year and All-America First Team after averaging 17.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Talla grabbed double-digit rebounds 22 times in 2025-26 and topped 20 or more boards twice. He scored a career high of 32 points against Penn State Scranton. He has the size to score and defend in the paint but has shown the ability to shoot from three as he sank 19 last season. He's already scored more than 1,300 career points.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "It's not every year that you have two USCAA players on a PSAC roster, but as a staff, we knew that we needed to really get creative and be open with our recruitment. In doing so, we found Veron. Veron is a great story. He started playing organized basketball six years ago and has picked up the knowledge and skill of the game very quickly. Each year at PSU Mont Alto he got better and went on to have an incredible career. Veron has a lot of versatility at 6-7. He's an exceptional rebounder, and ball handler which allows him to go coast-to-coast. His jump shot is good enough to where you must guard him outside. He has a chance to be a real match-up problem for teams. He also is a very good all-around athlete, and we will challenge him to be one of the best defenders on the floor. We think the transition for him to high level PSAC basketball will be seamless given his ability but also his willingness to learn and be coached."
DeMAJH SALISBERY
6-0 | 175 | Guard
Previous School: Bryant & Stratton
About Salisbery: Salisbery is a Lancaster, Pa., native who is well traveled. After starting his career at nearby Conestoga Valley, he moved on to The Perkiomen School and won a state title, played a year of prep ball in Florida, a season of junior college in Alabama where he scored a team-high 13.3 points per game and then played last season at Bryant & Stratton in Wisconsin, averaging 13.3 points and 4.0 assists per game on 48.4% shooting. He scored 14 points in helping Bryant & Strattong to the NJCAA Region 4 title game.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "We are excited about DeMajh. His career has taken him all over the country, and I'm glad that his path has led him back home. We've known of DeMajh for a while now. In high school, when you spoke about the best players not only in Lancaster but Central Pa., his name always came up. The biggest thing about DeMajh is that because of his path and what he's been through, he's both appreciative and hungry. He's strong, physical, and won't back down from any challenge. He has a unique ability to score the ball at all levels and is also an excellent ball handler and passer. We are excited to have DeMajh back home."
GERALD EDWELL
6-6 | 215 | Forward
Previous School: Payne Tech
About Edwell: Edwell was an early signee to Millersville and dominated at Payne Tech with over 1,600 career points and 1,100 rebounds. In 2025-26, Edwell recorded a double-double in all but one game, scored as many as 34 points in a game, and grabbed as many as 22 rebounds.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "Gerald was a great early get for our program!.Gerald is coming off a storied high school career. He has a high motor and great versatility for his size being able to handle the ball. He's relentless on the glass and getting downhill. Gerald is from an area in New Jersey that is known for basketball and played in a very tough league in North Jersey. For Gerald, it's going to be how quickly he learns and adapts on the defensive side of the ball like it is for most high school players coming in their freshmen year."
KASEY FLEMING
6-3 | 185 | Guard
Previous School: William Penn Charter
About Fleming: A lights-out shooter, Fleming was an all-state second team selection after averaging 17.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He shot 41% from three as a junior at the George School (where Dante Weise played) and finished his career with 1,035 career points.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "Kasey is another player that balances the roster nicely with his ability to shoot and score. Kasey can be an elite shooter at our level. He has great size, perfect form and a quick release on his shot. All around, Kasey is as skilled and polished as you could have as an incoming freshman. He has an excellent pull-up, 1-on-1 moves, knows how to get his shot off and can handle the ball very well. Like Gerald, it's going to be how quickly can Kasey adapt to the college speed defensively and our concepts and principles."
SHAZIER BETHEA
6-4 | 170 | Guard
Previous School: Minersville Area High School
About Bethea: An all-state second team and Republican Herald All-Area First Team selection, Bethea led Minersville to 23 wins and the first Division 1 and league championship in school history. Bethea scored 1,347 career points to go with more than 400 rebounds and more than 300 assists. He was his team's defensive MVP and twice voted the league player of the year.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "We believe Shazier has a lot of upside being a 6-4 guard. He has long arms, long legs, can handle the ball well, and has a good IQ. Once he puts on weight, we believe he can be a very good player. Shazier can play all perimeter spots, does a good job of playing off two feet, and getting to the rim."
