La Salle's Eric Acker looks to drive during a recent practice. (Photo: La Salle Athletics)
By AARON BRACY
July 4, 2025
In today’s age of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal, a yearly roster turnover is expected in college basketball. Add in a first-year head coach, and the situation at La Salle is even more pronounced.
Head coach Darris Nichols, who was hired on March 11, has assembled a roster of 16 players, only one of whom, Eric Acker, played for the Explorers last season.
While Nichols is still evaluating each individual, he is confident in how they will play.
“The main thing is we’re not going to be soft or selfish,” Nichols said.
(Read my column on Nichols building a culture of toughness by clicking HERE.)
Here is a snapshot look, in alphabetical order, at La Salle’s roster, along with word association from the head coach about them.
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Eric Acker, 6-foot-2, Junior, Guard: Showed flashes of ability in his first season at La Salle in 2024–25, opening his Explorers career with 13 points in 22 minutes at North Carolina on Dec. 14. In 16 games last season, he averaged 4.6 points and 1.3 assists.
Nichols says: “Potential”
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Justin Archer, 6-foot-7, Grad, Forward: Spent last season at Georgia State after two seasons under Nichols at Radford, where he ranked top-35 nationally in offensive rebounding.
Nichols says: “Consistent”
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Bowyn Beatty, 7-foot, Junior, Forward: Australia native played last two seasons at Sacramento State, where he averaged 3.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 50 games.
Nichols says: “Skilled”
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Jerome Brewer Jr., 6-foot-9, Junior, Forward: Topped 1,000 points at Camden High. Redshirted last season at McNeese State after two at East Texas A&M, where he averaged 13.8 points as a sophomore and helped them win at Saint Joseph’s during the 2023–24 season.
Nichols says: “Disciplined”
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Noah Collier, 6-foot-8, Grad, Forward: Mullica Hill native played two seasons at Pitt before making 47 starts in three seasons at William & Mary, where he averaged 12.2 points last season.
Nichols says: “Athletic”
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Edwin Daniel, 6-foot-9, Junior, Forward: Junior college transfer averaged a double-double (12.7 points and 12.6 rebounds) at Connors State last season.
Nichols says: “Curious”
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Rob Dockery, 6-foot-7, Sophomore, Guard: Washington, D.C., native was highly recruited out of high school. Redshirted as a freshman at Texas A&M before reportedly leaving the program early last season.
Nichols says: “Versatile”
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Josué Grullon, 6-foot-5, Senior, Guard: Dominican Republic native scored 12.6 points in just 19.6 minutes at Tennessee-Martin last season. Before that, made 200 3-pointers in two seasons at Daytona State.
Nichols says: “Shooter”
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Josiah Harris, 6-foot-9, Grad, Forward: A native of Wilmington, Delaware, averaged 8.3 points and 7.2 rebounds for Nichols at Radford last season.
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Truth Harris, 6-foot-2, Grad, Guard: Like Josiah Harris (no relation), played last two seasons under Nichols at Radford. Averaged 8.8 points last season.
Of Josiah and Truth Harris, Nichols says: “Those guys are winners. They understand us. They understand the standards.”
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Nas Hart, 6-foot-10, Freshman, Forward: Like Deuce Jones, who won Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year at La Salle last season before transferring to Saint Joseph’s, Hart is a Trenton native who attended College Achieve Charter in New Jersey, where he averaged 16.5 points and 8.0 rebounds last season.
Nichols says: “Potential”
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Jaden Johnson, 6-foot-2, Sophomore, Guard: Averaged 8.6 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 35 minutes as a freshman at Old Dominion last season. Nichols recruited Johnson out of high school in Walker Hill, Maryland.
Nichols says: “Winner”
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Jaeden Marshall, 6-foot-5, Grad, Guard: Shot 36.7 percent while scoring 10.3 points in 22.5 minutes at Niagara last season.
Nichols says: “Worker”
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Arlan Masharaliyev, 6-foot, Freshman, Guard: Kazakhstan native practiced alongside the likes of Cooper Flagg, Liam McNeeley, and Derik Queen while attending Montverde Academy.
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Marcus Randolph, 6-foot-5, Grad, Guard: Willingboro native averaged a team-leading 14.4 points at St. Peter’s last season. Shot 40.4 percent from long range for the Peacocks during 2023–24.
Nichols says: “Competitive”
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Ashton Walker, 6-foot-5, Freshman, Guard: Originally committed to Nichols at Radford before transferring commitment to La Salle. A native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, he scored 22.5 points per game at Catholic High School last season.
Nichols says: “Potential”
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Aaron Bracy has been covering Philadelphia sports since 1996. Follow Bracy on X: @Aaron_Bracy and like his Facebook and Instagram pages. His book on the 2003–04 Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball team, A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003–04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks, was published on March 1, 2025. Read a summary and order it by clicking HERE. Contact him at aaron@big5hoops.com.