Men's Basketball Adds Eight Student-Athletes For The 2025-26 Season
MIDLAND, MICH. – The Northwood University men's basketball team has added eight newcomers for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Julian Lewis, Parker Day, John Simpson, John Sweeney, Todd Simons, Jamonte Smith, Miles Jackson and Delos Rossell will join this team this fall.
#0 Julian Lewis
Graduate Student
6-6
Ann Arbor, Mich. (Huron/William & Mary/Miami (OH)/Eastern Michigan)
Julian Lewis comes to Midland for his final collegiate season of basketball. The 6-5 wing spent his first season at William & Mary where he started 24 games and was named to the All-CAA Rookie Team. Julian was one of only 17 first-year players in the country that year to average seven points (7.2), four rebounds (4.3) and two assists (2.3) per game. Julian spent the 2022-24 seasons at Miami (OH) where he averaged 5.8 points per game & 3.3 rebounds per game in his first season with the RedHawks, before redshirting his second. After playing last year at Eastern Michigan, Julian will be a Graduate Student this year where he will earn his MBA next summer
Coach Church Quote:
"Julian is going to improve our basketball program in a lot of areas. He will be able to play multiple positions and stretch the floor with his shooting ability. He's an extremely hard worker and will provide some much-needed veteran leadership for our locker room. Defensively he is interchangeable and will be able to guard multiple positions for us."
#23 Parker Day
Senior
6-6
Saginaw, Mich. (Heritage/Grand Valley State/Emporia State)
Saginaw native Parker Day returns back home to play his final season for the Timberwolves. Parker spent his first two collegiate seasons at Grand Valley State. After redshirting his first year, the 6-7 forward averaged 4.0 points per game and 2.3 rebounds per game in 10 minutes a game for the Lakers. After GVSU, Parker played a year of Junior College basketball for Macomb Community College where he averaged11.4 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game, helping the Monarchs win 31 games and earn a seventh-place finish at the NJCAA D2 National Tournament. After Macomb CC, Parker spent last season at NCAA D2 Emporia State where he started 26 of 27 games and averaged 7.7 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game while shooting 33% from 3-point range.
Coach Church Quote:
"Parker was our final commit in this class, and it was huge. I'm so happy that we could bring him home for his final year of eligibility. Parker is a team-first type of player with a great attitude and a winning mentality. Parker can do so many things on the Offensive end that will create mis-match problems on a nightly basis. He really fits our style of play and his toughness, leadership and workman like mentality will be an asset to our team."
#5 John Simpson
Freshman
6-5
Birmingham, Mich. (Groves)
The first commit of the 2025 class, John Simpson comes to Northwood after a stellar career for Birmingham Groves HS. The 6-5 wing/forward was a 1,000-point scorer and Mr. Basketball candidate while in school. John helped Birmingham Groves to a 19-6 record and an OAA-Red Conference Championship. John played his summer basketball for the Michigan Playmakers where he routinely guarded the best forwards in the Midwest. John's mother, Kisha, played college basketball at Michigan State and was inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame in 2011.
Coach Church Quote:
"John joins us from a family rich basketball tradition and I'm so happy he joined our program. We really wanted to upgrade our length and athleticism in this recruiting class and John certainly meets that criteria. He is a high-flyer who brings athleticism, scoring, and rebounding to the Timberwolves. John's versatility on both ends of the floor will be crucial to our team success and I can't wait to see his growth over his four years here at Northwood. "
#33 John Sweeney
Junior
6-10
Erie, Mich. (Mason/Kalamazoo Valley Community College)
John Sweeney joins the Northwood program after an impressive run at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. John averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds per game for two consecutive seasons in Kalamazoo. While at KVCC, John helped the Cougars to their best National Finish and most wins under head coach Jim Horn, finishing fourth nationally and winning 31 games in the 2024-25 season. The 6-10 center from Erie, Mich. is an excellent passer who averaged three assists per game last year as well. John comes to Midland as an excellent student in the classroom, aiming to complete his Cybersecurity degree in the spring of 2027.
Coach Church Quote:
"John is exactly what you want in a student-athlete. He carries a 4.0GPA and works just as hard off the floor as he does in the classroom. John's mobility and toughness in the post was something that we just had to have, and we think he fits our offensive style and mindset perfectly. John has a winning mentality coming to us from Kalamazoo and he's going to be expected to be one of our leaders over his next two years."
#22 Todd Simons
Todd joins the Timberwolves program as a graduate-transfer after playing the last seasons for conference foe Lake Erie College. While at Lake Erie, Simons averaged an efficient 7pts and 4reb a game shooting 47% from the field and 33% from 3-point range. Todd helped the Storm win a program-best 19 games last season and had only 9 turnovers in 215 minutes of game action. The native of Austintown, OH started his collegiate career on the football side playing one season for West Virginia before returning to basketball.
Coach Church Quote:
"Todd is exactly the blue collar, tough, rugged player that every program wishes they had. He knows what it will take on a nightly basis for our program to take the next step and he will be a veteran leader over his two years in our program. Coaching against him these past two years and seeing his growth as a player, you can see how hard he works on his craft as a player."
#1 Jamonte Smith
Jamonte Smith comes to Northwood after averaging 9pts, 2ast, and 2reb per game at junior college power Kankakee Community College. The 6'0 native of Roanoke, VA helped the Cavilers to runner-up in the Region 4 championships while playing over 35 minutes per game. Smith was also a 2-time All-Academic selection at the junior college level. Jamonte comes to Midland after playing for coach Michael Brown, who had previously worked with Northwood Head Coach Tom Church in years prior. Jamonte provides the Timberwolves with athleticism, quickness, defensive ability, and leadership heading into the '25-26 campaign.
Coach Church Quote:
"I'm so happy Jamonte decided to join our family here at NU. He's going to be a problem for opposing guards on both ends of the floor. He helped Kankakee win a lot of games over his career there and we are hoping he will do the same for us. He's got a tough and laser focused attitude on the defensive end and that was a big selling point for us in his recruitment. We also wanted another guard like him that could create off the bounce and create for others."
#2 Miles Jackson
Incoming freshman Miles Jackson comes to Northwood from New Albany High School in Columbus, OH. Miles completed an impressive high school career that included helping New Albany win their first District Championship since 2006. Individually, Jackson was 1st-Team All-Conference, 2nd-Team All-Ohio, and the OCC Conference's Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2024-25. The 6'3 guard will provide the Timberwolves with another backcourt threat and another great defender.
Coach Church Quote:
"Miles arrives to us from a great high school program, a great family and great culture. I'm so excited to see how Miles grows as a player over his time here at Northwood. He was a standout football player in high school, but I am excited to unlock his potential as he focuses solely on basketball. He's going to create some much-needed depth at the guard position, and he will help us on the defensive end immediately in his freshman year."
#11 Delos Rossell
Delos comes to Northwood after an impressive career for Warren De La Salle Collegiate in the Detroit Catholic League. The 6'4 guard helped the Pilots to a District Championship and a 16-8 record as a Junior. Delos also earned honors in the classroom, being named to the Catholic League All-Academic Team. Rossell played his summer basketball for the AAU program Michigan Unified where he was one of the best shooters on the MADE Hoops circuit. Delos is enrolling in the accelerated BBA/MBA program at Northwood and will bring size & shooting to the NU backcourt.
Coach Church Quote:
"Delos is going to be a great addition to our program and give us depth and versatility in the backcourt. Delos is another positive-minded, hard-working player and student that we love to have. He's a competitor and he has a lot of talent that we will blossom over his career at Northwood."
Northwood will open its season November 14 against Ferris State. Game time is set for 7 p.m.