Chippewas reveal 2020-21 MBB roster: Kevin Hamlet, Demarcus Demonia no longer with program, other observations
Central Michigan guard Matt Beachler tries to get around forward Kevin Hamlet during the Maroon and Gold Scrimmage Oct. 22 at McGuirk Arena.
After signing with Central Michigan during the 2020 early signing period, Demarcus Demonia promised highlight reel dunks and flashes of stardom. One look at his film made it easy to see what he meant, as the former JUCO All-American had plenty of athleticism and talent that set him apart from his peers.
However, when the Chippewas released their 2020-21 roster, Demonia was not on it. He will not suit up in a Chippewa uniform.
A team spokesperson confirmed that Demonia would not be with the Chippewas, citing an NCAA Division I eligibility issue. Demonia did not play for a university during the 2019-20 season after his exhausting his junior college eligibility, so the NCAA’s eligibility clock was likely a factor in Demonia’s ability to suit up for CMU.
Additionally, the spokesperson said senior forward Kevin Hamlet has left the team to take care of family obligations. Hamlet, who is married and a father of two, was with the Chippewas for two seasons after transferring from Mineral Area College. He redshirted during the 2018-19 season and played in 23 games last year.
Though Hamlet and Demonia are gone, the Chippewas still welcome in seven newcomers. Of the seven, five are transfers and two are incoming freshmen. Central Michigan returns three players who made starts last season — guards Devontae Lane, Deschon Winston and Travon Broadway Jr. — PJ Mitchell, who played sparingly last season, returns as does Matt Beachler, who redshirted a season ago.
Dylan Jergens and Caleb Hodgson and Preston Enloe, who all redshirted in their first year at CMU, return as well.
Among the newcomers, four are coming from junior colleges with two years of eligibility.
Michigan State transfer Braden Burke, comes to the Chippewas as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility left. These transfers will be leaned on to replace the seven departed seniors, four of whom were starters.
Meikkel Murray, a transfer from Coffeyville Community College, is perhaps the highest profile addition. Murray was a JUCO All-American in 2019-20 with the Red Ravens, averaging 16.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game playing as a guard-forward hybrid.
The other junior college transfers include guard Caleb Huffman (Iowa Western) and forwards Malik Muhammad (East Los Angeles), and Ralph Bissainthe (Florida Southwestern). Bissainthe is the only one of the four to have Division I experience, as he spent two seasons at University of Illiniois-Chicago before transferring to Florida Southwestern.
Burke, who spent three seasons at Michigan State and one at Robert Morris, has played in 50 collegiate games. The 7-footer brings much needed size and athleticism for a Chippewa frontcourt that has been forced to play small ball due to a lack of height in the past.
To this point, no schedule has been released for the Chippewas. However, it is known that their nonconference schedule tentatively features Wisconsin, Butler and Pittsburgh.
