UNF basketball is adopting a mixed NIL strategy for the new season, blending traditional methods with innovative approaches. Coach Bobby Kennen aims to enhance the team's roster through the NCAA transfer portal.
Key points
UNF basketball is implementing a mixed NIL strategy.
Coach Bobby Kennen is focused on enhancing the team's roster.
The NCAA transfer portal is a key component of their recruitment.
Targeted players have varying performance statistics.
Mentioned in this story
Bobby Kennen
UNF Ospreys
UNF basketball's NIL strategy for new season: mix old with new
The statistics suggested coach Bobby Kennen would have a chance at securing a big-man presence for his North Florida men’s basketball team through the NCAA’s transfer portal.
One player averaged three points and rebounds apiece last year and the other two points and one rebound for their Group of Five programs.
It was worth calling the players and their agents. Until it wasn’t.
Cue sticker shock.
“One kid had 10 schools offering $250,000 apiece and the other kid was (figuratively) laughing at offers of less than $150,000,” Kennen said during our talk in his office on Monday, May 11. “For portal big men, the price was absolutely off the charts.”
North Florida Ospreys forward Nestor Dyachok (24) and Jacksonville Dolphins forward Donovan Rivers (33) tip-off during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Jacksonville Dolphins guard Chris Lockett (11) passes the ball to teammate guard Jaylen Jones (2) during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Q&A
What is UNF basketball's NIL strategy for the new season?
UNF basketball's NIL strategy involves mixing traditional methods with new approaches to enhance player recruitment.
Who is the coach of UNF men's basketball?
The coach of UNF men's basketball is Bobby Kennen.
What players is UNF basketball targeting through the NCAA transfer portal?
UNF basketball is targeting players who previously averaged three points and rebounds, and others with lower averages from Group of Five programs.
How does the NCAA transfer portal impact UNF basketball's roster?
The NCAA transfer portal provides UNF basketball an opportunity to secure new talent, potentially improving their roster for the upcoming season.
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Jacksonville Dolphins guard Jason Thirdkill Jr. (31) drives the lane against North Florida Ospreys guard Mason Lee (2) during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Jacksonville Dolphins guard Jason Thirdkill Jr. (31) is fouled by North Florida Ospreys guard Mason Lee (2) during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Jacksonville Dolphins guard Evan Sterck (34) shoots the ball during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
North Florida Ospreys guard Devin Hines (4) can’t stop the ball from going out of bounds during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Jacksonville Dolphins center Charles Caporaso (22) grabs a rebound during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
North Florida Ospreys head coach Bobby Kennen coaches during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
North Florida Ospreys guard Kamrin Oriol (11) penetrates against Jacksonville Dolphins guard Chris Lockett (11) during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
1 / 9
North Florida takes on JU, ASUN men's basketball action at Swisher Gym
North Florida Ospreys forward Nestor Dyachok (24) and Jacksonville Dolphins forward Donovan Rivers (33) tip-off during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
1 / 9
North Florida takes on JU, ASUN men's basketball action at Swisher Gym
North Florida Ospreys forward Nestor Dyachok (24) and Jacksonville Dolphins forward Donovan Rivers (33) tip-off during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
2 / 9
North Florida takes on JU, ASUN men's basketball action at Swisher Gym
Jacksonville Dolphins guard Chris Lockett (11) passes the ball to teammate guard Jaylen Jones (2) during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
3 / 9
North Florida takes on JU, ASUN men's basketball action at Swisher Gym
Jacksonville Dolphins guard Jason Thirdkill Jr. (31) drives the lane against North Florida Ospreys guard Mason Lee (2) during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
4 / 9
North Florida takes on JU, ASUN men's basketball action at Swisher Gym
Jacksonville Dolphins guard Jason Thirdkill Jr. (31) is fouled by North Florida Ospreys guard Mason Lee (2) during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
5 / 9
North Florida takes on JU, ASUN men's basketball action at Swisher Gym
Jacksonville Dolphins guard Evan Sterck (34) shoots the ball during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
6 / 9
North Florida takes on JU, ASUN men's basketball action at Swisher Gym
North Florida Ospreys guard Devin Hines (4) can’t stop the ball from going out of bounds during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
7 / 9
North Florida takes on JU, ASUN men's basketball action at Swisher Gym
Jacksonville Dolphins center Charles Caporaso (22) grabs a rebound during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
8 / 9
North Florida takes on JU, ASUN men's basketball action at Swisher Gym
North Florida Ospreys head coach Bobby Kennen coaches during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
9 / 9
North Florida takes on JU, ASUN men's basketball action at Swisher Gym
North Florida Ospreys guard Kamrin Oriol (11) penetrates against Jacksonville Dolphins guard Chris Lockett (11) during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game at Swisher Gymnasium, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
And cue UNF moving to other targets.
