The La Salle Explorers opened last season with promise, starting 4–0 before things quickly unraveled, ultimately finishing near the bottom of the Atlantic 10. In response, the program made a major move—hiring former Radford head coach Darris Nichols to lead a full-scale rebuild. With an impressive staff already in place, Nichols is setting a clear tone: La Salle is going to build from the ground up—and that starts with high school recruiting.
La Salle made its first major splash by offering Jordan Skyers, a rising 2026 point guard who turned heads during the first Nike EYBL session in Arizona. Running with the New York Rens, Skyers impressed with his ability to orchestrate the offense, defend, rebound, and make plays on both ends. His value is on the rise, and his recruitment is following suit. With early offers from UVA, Mississippi State, and Oklahoma State, Skyers is poised for a big jump in national attention—especially if the Rens keep rolling through EYBL play.
La Salle’s next stop was Archbishop Stepinac, home to some of the most coveted talent in the region. While others may have been scouting flashier names, the Explorers came away focused on 2026 point guard Hassan Koureissi. After helping lead the PSA Cardinals to a 3–0 start this spring, Koureissi’s ability to rise to the moment is drawing increased interest. He’s known for being clutch, improving as games go on, and delivering in high-pressure situations. With strong positional size, poise, and a winning mentality, Koureissi’s best basketball is still ahead of him—and La Salle is betting on that upside early.
This new coaching staff isn’t content just keeping pace with 2026 prospects—they’re already digging into the Class of 2027. One of their first moves was offering Johnny Magna of Christ the King, who already has two varsity seasons under his belt. Before a foot injury slowed him down late in the year, Magna was trending as one of the more promising guards in New York. He’s now back with the Riverside Hawks, where buzz around his development has been extremely positive. His upside remains massive, and he’s a name to watch closely over the next few months.
La Salle also zeroed in on Riverside’s loaded 2027 core, extending offers to three more Riverside sophomores. Shawn McLean, A standout athlete and guard from The Avenues (NY) with explosive upside who’s starting to break out this grassroots season. Sonny Batchelor , a skilled combo guard who can score from all three levels and continues to improve. Vuk Zelic is a wing shooter who got varsity reps for the Royals and has remained hot with Riverside this spring.
