Athletics: Rivier Men's Basketball; The Newest Transfer Destination
Written and posted by Anthony Perry, Rivier University Sports Information Director
Quarantine Times are a series of short stories produced by the Athletic Department to help showcase our student-athletes during the fall semester. Throughout the series, each program will highlight a feature of their team, either an individual accomplishment or team achievement. This week we take a look at the Men’s Basketball program and the transfers that have joined the Raiders.
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December 2015, that is when current Rivier University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Lance Bisson was elevated from assistant coach to the head position and he immediately began the transformation of his program. Coach Bisson was a standout guard for the Raiders during his four-year career, including knocking down a pair of free throws to win the Great Northeast Athletic Conference tournament championship in 2007. He knows what it takes to get the program back on top and that begins with recruiting and growing a culture while also adding experience and talent with transfers.
He has done just that. Over the past six seasons, there has been a steady flow of transfers finding their second home inside the Muldoon Gymnasium. This season Coach Bisson has four student-athletes on his roster that are looking to take Coach’s vision and run with it. We asked them a few questions for a Q & A and here are their responses:
Patrick Meyers (Woleboro Falls, N.H.), transferred in from Thomas College
Q: What about Rivier made you feel comfortable and made you realize you wanted to complete your academic and athletic career as a Raider?
A: As a high school student, I never toured Rivier or knew much about it. So when I visited after deciding to transfer, it was all brand new to me. My first impression was how friendly all the staff was. When I toured around, you got the feeling of how tight and supportive the Rivier community was; both from the academic staff and athletic staff. After my initial visit and seeing the atmosphere Rivier provided, I was able to tell Coach Bisson that day that I was going to come to Rivier.
Q: How did the Men’s Basketball program embrace you once you became a team member?
A: The Men’s Basketball team was a family from day one. They were an extremely welcoming team, which allowed me to feel at home right away. After a few days it felt like I never even transferred and had been here the entire time.
Q: As a transfer, you have been able to leave your imprint on the program; what are your thoughts on being able to do that?
A: It is funny to look back and think my freshman year of college, I was playing lacrosse with no idea if I’d ever play basketball again. Now with graduation from Rivier getting closer, it is hard to imagine not being able to experience my time with this basketball team. This program has allowed me to grow both on and off the court and has left a lasting impact on me. In terms of the imprint I was able to have on the team as a transfer, I am just thankful to have been part of a rising program and be able to help instill the character and culture that this program is building towards.
Senior Jack McCarthy (Rowley, Mass.), transferred in from the University of New Hampshire
Q: What about Rivier made you feel comfortable and made you realize you wanted to complete your academic and athletic career as a Raider?
A: When I first visited Rivier, I realized the location of the school was perfect as everything you need is close by. Everyone I met on my visit was extremely nice, they were all excited to welcome me. It’s a smaller school, so I was able to become closer with a lot of the new people that I met. It’s easier to make close friends at a school like this versus a bigger school where you could get lost.
Q: How did the Men’s Basketball program embrace you once you became a team member?
A: The Men’s Basketball team welcomed me with open arms right away. Everyone within the team was excited to meet each other as we are all genuinely excited about the upcoming season. The friendships I made with my fellow teammates extended to off the court as well. We all enjoy being around each other both when we are playing and when we are not.
Q: As a transfer, you have been able to leave your imprint on the program; what are your thoughts on being able to do that?
A: It makes me happy to be leaving some kind of positive impact on the Rivier Men’s Basketball program. Even without a season this year, I can still continue to leave my imprint on the team and program by showing the younger guys what it takes to compete and win going forward. The basketball program is trending in the right direction year by year and hopefully that will continue going forward. Transferring was one of the best decisions I ever made, as I will never forget the time I spent at Rivier.
Junior Pharoah Davis (Planville, Mass.), transferred in from Mass Bay Community College
Q: What about Rivier made you feel comfortable and made you realize you wanted to complete your academic and athletic career as a Raider?
A: When I came for my recruiting visit last year, the team showed me how close they were and I wanted to be a part of something like that. Rivier is also a small school which I was looking for during my transfer process.
Q: How did the Men’s Basketball program embrace you once you became a team member?
A: Ever since I became a member of the program, we have been like a family. We are a very competitive group of guys. Coach also was a big help introducing me to Issaiah (Chappell), who eventually became my roommate.
Q: As a transfer, you have been able to leave your imprint on the program; what are your thoughts on being able to do that?
A: The job is not done. I still have time left to make a bigger impact. I want to get this team to the playoffs and become champions. I want to say after I’m done, that I played on the best Rivier Men’s Basketball team ever! That is the legacy I want to leave.
Junior Kyron Greenaway (Stamford, Conn.), transferred in from Monroe Community College (N.Y.)
Q: What about Rivier made you feel comfortable and made you realize you wanted to complete your academic and athletic career as a Raider?
A: Within the first month being on campus and being a student, I realized that unlike most universities, Rivier caters to each student individually. From teaching staff to athletic staff, they made sure to put effort into helping me get settled. As for campus community, my fellow peers were welcoming and gave me the feeling of being wanted to stay a part of the Rivier family.
Q: How did the Men’s Basketball program embrace you once you became a team member?
A: From day one, the coaching staff treated me as though I was on the team for years instead of a first-year transfer. A year later, Coach continues to do what he said he would from my recruit visit. He keeps up with our classes and makes sure that we are both focused on and off the court; which I believe helps shape us into men.
Q: As a transfer, you have been able to leave your imprint on the program; what are your thoughts on being able to do that?
A: I am thankful to have been given this opportunity to be a part of such an amazing program. As I continue my junior and into my senior year, I hope that I can further make use of this once in a lifetime chance as a college student-athlete.
