Not Even D2

Darrel Yepdo’s college career has taken him through an impressive progression, spending three seasons at the Division II level before making the jump to Division I. During his final year at Saint Michael’s, Yepdo earned Second Team All-NE10 honors, establishing himself as one of the conference’s top players. He then moved to UMass Lowell, where he averaged 10.3 points per game and continued proving he could produce at the Division I level. Now, Yepdo is transferring within the America East to join Vermont, one of the conference’s premier programs.Vermont enters the season as the preseason favorite to win the America East, giving Yepdo an opportunity to join a program with high expectations. The Catamounts return First Team All-Conference selection Gus Yalden, while Yepdo will also have the opportunity to play under head coach John Becker, the winningest coach in program history. With an established core and a proven coaching staff, Vermont has its sights set on another conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.As Yepdo enters the final chapter of his college career, his goal is to make the most of this opportunity and finish on a high note. His journey has included plenty of adversity, including an Achilles injury, but he has consistently found ways to push through setbacks and keep moving forward. Now healthy and joining a program with championship aspirations, Yepdo has a chance to cap off his college career with a memorable season.Available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe @Notevend2 Enjoy the episode!

Jay Rodgers is taking the next step in his college career, transferring to Penn State to compete in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions are looking to bounce back after a difficult season last year, and adding an elite playmaker like Rodgers could be a major boost to their backcourt. Rodgers ranked eighth in the country in assists per game last season, averaging 6.9, and his ability to create opportunities for teammates gives Penn State a valuable new weapon heading into the season. Rodgers’ journey to the Big Ten has been anything but straightforward. After beginning his career at the JUCO level, he transferred to Central Connecticut State, where he continued to develop into one of the most productive floor generals in the country. Despite suffering a season-ending injury, Rodgers left CCSU with an incredible accomplishment, finishing his season setting the program’s single-season assists record. His ability to overcome adversity and continue producing has helped pave the way for this next opportunity. With his playmaking ability and experience, Rodgers has an exciting future ahead of him at Penn State. As the new season gets underway, all eyes will be on the Nittany Lions to see how the revamped roster comes together in one of college basketball’s toughest conferences. Rodgers will have the chance to show that his success at CCSU can translate to the Big Ten and help Penn State take a step forward. Available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe @Notevend2 Enjoy the episode!

George Washington is coming off a successful season under head coach Chris Caputo, breaking into the NET top 100 for the first time in 10 years. With the program continuing to build momentum, GW has added seven high-major transfers to its roster, bringing in talent and experience as the Revolutionaries look to take another step forward. Expectations are growing in Washington, and the upcoming season presents an opportunity to build on the progress already made. Before taking over at GW, Caputo spent 20 years on Jim Larrañaga’s staff, including nine seasons at George Mason and 11 at Miami. During his time at George Mason, the Patriots made their memorable run to the 2006 Final Four, while his tenure at Miami included five NCAA Tournament appearances and a trip to the Elite Eight in 2022. Those experiences helped shape Caputo’s coaching approach and gave him a front-row seat to building successful programs at both the mid-major and high-major levels. Since arriving at GW, Caputo has continued working to elevate the program and establish a foundation for sustained success. Now, the focus is on turning that progress into another leap in the Atlantic 10, a conference where GW has the opportunity to compete with some of the nation’s top mid-major programs. With added talent, growing expectations, and a coach with decades of experience building winning teams, the Revolutionaries will look to show just how far they can go. Available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe @Notevend2 Enjoy the episode!

Davion Hill’s college journey has taken him from Division I to JUCO and back to Division I, and now he enters a pivotal year looking to build on the success he found at Ball State. After transferring to Northwest Florida State, Hill put together a strong season before earning another Division I opportunity with the Cardinals. His return to the Division I level proved to be an important step in his development, and now he heads to San Diego with another chance to elevate his game and make an even bigger impact. Hill showed he belonged in the MAC during his lone season at Ball State, averaging 14.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. His ability to contribute on both ends of the floor made him one of Ball State’s more reliable players, and he continued to produce even as the Cardinals struggled to find the results they were looking for. Now, Hill has the opportunity to build off that experience and show what he can do with another year of high-level Division I basketball. Hill’s next chapter will take him to the West Coast Conference, where he’ll join San Diego and Coach Blount. The move gives him a new environment and another strong conference to showcase his two-way ability, while continuing a journey that has already taken him from Division I to JUCO and back. With his experience and proven production, Hill has an opportunity to make a significant impact for the Toreros. Available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe @Notevend2 Enjoy the episode!

Dayan Nessah is bringing his international experience to the college game, arriving in the United States as one of Europe’s top prospects, ranked 12th in the continent. Representing Switzerland on the international stage, Nessah continued to make a name for himself at the 2025 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup, where he earned Second Team All-Tournament honors after averaging 17.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. His combination of size, versatility, and international experience has made him an intriguing talent as he continues his development in college basketball.Nessah’s college career has already taken him through two different programs, beginning at George Washington, where he saw limited playing time as a freshman. He then transferred to Cleveland State and made a significant leap in his sophomore season, averaging 15.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. His breakout year earned him Third Team All-Horizon League honors and established him as one of the conference’s standout players.Now, Nessah is set for his next chapter at Loyola Chicago, returning to the Atlantic 10 after beginning his college career at George Washington. At 6-foot-8, his ability to impact the game as a scorer, rebounder, and playmaker gives the Ramblers a versatile addition with experience across multiple levels of competition. As he continues to build on his rapid development, Nessah will have another opportunity to showcase his game in the A-10.Available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe @Notevend2 Enjoy the episode!

