HAMMOND, Ind. – The Purdue University Northwest men's basketball program is excited to announce its newcomers for the upcoming 2021-22 season.

Fourth-year head coach Boomer Roberts added three transfers and three freshmen into the fold, including Kai Steinman (Champaign, Ill., Southern Miss.), Jonte Coleman (Champaign, Ill., UT Martin), Rafael Cruz (Chicago, Ill., Western Michigan), Sangolay Njie (Chicago, Ill., Victory Rock Prep), Parion Roberson (Gary, Ind., West Side), and Jackson Richards (Kokomo, Ind., Kokomo).

"We feel great about the 2021 recruiting class," Roberts said. "We were able to add guys who live out our values of love, joy and toughness. All six individuals raise our skill level and give us more depth. With our ten returning guys hungry to build off a good year, the competition at each position in our program this fall will be the highest we've had in a long time."

Kai Steinman – Freshman - 6'2 Guard – Champaign, IL – Ben Davis HS/Southern Miss
"We recruited Kai out of high school, and were really impressed his ability to score it and pass it from either guard spot. He was a very good player for Ben Davis, one of the top high schools in Indiana. Kai has grown a lot over this past year, maturing on and off the floor. We believe Kai will thrive at PNW because of his work ethic, his love for hoops, and his strong desire to be a part of our basketball family."

Jonte Coleman – Junior - 6'4 Guard – Champaign, IL – Kankakee JC/Tennessee Martin
"I've known Jonte since he was in high school, and we developed a great relationship as we've watched him get better and better. He's a great fit for how we play on both ends, and is serious about growing as a person and as a player. Jonte has a chance to be one of the best shooters I've ever coached, and his constant movement off the ball will give space to our other playmakers."

Rafael Cruz – Senior – 6'3 Guard – Chicago, IL – Triton JC/Western Michigan
"As a graduate transfer, Ralph is going to help our program take another step while pursuing his Master's degree at PNW. We're excited about his competitiveness and his ability to help bring the best out of his teammates. Ralph is a playmaker who can play anywhere on the perimeter, and his fearlessness and feel for the game will give us another guy we trust on or off the ball."
 
Sangolay Njie – Freshman – 6'6 Forward – Chicago, IL – Whitney Young HS/Victory Rock Prep
"We're really excited to coach Sangolay, because there aren't many guys with his motor, edge, and athleticism. As we got to know him, it was clear that Purdue Northwest was a great fit. He is a high-character dude from a great family. On the court, Sangolay's desire to keep improving his skillset and his versatility on both ends will allow him to compete for playing time immediately."

Parion Roberson – Freshman – 6'4 Guard – Gary, IN – West Side HS
"Parion played a vital role in helping a really good Gary Westside squad to a 4A semistate appearance in 2021. He is a unique player because of his combination of skill and size at the guard spot. Parion shoots it well from deep, and he's a great passer who makes the right read consistently. A strong student and a really impressive young man, Parion will make a big impact on PNW over the next several years."

Jackson Richards – Freshman – 6'3 Guard – Kokomo, IN – Kokomo HS
"Jackson joins us after an impressive season at Kokomo, where he filled the stat sheet as a senior. We love his toughness and his competitive desire, which will be great fits in our PNW Basketball family. Jackson brings good size and length to our perimeter, and he's going to keep improving because he loves the gym. Another good student, Jackson will be a great representative of what we're about for the next four years."

SEASON TICKET INFO
Both PNW basketball programs will tip off the season on the road when they travel to GLIAC/GLVC crossover events on Friday-Saturday, Nov. 12-13.
 
The men's team will play its home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 16, against East-West University at the H.D. Kesling Gymnasium on PNW's Westville campus.
 
Both PNW squads host the opener at FNRC in Hammond when they compete against non-conference opponents in a doubleheader on Thursday, Nov. 18. The women's team will host Roosevelt at 5 p.m. and the men will host Indiana Northwest at 7 p.m. CST.
 
Fans can view the full schedule for each team and purchase season tickets at the official online home of the Pride at PNWathletics.com.

Public
Adult Season Ticket - $75.00
Adult Two Season Tickets - $125.00
Child Season Ticket - $40.00
Child Two Season Tickets - $60.00
Family Pack – 2 Adults and 2 Children - $150.00

Faculty / Staff
Adult Season Ticket – $60.00
Adult Two Season Ticket - $100.00
Child Season Ticket – $30.00
Child Two Season Tickets - $50.00
Family Pack - 2 Adults and 2 Children - $120.00