The New York University men's basketball team has announced its Class of 2024 recruits. Three transfer student-athletes and six incoming freshmen will join the team, according to Head Coach Dagan Nelson.

The future Violets include John Beattie (Spring Lake, NJ), Denizhan Ene (Istanbul, Turkey), Donovan Grant (Atlanta, GA), Nikola Lipovic (California Saddleback JC/San Clemente, CA), Alex Maticiuc (Southern New Hampshire University/Monte Carlo, Monaco), Hayden Peek (Poughkeepsie, NY), Jacob Sussman (Mount Olive, NJ), Cinqué Stephens (Richardson, TX), and Wilhelm Von Arndt (Marshall University/ Stockholm, Sweden).

"This class adds tremendous skill, experience, shooting ability, athleticism, toughness and versatility," said Nelson. "The maturity and depth of basketball IQ that all nine possess is exceptional."

Here are some of the student-athletes' accolades, according to Nelson:

• Beattie was a two-time All-Shore Conference performer who shot 40% on three-pointers during his high school career. He is a versatile wing whose best basketball is ahead of him. Beattie played for an outstanding NJ Shoreshots AAU Program that is nationally known. He is the epitome of a scholar student-athlete.
• Ene is a smart, high-octane, intelligent guard who comes from a basketball family. His dad is a professional coach in Turkey. Ene played on the U16 National Team for Turkey, and we look forward to having him in our program.
• Grant is a stat-sheet stuffer. His versatility, length and IQ make him a special player. His ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor is rare. Grant led The Skill Factory in minutes played and was a double-digit scorer who led the team in rebounding and assists.
• Lipovic is an elite shooter who shot 43% from the three-point line and finished second in three-point field goal percentage in a single season at Saddleback. Lipovic was an All-OEC (Orange Empire Conference) performer while at Saddleback and we look forward to having him join us.
• Maticiuc played for the legendary Jere Quinn at St. Thomas More. He is a sharp-shooting forward who can really stretch the floor and brings toughness and desire to our program. Maticiuc played for the Antibes Sharks in the U18 National Championships in France and led them in scoring.
• Peek is a two-time Second Team All-NEPSAC (New England Preparatory School Athletic Counsel) selection at Choate. The NEPSAC is the most competitive league in the country. Peek is a skilled, versatile and talented wing who is a perfect fit for our system. He played AAU for nationally-known Team Rio on the Under Armour circuit.
• Sussman is an elite three-point shooter who was a First Team All-State and All-MAPL (Mid-Atlantic Prep League) selection. He shot over 40% from three-point range at Lawrenceville and is a versatile, athletic winner who will impact our program in a variety of ways. Sussman also played for the outstanding NJ Shoreshots AAU Program.
• Stephens played in the ultra-competitive NEPSAC and won the AA Championship this past season at Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Massachusetts. He is an athletic, exciting, playmaking guard who will be a great addition to our program. Stephens was a two-time Academic All-State selection and a TAPPS (The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) First Team All-State selection at Prestonwood Christian in Plano, TX.
• Von Arndt is a tough, smart combo guard who played at an elite international level. He earned All-Conference Academic honors at Marshall, and we look forward to having Von Arndt in our program.

Nelson has completed two years as the Violets' Head Coach. 

Only two seniors graduated from the 2019-20 squad: Ethan Feldman (New York, NY/The Salisbury School) and Jimmy Martinelli (Glenview, IL/Glenbrook South).
 
"Most importantly, these young men fit our core values and have outstanding self-motivation academically and athletically," added Nelson. "They will be tremendous ambassadors for NYU and our team. We can't wait to get started."