Such is Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) life for programs like UNF, which is in the NIL arena for the first time this offseason and will be able to provide money to every player on its roster via revenue sharing and NIL funds.
The Ospreys used their money to retain six players and add six players (one from junior college, two from the portal and three from high school). They anticipate signing one more player.
“It’s put us in the game,” he said of having money to spend. “The prices are really rising so the formula was to make sure we were able to retain our guys and then high school guys are cheaper and the junior college guys are less expensive (than the portal players).”
At a time when some schools are turning over a majority of their roster in search of a quick-fix turnaround, the Ospreys have zagged. Keep their core guys. Prioritize high school recruiting. And supplement by dipping a few toes into the portal waters.
True point guard will be key
Is retain-and-develop the right strategy? It is for a school like UNF, although other options weren’t available. The thing is, I’m not sure the Ospreys would be going the spend-spend-spend route even if they did have the money.
UNF will return its second-, fourth- and fifth-leading scorers (guard Kent Jackson 14.8 and guards/forwards Mason Lee 8.0 and B.J. Plummer 7.7), one player who was limited to 10 games last year (guard Gabe Jacobs) and two players who were redshirted because of injury (guard Mason Watkins and forward Arden Begaj).
Getting those players back, Kennen said, allowed UNF to “definitely” start the offseason at second base, to use a baseball term.
High school recruits: Asa Kohn (guard from Oviedo), Chris Perry (guard/forward from Hinesville, Ga.) and Isaiah Brown (forward from Fort Lauderdale).
Junior college recruit: Guard/forward JR Bartelus (Chipola College in Marianna).
Portal transfers: Elijah Elliott, a guard from Ohio and Eddie Placer, a guard from Wagner.
Among the returning players, Kennen knows what he has in Jackson, Lee and Plummer. Losing Watkins before last season (wrist) forced UNF to play shooting guard Kamrin Oriol at the point. Everything offensively was tough for UNF.
“(Watkins) is a true point guard and he’s going to be able to create a lot more easy baskets for his teammates,” Kennen said. “(Oriol) would have benefited from having Mason last year. I think Mason will be able to give us a big lift at that spot.”
Newcomers expected to make impact
Upon being named interim coach, Kennen’s first scholarship offer was to the 6-foot-10 Brown.
“He’s coming here college-ready,” Kennen said. “He has a motor, is really, really physical and is able to run and defend and rebound.”
Kennen is similarly high on the three veteran additions, guys who will need to be good right away to help UNF’s depth, physicality and rebounding and give them an interior presence that opens up the floor for the 3-point shooters.
Bartelus averaged 12 points and 7.3 rebounds for Chipola.
“He’s going to be one of the best athletes in the (Atlantic Sun Conference),” Kennen said. “He’s going to bring a real edge to our program.”
Elliott made the Mid-American Conference’s all-freshman team in 2024-25 (5.1 points per game) before being limited to 13 games last year.
“He has a chance to be one of the best perimeter athletes in the league,” Kennen said.
Placer’s older brother, Jose, played guard at UNF from 2019-23. Eddie averaged 8.5 points for Wagner last season.
“Another guy who has the ability to play three positions,” Kennen said.
The players, returning and new, will be back on campus June 8. Teams are allowed to work together for eight hours per week (four apiece on the court and in the weight room). Kennen will again organize Tuesday night team outings.
If the individual pieces come together, last year’s struggles will be a distant memory.
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com or on X at @ryanohalloran. Listen to Ryan on 1010AM on Thursday (1:15 p.m. in “XL Primetime") and a new two-hour show every Friday ("The Lead," from 4-6 p.m.).
