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 2023-24 Tennessee Tech men's basketball team.
Head coach John Pelphrey's roster will feature 17 student-athletes for the second straight year, with 10 newcomers and seven faces already familiar to Golden Eagle fans. Back for the Tech squad in 2023-24 are Diante Wood, Grant Slatten, Grant Strong, Erik Oliver, Jayvis Harvey, Bogdan Zimonjic, and Jerome Beya.
New to the crew for 2023-24 campaign are sophomore guard Brandon Brown (Bristol, Tenn. / Lees-McRae), sophomore guard Nick Choate (Livingston, Tenn. / Livingston Academy), sophomore center David Craig (Johannesburg, South Africa / Mercer), sophomore guard Josiah Davis (Kitchener, Ontario / West Virginia), junior guard David Early (Logan, W.Va. / Marshall), sophomore forward Daniel Egbuniwe (Memphis, Tenn. / Little Rock), junior forward Rodney Johnson Jr. (Bryan, Texas / Weatherford College), freshman guard Kyle Layton (Birmingham, Ala. / Mountain Brook HS), freshman forward Rylee Samons (Pikeville, Ky. / Pikeville HS), and junior guard DeSean Woods (Lexington, Ky. / Southern U.).
Today we'll take a close look at newcomer Daniel Egbuniwe, a sophomore transfer from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
#0 Daniel Egbuniwe | Forward | 6-7 | 210 | So. | Memphis, Tenn./Little Rock
For the second year in a row, the Golden Eagles welcome in a player who spent his previous year with an Ohio Valley Conference rival as Egbuniwe transfers over from Little Rock. As a true freshman with the Trojans, the Memphis native competed in 12 of the team's 31 contests, averaging 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in 6.9 minutes per game.
The incoming sophomore made his collegiate debut against Southern Illinois on Nov. 7, hitting a triple in four minutes of action. Egbuniwe took part in six contests against OVC competition, posting season highs of eight points, five rebounds, and 19 minutes of action at UT Martin on Feb. 11. He finished 4-for-8 from the floor.
The forward played four minutes off the bench in the team's home contest against Tennessee Tech and scored seven points with four rebounds in eight minutes off the bench at Eastern Illinois. On the year, he shot 36.4 percent from the floor.
Prior to his arrival at Little Rock, Egbuniwe competed at First Assembly Christian School, leading the team to its first-ever state title in 2022. The state tournament MVP was also named TSSAA Division II AA MVP and a finalist for the 2022 Mr. Basketball Award for the same level. A two-time All-State selection and three-time All-District First Team honoree, he was also named the District Player of the Year and Region MVP. He also helped FACS to three straight district titles.
Fans are encouraged to check back in the coming weeks as we continue our dive into the 2023-24 roster and take a look at the newest members of the Golden Eagles.
Photo courtesy of Little Rock Athletics Communications
