Fans had a chance at their first look of the 2025-26 Northern Kentucky University men’s and women’s basketball teams at Hoops and Scoops at Truist Arena Tuesday night.
This family-friendly event is aimed not only to meet the Norse, but entertain all involved with games, inflatables and of course…free custard from Whit’s Frozen Custard.
Team Black faced Team Gold in showcases that featured 3-point contests and skills challenges. Scott alum and fifth-year senior Mya Meredith was the captain for Team Black while senior LJ Wells captained Team Gold. Meredith teamed up with Dan Gherezgher in the skills challenge while Bryce Darbyshire, Shawn Nelson, Mia Jordan and Karina Bystry formed the 3-point team.
For Team Gold, Ethan Elliott and Conner grad Anna Hamilton led the way for the skills challenge. Wells was joined by Kael Robinson, Notre Dame Academy grad Noelle Hubert and Taysha Rushton in the 3-point challenge.
PHOTOS: Slideshow provided by James Ernest
Norse picked sixth, Gherezgher All-League second team
(From NKU)
With basketball season just around the corner, the Horizon League announced its men’s basketball preseason poll for the 2025-26 season on Wednesday.
In the poll, Northern Kentucky was voted to finish sixth among the Horizon League’s 11 teams, receiving 274 total votes, 13 behind fifth-place Purdue Fort Wayne. Last season, NKU finished 11-9 in league play, finishing seventh in the conference.
Additionally, Norse senior guard Dan Gherezgher was named to the Preseason All-League Second Team following a solid junior campaign. In 2024-25, Gherezgher averaged 7.5 points and 1.9 assists per game, fourth on the team in both categories. Gheregher had a strong finish to the season, breaking out with a 22-point performance on February 1 against Oakland, and averaged 16 points per game over the final 11 games. In that stretch, he reached double figures in scoring on eight occasions and scored 20-plus three times, including a 26-point game in a win over Cleveland State on February 5.
2025-26 Under Armour #HLMBB Preseason Poll
Pl. Team (First-place votes) – Pts.
1. Milwaukee (24) – 428
2. Oakland (7) – 384
3. Youngstown State (2) – 364
4. RMU (8) – 345
5. Purdue Fort Wayne (1) – 287
6. Northern Kentucky – 274
7. Wright State – 221
8. Cleveland State (2) – 217
9. Detroit Mercy – 176
10. IU Indianapolis – 115
11. Green Bay – 93
HLMBB Preseason Player of the Year
Tuburu Naivalurua, Oakland
Preseason All-League First Team
Orlando Lovejoy, Detroit Mercy
Marcus Hall, Green Bay
Amar Augillard, Milwaukee
Tuburu Naivalurua, Oakland
Cris Carroll, Youngstown State
Preseason All-League Second Team
Faizon Fields, Milwaukee
Seth Hubbard, Milwaukee
Dan Gherezgher, Northern Kentucky
Corey Hadnot II, Purdue
Women picked 6th, Meredith selected first team All-League
As the start of basketball season draws near, the Horizon League announced its 2025-26 women’s basketball preseason poll and all-league teams on Thursday.
Northern Kentucky is selected to finish sixth in the poll, voted on by each of the conference’s head coaches. The Norse received 70 votes, sandwiched between Detroit Mercy (7th, 59 votes) and Purdue Fort Wayne (5th, 79 votes). Northern Kentucky returns a handful of key players from last year’s roster, including sophomore guards Kamora Morgan and Anna Hamilton, juniors Gabby Razzano and Noelle Hubert, senior Abby Wolterman, and fifth-year guard Mya Meredith, who received high honors coming into the season.
Meredith arrived in Northern Kentucky in 2023 after a pair of seasons at Western Kentucky, but missed the entire 2023-24 season due to injury. The senior guard bounced back last season, as Meredith averaged 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 30 games for the Norse in 2024-25. Meredith was a consistent presence for the Norse last season, scoring in double figures on 18 occasions and finishing in the top 15 in the Horizon League in points, rebounds, and steals during conference play.
2025-26 Under Armour #HLWBB Preseason Poll
Pl. Team (First-place votes) – Pts.
1. Green Bay (8) – 117
2. RMU (1) – 97
3. Youngstown State (1) – 92
4. Cleveland State (1) – 87
5. Purdue Fort Wayne – 79
6. Northern Kentucky – 70
7. Detroit Mercy – 59
8. Wright State – 47
9. Milwaukee – 29
10. IU Indianapolis – 27
11. Oakland – 22
#HLWBB Preseason Player of the Year
Colbi Maples, Cleveland State
Preseason All-League First Team (alphabetical order by school)
Colbi Maples, Cleveland State
Aaliyah McQueen, Detroit Mercy
Maddy Skorupski, Green Bay
Mya Meredith, Northern Kentucky
Sophia Gregory, Youngstown State
Preseason All-League Second Team (alphabetical order by school)
Jenna Guyer, Green Bay
Kamy Peppler, Green Bay
Jordan Reid, Purdue Fort Wayne
Noa Givon, RMU
Aislin Malcomb, RMU