Coaches and media ranked St. Bonaventure 10th in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll. With only three returning scholarship players, the Bonnies rebuilt their roster during the offseason through coach Mark Schmidt’s strategic work in the transfer portal.
Schmidt and returning center Noel Brown recently traveled to Washington, D.C., for Atlantic 10 media day and spoke about the team’s current position.
“I told Noel, and I told the team, ‘We have six points and two rebounds coming back, and they’re all Noel,’” said Schmidt. “We have a veteran back with us with some success, but we are going to need more than that.”
Brown, the only returner with significant A-10 experience, explained his viewpoint for the year.
“It is a good chance to establish a culture that we all want, and be able to embrace coaching,” said Brown. “I love the guys, the opportunity to influence them, and I believe in them. They have a whole bunch of talent.”
A graduate center from Virginia, Brown shot 71% from the floor last season and logged double figures in points seven times. Recently named a team captain, he’s leading by example for the younger players and is excited about the potential he’s seen so far.
“Everyone has really impressed me,” said Brown. “A lot of the transfers are very, very good. The two redshirts are like my younger brothers, and they’ll mature in a lot of areas. Overall, they have been impressive.”
One of those redshirts is Duane Thompson. The 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward is a product of Putnam Academy (Conn.) with intriguing potential. Miles Rose, often mistakenly labeled as a redshirt, lost his redshirt eligibility in a December 2023 game against Siena. He will be entering his second academic and athletic year at St. Bonaventure.
The Bonnies made a late acquisition to fill out the squad. The NCAA recently approved freshman Noah Bolanga’s transfer waiver, and after initially being thought of as a redshirt, he now has full eligibility for the upcoming season.
The 6-foot-8 guard from Poitiers, France, has spent time playing professionally for Orleans Loire Basket, a club in France. Bolanga also logged minutes for the French U-20 national team in the EuroBasket U-20 tournament, where he shot 46% from the floor and scored 41 points in just seven games.
Bolanga looks to bring athleticism and shiftiness to Schmidt’s group, along with a polished lefty jumper. Committed to SBU since last August, the program understood that Bolanga, as a late commitment and international pro, would initially require a redshirt. However, with the season debut less than three weeks away, Bolanga is set to log key minutes on the court this year.
With the help of acquired talent from the states and abroad, the Bonnies aim to outperform their preseason expectations and reach the top of the Atlantic 10. Blending fresh talent with returning leadership will be essential in navigating a long and strenuous season — one that Schmidt and the team hope ends with a trip up the ladder to cut the nets.
