Here is a fun article that plays off of the popular discussion of who has the best duo in the NBA after the free agency period. Below you will find a few of the best NAIA Duos who return next season. There are plenty of others who could have made the list, and I also didn’t include new recruits for this season., This list is based off of returners for the 2019-20 season. Here are some of the great duos to keep an eye on for next season!
Top returning duos in NAIA:
Ty Hoglund 6’3 SR G – NAIA DII 1st Team All-American, 1st Team All-GPAC
26.2ppg (5th in NAIA DII), 4.2 rpg, 2.4apg
Nick Harden 5’10 JR G – NAIA DII HM All-American, 1st Team All-GPAC
17.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.8apg, 2.5spg (4th in NAIA DII)
In 2018-19, this duo helped to lead the Dakota Wesleyan Tigers to an overall record of 22-9, and to the NAIA DII Round of 16 where they lost to the overall #1 seed Indiana Wesleyan 87-86. The Tigers are in a great spot with these two guards back next year.
Eljay Cowherd 6’0 SR G – NAIA DI 3rd Team All-American, NAIA DI All Tournament Team, 1st Team All Mid-South Conference
13.3ppg, 4.92rpg, 6.28apg (3rd in NAIA DI in Total Assists (226), and 4th in NAIA DI in assists per game)
Chris Coffey 6’7 SR F – NAIA DI HM All-American, NAIA DI Tournament MVP, 1st Team All Mid-South Conference
14.5ppg, 11.4rpg (#2 in NAIA DI in Total Rebounds (412), 3rd in NAIA DI in RPG)
This Georgetown Duo not only won the Mid-South Conference regular season and tournament championship, they also helped to bring home last seasons National Title. They will be a force the entire year, and will have their eyes set on bringing home more titles in 2019-2020.
Zach Wrightsil 6.6 SO G/F – HM All-American, SSAC Freshman of the Year, 1st Team all SSAC
18.6ppg, 8.4rpg, 4.2apg
Myles Burns 6’5 SO G/F – HM All-American, 1st Team All-SSAC, SSAC All-Freshman Team, SSAC Defensive Player of the Year
15.9ppg, 9.4rpg (8th in NAIA DI), 2.5spg (Led NAIA DI in spg, and total steals (85))
This duo will be a fun to watch over the next few years. They jumped onto the scene last season as freshman, and helped Loyola (LA) to a Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Tournament title and a NAIA DI first round win.
Dwight Burton 6’1 SR G – NAIA DII 2nd Team All-American, WHAC Newcomer of the Year, 1st Team All-WHAC
22.2ppg (8th in NAIA DII), 4.5rpg, 3.4apg
Joshua Reynolds 6’3 SR G – NAIA DII HM All-American, 1st Team All-WHAC
16.0ppg, 5.5rpg, 2.7apg
After a 23-10 regular season and a runner up finish in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC), Dwight Burton and Joshua Reynolds are back and anchor a Madonna (MI) team that could make some noise in NAIA DII in 2019-2020.
Tyler Borchers 6’7 SR C – NAIA DII 2nd Team All-American, GPAC DPOY, 1st Team All-GPAC
16.3ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.1bpg Ranked #1 in NAIA DII in FG% (.706)
Zach Imig 6’3 JR G – NAIA DII HM All-American, 1st Team All-GPAC
11.9ppg, 6.3rpg, 3.1apg, 1.61spg
The Mustangs return a great core from a squad who went 29-4 and made it to the NAIA DII Quarterfinals last year. Tyler, and Zach will once again be a big part of a squad who has National Title hopes.
Mitchell Fink 6’1 SR G – NAIA DII 1st Team All-American, CCC Player of the Year.
15.1ppg, 4.2rpg, 7.2apg(#1 in NAIA DII), 1.7spg
Seth Erickson 6’3 SR G – NAIA DII HM All-American, CCC All-Conference Team
13.9ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.8apg
This duo helped Oregon Tech to a regular season record of 28-8, a Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) regular season championship, and a trip to the NAIA DII National Championship where they finished as National Runner-Up. They will be locked and loaded this season in hopes for a NAIA DII National Title.
Paul Marandet 6’1 SR G – NAIA DII 1st Team All-American, NAIA II Tournament MVP, 1st Team All-Crossroads League
16.4ppg, 3.3rpg, 6.9apg (#1 in NAIA DII in total assists (254), #2 in apg)
Brandon Durnell 6’6 JR F – NAIA DII HM All-American, NAIA DII All-Tournament Team, 2nd Team All-Crossroads League
16.5ppg, 6.49rpg
As dynamic of a 1-2 punch as there is in NAIA, Marandet and Durnell led Spring Arbor (MI) to a NAIA DII National Title this past season. The winners of the Crossroads League regular season, and tournament titles will be looking for repeats in 2019-2020.
William Loyd 6’5 SR F – HM All-American, 2nd Team All-GCAC
13.8ppg, 6.2rpg
Rayshawn Mart 6’3 JR G – HM All-American, 2nd Team All-GCAC, GCAC All-Defensive Team
12.3ppg, 5.1rpg, 2.6apg, 1.3spg
These two All-Americans will be looking to build off of their 18-14 record last season, and help to propel Xavier (LA) to the top of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference this season.
Masters University duo of 6’10” Tim Soares and 6’7″ Brock Gardner. Led Masters University to Back to Back GSAC Regular Season and Conference Tournament Championships. Ranked NAIA D1 #1 each season with a combined record of 56-9 the last two years.
Tim Soares, 6’10” SR
2018-19: 15.8 pts, 8.8 rebs, 2.1 blks, 59% FG, 83% FT, 34% 3PT
2017-18: 14.3 pts, 8.4 rebs, 2.8 blks, 58% FG, 74% FT, 45% 3PT
Brock Gardner, 6’7″ SR
2018-2019: 14.3 pts, 8.1 rebs, 1.6 asts, 1.3 blks, 53% FG, 77% FT, 34% 3PT
2017-2018: 12.4 pts, 8.2 rebs, 2.4 asts, 58% FG, 68% FT, 39% 3PT
Yes, they were in consideration for sure. I also could have extended the list to about another 50+ players. Decided to stick to just those who were both on the All-American list last season! The Mustangs should have another great season though. Looking forward to watching them.