Crutchfield, Sharks Officially Announce Pair of 2020 Signees

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Despite an unfortunate end to the season in which head coach Jim Crutchfield and the Nova Southeastern men’s basketball team will be left without closure, the program has shifted gears and its focus towards the 2020-21 campaign, as Dallas Graziani and Alex Mangold were officially announced Wednesday as the newest signees within the upcoming recruiting class.

“I think the players in our system need to be good decision makers,” said Crutchfield, who has amassed a record of 52-10 over the past two seasons at NSU. “With the addition of Alex and Dallas, I think we have added two players that have a good understanding of the game, which is the basis for making those good decisions.”

The second Pembroke Pines Charter product over the past four years to land with the Sharks, Graziani proved to be a well-known spectacle within the South Florida basketball community, earning Broward Class 5A-1A Boys Basketball Player of the Year as a senior after guiding the Jaguars to their first-ever state title game. Known for his scoring ability, the lefty guard racked up an impressive 2,044 points throughout his career, leading the entire state of Florida in scoring during his junior campaign. Furthermore, Graziani was named a two-time member of the Broward Fab 5 and took home the three-point championship at the 2020 Broward County Athletic Association (BCAA) Boys Basketball All-Star Game.  

What Coach Crutchfield is saying: “Dallas has had four great seasons as a high school player here in South Florida. I think I’m as excited as anybody to see if he can bring his special skill set to the next level.”

Graziani on signing with NSU: “I chose NSU because I love the coaching staff. They are great people, and I think I’ll fit their style of play very well.”

Continuing the program’s Ohio pipeline, NSU adds Mangold to the mix following a successful four-year varsity career at Lakota East High School, where the 6-8 forward propelled the Thunderhawks to a school-record mark of 25-2 this past season. Mangold’s on-court efforts carried Lakota East to consecutive Greater Miami Conference and district championships, while he individually secured First Team All-GMC and First Team All-District 15 honors in the process. Off the court, Mangold was a four-time GMC All-Academic nod thanks to his cumulative GPA of 3.9.

What Coach Crutchfield is saying: “Alex fits the mold of our system’s frontcourt type of player. He is multi-skilled with his ability to shoot, pass and defend multiple positions.”

Mangold on signing with NSU: “I chose NSU because of the coaches and players dedicated to a winning culture. It’s a place I can see myself fitting in and having a successful career.”

NSU concluded the 2019-20 season with a record of 23-6, earning its second straight berth to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed in the South Region.

To stay up-to-date with the Sharks on the recruiting trail, follow them on Twitter @NSU_MBasketball.
 

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