Northwest Florida State men’s basketball rebuilds ahead a season full of promise

In Brief:

🏀 Head coach Steve DeMeo enters his 10th season with a rebuilt roster
🏠 New Raider Village housing boosts recruiting and campus life
🌴 Raiders open their season Oct. 31 at home after a 20–9 campaign

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NICEVILLE — After a 20–9 season that ended short of the national tournament, Northwest Florida State College is rebuilding and refocusing as it aims for another deep postseason run under longtime head coach Steve DeMeo.

DeMeo, entering his 10th year with the program, said the Raiders have retooled their roster, added strong recruits, and benefited from new campus housing that has boosted their national recruiting reach.

“Last year, we were close….just a little off,” DeMeo said. “But this year is a new start, my 10th season, but it feels like a first day again.”

The Raiders return only one player from last season, sophomore guard Braylon Roman, with the rest being either freshmen or transfers. DeMeo credited his coaching staff, including Tyson Kelderman, Sagar Kapoor, and Montre Cash, for helping rebuild the team through aggressive recruiting.

“At this level, you have to be a recruiter every day,” DeMeo said. “You only get these guys for a year or two before they move on. We’ve got a special group this time — they’ve meshed quickly, and we’re taking the right steps.”

“Every year brings new challenges,” DeMeo added. “You start over, you build trust, and you help these guys grow — not just as athletes, but as people.”

Northwest Florida State’s first on-campus housing complex, Raider Village, opened this year and has become a significant draw for recruits.

“It’s one of the nicest dorms I’ve ever seen,” DeMeo said. “Every player gets his own room and bathroom, plus a kitchen and living space. That’s a huge selling point — if I were going to college, I’d pick that too.”

He said the addition, combined with the recently renovated Raider Arena and the campus’s proximity to Destin, gives the program one of the most attractive setups in junior college basketball.

Sophomore guard Braylon Roman, the lone returning Raider, has emerged as a team leader after starting every game last season. DeMeo said his leadership and defensive improvements have set the tone for the team.

“He’s making better decisions, finding teammates, and his shot has improved,” DeMeo said. “When he’s locked in defensively, he can be elite.”

Roman said the previous season was a learning experience that motivated him to improve his defense and leadership.

“Last year helped me adjust to the college game,” he said. “We didn’t have the season we wanted, but I learned a lot. This year I’ve focused on my jump shot and taking pride on defense — that’s what’s going to win us games.”

Among the new players, DeMeo singled out Jonas Nichols, a “6-foot-3” combo guard transfer from Kent State, as one to watch.

“He’s a big, physical old-school guard,” DeMeo said. “He can shoot, defend, rebound, and make smart decisions. He’s tough — a Joe Dumars type.”

The rest of the roster, DeMeo added, includes a mix of freshmen with size and speed, and he believes they’ve quickly adapted to his up-tempo style.

With the season opener set for next week, DeMeo urged fans from across Okaloosa County to pack Raider Arena.

“We’ve got unbelievable kids who’ve done a great job in the community,” DeMeo said. “Now we just need that community support. I know we’re competing with college football, but if you come out on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon, you’ll see some exciting basketball.”

Roman echoed that call for fan support.

“We’re a fun team this year,” he said. “It’d be great to see the arena filled up. We feed off that energy.”

As he marks a decade with the Raiders, DeMeo said he’s proud of the culture built within the program — one centered on growth, opportunity, and community.

“I’ve been blessed to coach great kids,” he said. “Every group brings something new, and every year we try to help them become better players and better people. That’s what this program is about.”

The Northwest Florida State College men’s basketball season tips off on Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. against Southern Union State Community College, and begins a four-game homestand that ends on Nov. 8.