The Marauders have claimed at least a share of the PSAC East title in three of the last five seasons, and with between 18 and 25 wins in each season since 2021-22, the program is enjoying its most successful five-year stretch in just over 30 years. But with four starters lost, the 2026 recruiting season afforded Stitzel's staff a chance to reset the program's culture and build a roster that was ready not just to win now but also set up for sustainable success, which is so crucial in a college basketball world filled with uncertainty from season to season. The key returners include senior guard Dante Weise--a defensive dynamo and outstanding distributor of the ball--and a pair of rising sophomores in Carnell Henderson and Jase Holland, who both proved to be cornerstone players after strong rookie seasons.
The 2026-27 recruiting class features a mixture of winning veterans, high upside athletes and trio of freshmen accomplished freshmen. The class includes: guard Anthony Prunell (West Chester transfer), forward James Barlow (Penn State York transfer), wing Brandon Russell (Saint Francis transfer), guard Josiah Rickards (Concord transfer), forward Veron Talla (Penn State Mont Alto transfer), DeMajh Salisbery (Bryant & Stratton transfer), forward Gerald Edwell (Payne Tech High School), guard Kasey Fleming (William Penn Charter), and guard Shazier Bethea (Minersville Area High School).
ANTHONY PURNELL
6-0 | 155 | Guard
Previous School: West Chester
About Purnell: Purnell played 84 games and started 23 at West Chester from 2022-23 through 2024-25 before redshirting last season. He averaged 21.8 minutes, 6.5 points and 2.8 assists with a nearly 2:1 assist to turnover ratio. He had success against Millersville, scoring 15 points with six assists in a 2024 match-up.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "Anthony provides us with a great deal of experience in the PSAC. He's battle-tested, played in big games including some of our games against West Chester. Anthony brings that edge and competitiveness. He also brings a different dynamic on the floor with his speed, athleticism and ability to get downhill. He's lightning quick. We haven't had a guard in a while that has this kind of speed. We also are hoping that Purnell can bring that veteran leadership given his journey and experience in the PSAC."
JAMES BARLOW
6-7 | 220 | Forward
Previous School: Penn State York
About Barlow: A physical big man with exceptional athleticism and strength, Barlow exploded on the scene in 2025-26, helping Penn State York to a USCAA National Championship by starting all 33 games, averaging 11.7 points per game on 67.1% shooting and 9.9 rebounds. Barlow helped his team go 30-4, and in the national title game, he totaled 15 points and 21 rebounds. He also grabbed 24 rebounds in the national semifinal.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "We are very excited about James. He had a very good career at PSU York and dominated the USCAA. He also brings a winning pedigree. James plays how he appear--very strong, physical, and is an elite athlete. James values the little details and is very selfless. He's going to set screens, post hard, rebound and block shots all at a high level. We didn't rebound the ball as well as we should have last year. Barlow will immediately be an elite rebounder. We are looking forward to James's presence on and off the floor."
BRANDON RUSSELL
6-5 | 215 | Forward
Previous School: Saint Francis
About Russell: A versatile wing, Russell played with Division I players in high school and led Archbishop Ryan in scoring at 15 points per game as a senior. He landed at Saint Francis in 2025-26 and started three games while playing an incredibly challenging schedule that included Oklahoma, TCU, Temple and Florida.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "Brandon is your prototype PSAC forward that has been successful in this league in the past. He's big, strong, a good athlete and very versatile. You can play him 1-4 on both ends, which is unique at our level with him being 6-5. I think offensively he can cause match-up problems given his versatility and size. We obviously want to continue our success on the defense of end being one of the more physical teams and lowering opponents field goal percentage. Brandon can be elite on the defensive end and possesses a competitive spirit about him that I think will rub off on the team."
JOSIAH RICKARDS
6-3 | 175 | Guard
Previous School: Concord
About Rickards: Rickards transfers in-region from the Mountain East to the PSAC and brings 41 career starts, including 27 last season as he averaged 9.9 points, 2.0 assists and nearly a steal per game for the 15-15 Mountain Lions. Rickards is a career 82% free throw shooters and 34.4% shooter from three. He scored 19 at IUP in the 2025-26 season opener, and as freshman, he dropped 23 against national power West Liberty in the MEC Tournament, earning a spot on the All-MEC Tournament Team.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "Josiah is an excellent get for us and will balance the roster out with his ability to shoot and score. Josiah has played on some successful teams both in high school and while at Concord, which is in a good league. Some of his biggest games came against nationally ranked teams in the postseason. In other words, he won't be phased and won't shy away from the moment. Josiah fits the '3 and D' criteria because of his shooting and his ability to guard on the perimeter. However, he is sneaky athletic and is very good off-the-bounce to drive for finishes at or above the rim."
