By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Over the next several weeks, we'll be taking a dive into getting to know the members of the 2022-23 Tennessee Tech men's basketball team. In our first week, we'll begin with the five members of the 2021-22 squad that return for head coach John Pelphrey's fourth season at the helm of the purple and gold.
Back for the Golden Eagles in 2022-23 are Bailey Gilliam, Isaiah Nelson-Ododa, Daniel Ramsey, Jalen Stayton, and Diante Wood.
#21 BAILEY GILLIAM | 6-1 | 175 | SO | COOKEVILLE, TENN.
A former manager turned walk-on member of the Golden Eagles, Gilliam completed his first year as a student-athlete in 2021-22 after serving as a team manager for the 2020-21 season.
In limited action, the Cookeville native was highly efficient, finishing the year a perfect 4-for-4 from the field in nine games. He corralled three rebounds while scoring nine points in just over 17 minutes of action.
A four-year letterwinner at Cookeville High School, he finished fourth on CHS' all-time scoring charts with nearly 1,500 career points. He was a three-time All-District Team honoree, helping lead the Cavaliers to regular-season district titles in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
Majoring in exercise science and physical wellness with a concentration in licensure, he was a fall member of the Athletic Director's honor roll.
#20 ISAIAH NELSON-ODODA | 6-9 | 180 | R-FR | WINDER, GA.
The only member of the 2021-22 Golden Eagle squad not to see the hardwood, Nelson-Ododa sat out the campaign as a redshirt due to injury. Getting into the practice mix late in the season, Nelson-Ododa looks ready to contribute on the court for the first time in 2022-23.
The Winder, Ga. native comes from a great basketball family, with his older sister, Olivia the biggest standout so far. A senior member of last season's UConn women's basketball team and the 2021 BIG EAST Co-Defensive Player of the Year, she was drafted No. 19 overall by the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks in April.
His older brother, Alonzo, played basketball at Richmond and at Pitt before competing for the NBA G-League's Salt Lake City Stars and overseas. His father, Sebastian, played at Huntington University and for the Kenyan National Team.
Known as "Zay" by teammates and friends, Nelson-Ododa lettered at Winder-Barrow High school, earning All-Region honors, multiple All-Area honors, and Preseason All-State honors. He was listed as a three-star recruit by both Rivals and 247Sports in 2021. He is currently majoring in mechanical engineering.
#2 DANIEL RAMSEY | 6-9 | 235 | JR | CORDELE, GA.
After playing in just two games in two seasons at Xavier due to injury, Ramsey stayed healthy for the Golden Eagles for much of the 2021-22 campaign before sustaining a season-ending ailment with five games left in the season.
Nicknamed "Rambo," he thrived in his first full season of collegiate ball, averaging 7.5 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 52.3 percent from the floor, the team's second-best mark. He dropped a season-high 18 points at Belmont in just 20 minutes of action and scored in double figures in nine games on the year.
Before joining Xavier as a four-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, and 247Sports in 2019, Ramsey played three years at Deerfield-Windsor High School in Albany, Ga. and his senior campaign at Norcross High School. As a senior, he took home All-Region honors while leading NHS to a 22-9 mark and an appearance in the state tournament semifinals.
Majoring in interdisciplinary studies, he was a fall member of the Athletic Director's honor roll.
15 JALEN STAYTON | 6-8 | 205 | SO | MURFREESBORO, TENN.
Another walk-on member of the purple and gold, Stayton again provided key depth for the Golden Eagles in 2021-22, his second year with the Tech program.
An able body throughout practice, he played in six games during the 2021-22 campaign, completing just over 15 minutes with one 3-pointer made, three rebounds, and a steal. He played in 12 of the team's games during the slightly-shortened 2020-21 season.
Stayton was a two-sport athlete at Blackman High School, playing both basketball and tennis. He collected All-Area and Region 4-AAA All-Tournament Team honors as a senior on the hardwood, helping lead BHS to regular-season and tournament titles at the district level and a region championship.
The Tech veteran is currently majoring in computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity.
1 DIANTE WOOD | 6-4 | 210 | JR | ANNISTON, ALA.
Finally able to participate for the Golden Eagles in 2021-22, Wood provided a huge impact for Pelphrey's squad after sitting out the second half of the 2020-21 season as a mid-year transfer from Jacksonville. Originally recruited by Pelphrey to Alabama, he redshirted in 2018-19 for the Crimson Tide before moving on to Jacksonville.
In his first season donning the purple and gold, Wood played in 25 games while making 16 starts, averaging 6.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while constantly doing a lot of the little things on the court that don't always get noticed. His top performance came in the final game of the regular season, dropping 17 points in an 88-75 win over UT Martin.
Wood enjoyed a special career at Sacred Heart Catholic High School, leading his team to four straight AHSAA 1A State titles and winning Player of the Year as a sophomore, junior, and senior. A runner-up for the Mr. Basketball Award in 2018, he was rated a four-start recruit and the No. 1 prospect in the state of Alabama by ESPN after taking home multiple All-State accolades throughout his career.
Majoring in interdisciplinary studies, he has been named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll once so far in his time in Cookeville.
Fans be sure to check back in the coming weeks as we continue our dive into the 2022-23 roster and take a look at the newest members of the Golden Eagles.
Photos by Thomas Corhern & Jim Dillon
