STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Following a busy recruiting season, the Stony Brook men's basketball team officially welcomed seven newcomers to the squad this summer: Jaden Daughtry, Bryan Ndjonga, Morris Ugusuk, Efe Vatan, Leonardo Van Elswyk, Kenny Fields and Kasen Daeger.

Jaden Daughtry | Sr. | F | 6'7" | Richmond, Va. | Richmond/Indiana State

Daughtry comes to Stony Brook after playing in 75 games across three years at Indiana State and Richmond. During his junior year with the Spiders he led the squad with a 45.3 3-PT%; the highest mark in the A-10 (minimum 50 attempts) and the best by anyone on the team since the 2000-01 season. Along with his 52.0 FG%, which ranked 10th in the conference, he was one of just seven Division I players to shoot at least 52% from the field and 45% from behind the arc last year. Daughtry would finish the season with 276 points (8.9 ppg) and 92 rebounds (3.0 rpg), scoring in double figures 15 times with a season-high 23 against George Washington. 

During his two-year stint with the Sycamores, Daughtry racked up 450 points (10.2 ppg) and 158 rebounds (3.5 rpg) while helping the team to an MVC Regular Season Title as a rookie. In his sophomore campaign, he appeared in all 32 games and set career highs with 413 points (12.9 ppg), 137 rebounds (4.3 rpg), and a 58.9 FG%. He would finish the year with 22 double-digit scoring games, including six with over 20 points. This earned him a spot on the MVC's Most Improved Team and All-Bench Team. Across his whole career, Daughtry owns 726 points (9.7 ppg), 248 rebounds (3.3 rpg), a 55.9 FG%, and a 41.1 3-PT%.


Bryan Ndjonga | Sr. | F | 6'9" | Yaounde, Cameroon. | Canisius/CMU/CSUN

One of the top players in the MAAC last year, Ndjonga joins the Seawolves fresh off his best season yet. At Canisius, he appeared in all 31 games (starting 30) and ranked top-15 in the conference in scoring (431 points, 13.9 ppg) and rebounding (179 total, 5.8 rpg). He also shot .421 from the field, .320 from behind the arc, and .762 from the line, all while recording 57 assists, 20 blocks, and 16 steals. Ndjonga scored in double figures 23 times last season, topping 20 points on five occasions with a career-high 26 at Manhattan on January 9, followed by a double-double against Niagara five days later. 

Prior to his time with the Golden Griffins, Ndjonga appeared in 61 games across two seasons at Central Michigan and Cal State Northridge, racking up 253 points and 153 total rebounds along with a 47.7 FG%. With the Chippewas, he made 29 appearances with 21 starts, boasting a career-best .539 FG% while totaling 158 points and 101 rebounds. During his freshman year as a Matador, Ndjonga played in all 32 games off the bench and finished with 95 points and 52 boards. Overall, through his first three seasons, Ndjonga owns 684 points (7.4 ppg), 332 rebounds (3.6 rpg), and a 44.1 FG%.


Morris Ugusuk | Sr. | G | 6'4" | Helsinki, Finland. | West Virginia/South Carolina

Morris Ugusuk arrives in Stony Brook after playing in 90 games across three seasons with West Virginia and South Carolina. During his time in the SEC and the Big 12 he accumulated 288 points, 100 total rebounds, 48 assists, and 24 steals. Ugusuk contributed 33 points and 35 rebounds as a Mountaineer last year, seeing action in all three games of the College Basketball Crown and helping West Virginia to its first postseason tournament title since 2007. 

Ugusuk's best season came as a sophomore with the Gamecocks when he set personal bests in points (188), rebounds (45), assists (28), steals (15), FG% (.384), and 3-PT% (.407), all while appearing in every game. He scored a career-high 20 points at Vanderbilt on January 15, before dropping another 15 on Oklahoma three days later.

Prior to arriving in the United States, Ugusuk competed in the Finish 1st Division with Pantterit Helsinki (2021-22) and HBA Marksky (2022-23). He averaged 12 ppg, 2.8 rpg, and 2.8 apg at the former and 12.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.6 apg at the latter. He also represented Finland in the 2022 FIBA U18 European Championship, averaging 9.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, and 2.9 apg to help take third place in the tournament. 


Efe Vatan | So. | F | 6'10" | Istanbul, Turkey | Oregon/Galatsaray S.K.

Vatan was among the top young players in the Turkish U19 League before making his North American debut at Oregon last year. While with Galatsaray Ekmas Istanbul he played in 30 games and averaged 16.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg while shooting 33.7% from deep. Prior to joining the U19 League, Vatan also played in the Turkish Super League, Basketball Champions League, and represented Turkey in the FIBA U20 European Championship.

As a freshman with the Ducks in 2025-26, Vatan appeared in five games, making his debut at Washington and also seeing action against UCLA, Iowa, Indiana, and Illinois. It was against the Bruins that he scored his first point on a free throw… Made his first field goal the very next game against the Hawkeyes.


Leonardo Van Elswyk | So. | C | 7'1" | Milan, Italy | Colorado/Olimpia Milano

Another overseas signee and the third member of the class with Power 4 experience, Van Eslwyk broke into college hoops with Colorado last year following several years with various Italian youth teams. Most recently, he spent two seasons with Olimpia EA7 Milano U18 where he averaged 11.3 ppg and 6.9 rpg during the Lega Basket Serie A Next Gen Cup in January 2025. In those two years, he also helped the team become two-time Italian Cup and Italian League champion.

Prior to his time playing in Italy, Van Elswyk spent three years in Spain with Club Joventut Badalona, winning the Catalonian and Spanish League championship. During this time he still competed for his home country as well, guiding the U16 Italian National Team to a sixth-place finish in the 2022 FIBA U16 European Championships. 


Kenny Fields | Jr. | G | 5'10" | Harlem, N.Y. | New Mexico Jr. College/Polk State

The lone JUCO transfer of the class, Fields spent the past two seasons at Polk State and New Mexico Jr. College in the NJCAA. During his sophomore season at the latter, he helped lead the Thunderbirds to a 27-7 record and a trip to the NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Championship after posting 214 points, 71 rebounds, 78 assists, and 44 steals.

In his freshman year at Polk State, Fields totaled 217 points, 65 boards, 63 assists, and 55 steals as the Eagles won 19 games and advanced to the FCSAA State/NJCAA District Tournament. Overall, he finished his time at the JUCO level with 431 points (6.8 ppg), 136 total rebounds (2.2 rpg), 141 assists (2.2 apg), and 99 steals (1.6 spg). 


Kasen Daeger | Fr. | G | 6'3" | Sellersburg, Indiana | Silver Creek High School

Finally, Daeger, the only freshman in the group, signed back in November as one of the top high school players in Indiana. A four-year member of the varsity team, he averaged double-digit points every season, finishing with 15.1 ppg along with 3.3 rpg. In his career he totaled 1,460 points, 318 total rebounds, 182 assists, and 64 steals, all while shooting 49% from the field, 42% from behind the arc, and 79% from the line.

Across 97 games played, Daeger scored in double figures 77 times, including 21 games with over 20 points. His scoring prowess led Silver Creek to a 73-24 record in games he participated in. 

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