NWF Men #1, Women #4 in Preseason NJCAA Poll

NJCAA Men's Poll | NJCAA Women's Poll

NICEVILLE, Fla. - The reigning national champion Northwest Florida State men's basketball team will enter the 2022-23 season as the top ranked team in the country, while the women's program was ranked #4, the NJCAA announced with its Preseason Poll on Monday. 

Northwest Florida men's hoops finished the 2021-22 season with a 31-5 record and claimed its third national title in program history. 

Jaylon McDaniel is the lone returner for the Raiders from last year's championship squad but, the Raiders are an experienced team with six sophomores on the roster. Chad Baker-Mazara headlines the class of sophomores as a transfer from San Diego State. Baker-Mazara was named the Sixth Man of the Year in the Mountain West Conference last season and lead the Aztecs to the 2022 March Madness where he scored 17 points in the loss to Creighton.

Head Coach Steve DeMeo makes his return to Northwest Florida after a three-year hiatus at the Division-I level with stops at St. John's and East Carolina. During his six-year stint with the Raiders from 2013-2019, DeMeo compiled a record of 170-27, winning a national title in the 2014-2015 season.

The men's team opens the season on Nov. 1 at home vs. Southern Union, at 7:30 PM. The Raiders will be battle tested early on as the 10th ranked Pearl River team comes to town on Nov. 5, and a trip to Ottumwa, Iowa in week 3 with matchups against 3rd ranked Indian Hills and 18th ranked Southeastern on Nov. 16/17.

The women are coming off an impressive 27-3 campaign, where they were crowned Region VIII champions. The women enter the season as the top ranked team in the Preseason FCSAA Coaches' Poll released on Monday. 

Head Coach Bart Walker enters his eighth season at the helm and has posted a 167-37 record in his time with the Raiders. 

The women's team returns two players from last year's squad - Zyniah Thomas and Marissa Gasaway. Newcomers Sakima Walker and Destiney McPhaul look to lead the Raiders to another successful season. Walker was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and was the 7th ranked post player according to espnW. McPhaul was ranked #34 PG by ESPN out of high school in 2020-21.

The women kick off their season on Nov. 3 vs. DME Academy at 5:00 PM. The Raider women face a tough road test when they head over to Athens, Texas, and take on 3rd ranked Trinity Valley and 24th ranked Angelina on Nov. 25/26.

For more information on Northwest Florida State Athletics, visit nwfraiders.com or follow @NWFRaiders on Twitter.