Dave Smart has established himself as one of the most successful basketball coaches in Canadian history, and he is fresh off being inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026. During his 18 seasons at Carleton, Smart built a powerhouse, winning 13 U SPORTS national championships and compiling 656 victories. His success in Canada has made him one of the most respected coaches in the country, and now he is bringing that experience to the Division I level at Pacific. Smart and the Tigers took a huge leap from his first season to his second, going from 9-24 in 2024-25 to 18-15 last season. Pacific was one of the teams in college basketball to make one of the biggest strides over those two years, doubling its conference win total and finishing with a winning record overall. The turnaround showed what Smart is beginning to build and gave the program plenty of momentum heading into this season. Now, Smart and Pacific enter the new season with high expectations after the dramatic improvement over the past two years. With Smart’s track record of building winning programs and the progress the Tigers made last season, Pacific has an opportunity to continue climbing in the WCC and establish itself as a consistent contender. The next step will be seeing just how far Smart can take the program in year three. Available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe @Notevend2 ​

Darin Smith Jr. is taking the next step in his career, transferring to Rutgers and preparing to compete in the Big Ten. Smith is coming off a season where he established himself as one of the nation’s best scorers, averaging 20.7 points per game, which ranked 21st in the country. With Rutgers returning a lot of key pieces from last season, the Scarlet Knights have high hopes for what Smith can bring to the team. Smith’s 2025-26 campaign at Central Connecticut State was one of the best individual seasons in program history. He scored 621 points, the third-most in a single season in CCSU history, while earning NEC Player of the Year honors. His production helped establish him as one of the top players in the conference and set the stage for his move to the Big Ten. At 6-foot-7, Smith is a versatile wing who can score at all three levels, giving Rutgers another dynamic offensive weapon. Even more intriguing, Smith has two years of eligibility remaining, giving him plenty of time to continue developing and proving himself at the highest level of college basketball. With his scoring ability and experience already under his belt, there’s no telling where his future can go. Available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe ⁨@Notevend2⁩ Enjoy the episode!

Georges Niang is heading into his 11th NBA season with the Golden State Warriors, creating an almost full-circle moment after originally joining the organization on a training camp deal back in 2017. Since then, Niang has built a successful NBA career, going from Philadelphia to Cleveland before joining Atlanta, where he averaged 12.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 40.7% from three during the 2024-25 season. After the season, Niang suffered an injury and spent much of last year working to get healthy. Now back with Golden State, he gets another opportunity with the organization where his NBA journey first began.Before reaching the NBA, Niang spent all four years at Iowa State, where he established himself as one of the best players in program history. He earned All-Big 12 honors multiple times and helped lead the Cyclones to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Niang currently ranks second all-time in scoring at Iowa State and remains the only player in program history to reach the NCAA Tournament in four consecutive seasons.Now, Niang joins a Warriors team that many around the league may be sleeping on heading into the season. With a mix of established stars, experienced veterans, and young talent, there is a belief within the organization that this group can be much better than outside expectations suggest. With Niang bringing another veteran presence and floor-spacing ability, Golden State could be one of the more intriguing teams to watch this season.Available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to @Notevend2

Hank Morgan’s journey through the NESCAC was a story of consistent growth, culminating in one of the best individual seasons in the conference. After four years at Hamilton College, Morgan improved year after year, breaking through as a First Team All-NESCAC selection as a junior before taking another major step as a senior and being named NESCAC Player of the Year. His development at one of Division III’s premier conferences ultimately earned him an opportunity to chase his professional basketball dreams. Morgan’s first year in the professional ranks was anything but conventional. He earned a spot with the Utah Jazz’s G League affiliate through an open tryout and got off to a strong start before ultimately being waived. The opportunity didn’t last long, though, as Morgan was picked up by the Maine Celtics, where he began to find his footing in a better situation. He averaged over 8 points per game while shooting above 40% from three, showing that his game could translate against professional competition. After a strong showing at NBA Summer League, Morgan has put himself in a position to continue climbing the professional ranks. The Celtics organization places a significant emphasis on evaluating its G League talent, giving Morgan a legitimate opportunity to earn another chance in the system. After going from a Division III standout to an NBA Summer League participant, his next step could be another opportunity to prove that he belongs at the professional level. Available wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow and subscribe @Notevend2 Enjoy the episode!

Evan Bradds is returning to his alma mater, Belmont University, where he was a two-time AP All-American Honorable Mention and the program’s all-time leading scorer during the Division I era. After his playing career, Bradds quickly rose through the coaching ranks, gaining experience at the highest levels of basketball and ultimately becoming the second-youngest head coach in Division I basketball. Now, he returns to Nashville with the opportunity to lead the program where he made his name. Bradds’ coaching journey has taken him through some of the most respected organizations in basketball. Most recently at Duke, he was part of a team that won 35 games, while his NBA experience with the Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz gave him the opportunity to be instrumental in the development of players like Walker Kessler, Keyonte George, and Grant Williams. He also worked alongside some of the game's most respected coaches, including Joe Mazzulla, Brad Stevens, and Ime Udoka, experiences that have helped shape his approach as a coach. Bradds now takes over a Belmont program coming off an MVC Championship under Casey Alexander, with several key pieces returning and expectations remaining high. Belmont’s tradition and consistent success have established a standard that Bradds will be expected to maintain, but his familiarity with the program and experience across basketball's highest levels make this a particularly exciting new era for the Bruins. Available wherever you get your podcasts. Follow and subscribe @NotEvenD2 Enjoy the episode!