VERON TALLA
6-7 | 220 | Forward
Previous School: Penn State Mont Alto
About Talla: Talla was voted the PSUAC Co-Player of the Year and All-America First Team after averaging 17.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Talla grabbed double-digit rebounds 22 times in 2025-26 and topped 20 or more boards twice. He scored a career high of 32 points against Penn State Scranton. He has the size to score and defend in the paint but has shown the ability to shoot from three as he sank 19 last season. He's already scored more than 1,300 career points.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "It's not every year that you have two USCAA players on a PSAC roster, but as a staff, we knew that we needed to really get creative and be open with our recruitment. In doing so, we found Veron. Veron is a great story. He started playing organized basketball six years ago and has picked up the knowledge and skill of the game very quickly. Each year at PSU Mont Alto he got better and went on to have an incredible career. Veron has a lot of versatility at 6-7. He's an exceptional rebounder, and ball handler which allows him to go coast-to-coast. His jump shot is good enough to where you must guard him outside. He has a chance to be a real match-up problem for teams. He also is a very good all-around athlete, and we will challenge him to be one of the best defenders on the floor. We think the transition for him to high level PSAC basketball will be seamless given his ability but also his willingness to learn and be coached."
DeMAJH SALISBERY
6-0 | 175 | Guard
Previous School: Bryant & Stratton
About Salisbery: Salisbery is a Lancaster, Pa., native who is well traveled. After starting his career at nearby Conestoga Valley, he moved on to The Perkiomen School and won a state title, played a year of prep ball in Florida, a season of junior college in Alabama where he scored a team-high 13.3 points per game and then played last season at Bryant & Stratton in Wisconsin, averaging 13.3 points and 4.0 assists per game on 48.4% shooting. He scored 14 points in helping Bryant & Strattong to the NJCAA Region 4 title game.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "We are excited about DeMajh. His career has taken him all over the country, and I'm glad that his path has led him back home. We've known of DeMajh for a while now. In high school, when you spoke about the best players not only in Lancaster but Central Pa., his name always came up. The biggest thing about DeMajh is that because of his path and what he's been through, he's both appreciative and hungry. He's strong, physical, and won't back down from any challenge. He has a unique ability to score the ball at all levels and is also an excellent ball handler and passer. We are excited to have DeMajh back home."
GERALD EDWELL
6-6 | 215 | Forward
Previous School: Payne Tech
About Edwell: Edwell was an early signee to Millersville and dominated at Payne Tech with over 1,600 career points and 1,100 rebounds. In 2025-26, Edwell recorded a double-double in all but one game, scored as many as 34 points in a game, and grabbed as many as 22 rebounds.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "Gerald was a great early get for our program!.Gerald is coming off a storied high school career. He has a high motor and great versatility for his size being able to handle the ball. He's relentless on the glass and getting downhill. Gerald is from an area in New Jersey that is known for basketball and played in a very tough league in North Jersey. For Gerald, it's going to be how quickly he learns and adapts on the defensive side of the ball like it is for most high school players coming in their freshmen year."
KASEY FLEMING
6-3 | 185 | Guard
Previous School: William Penn Charter
About Fleming: A lights-out shooter, Fleming was an all-state second team selection after averaging 17.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He shot 41% from three as a junior at the George School (where Dante Weise played) and finished his career with 1,035 career points.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "Kasey is another player that balances the roster nicely with his ability to shoot and score. Kasey can be an elite shooter at our level. He has great size, perfect form and a quick release on his shot. All around, Kasey is as skilled and polished as you could have as an incoming freshman. He has an excellent pull-up, 1-on-1 moves, knows how to get his shot off and can handle the ball very well. Like Gerald, it's going to be how quickly can Kasey adapt to the college speed defensively and our concepts and principles."
SHAZIER BETHEA
6-4 | 170 | Guard
Previous School: Minersville Area High School
About Bethea: An all-state second team and Republican Herald All-Area First Team selection, Bethea led Minersville to 23 wins and the first Division 1 and league championship in school history. Bethea scored 1,347 career points to go with more than 400 rebounds and more than 300 assists. He was his team's defensive MVP and twice voted the league player of the year.
Stitzel's Scouting Report: "We believe Shazier has a lot of upside being a 6-4 guard. He has long arms, long legs, can handle the ball well, and has a good IQ. Once he puts on weight, we believe he can be a very good player. Shazier can play all perimeter spots, does a good job of playing off two feet, and getting to the rim."
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