The Valparaiso University men’s basketball program continues to send players into the professional ranks, with Jubril Adekoya (Tinley Park ,Ill./Andrew) becoming the latest Crusader alum to ink a pro contract. Adekoya signed over the weekend with CB Peñas Huesca of LEB Oro – the second division of Spanish professional basketball.

Continuing the #ValpoInTheValley series, which will take a look at each of the Missouri Valley Conference’s 17 sports, is men’s basketball. Learn about the landscape of The Valley in men’s basketball, how Valpo has fared against opponents from The Valley in the past, and hear from head coach Matt Lottich as he talks about what the program is looking forward to entering its first season of MVC competition and who will lead the way in 2017-18 for his team.

Valparaiso University men’s basketball head coach Matt Lottich announced today that Emanuel Dildy has joined the Crusader coaching staff as an assistant coach. A Chicago native, Dildy brings power conference and Missouri Valley Conference coaching experience to the Valpo bench as the Crusaders prepare for their inaugural season of MVC play.

Another product of the Valparaiso University men’s basketball program entered the ranks of professional basketball players on Friday, as it was announced that Shane Hammink had signed a professional contract with Bilbao Basket of Liga ACB in Spain – the top professional basketball division of the Spanish basketball league system. Hammink becomes the 47th former Crusader in the last 24 years to go on to play professionally.

Valparaiso University forward Alec Peters (Washington, Ill./Washington) was drafted in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft Thursday evening by the Phoenix Suns with the 54th overall pick.

The Valparaiso University men’s basketball program will have the opportunity to participate in a conference challenge series for the first time during the 2017-18 season, as the Crusaders will host Utah State on Tuesday, Nov. 28 as part of the Challenge Series between the Missouri Valley Conference and the Mountain West Conference.

Valparaiso University president Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D., announced today that the University has accepted an invitation to join the Missouri Valley Conference on July 1, 2017. The Crusaders will begin competing for MVC championships in the 2017–2018 academic year.

Continuing a long-standing partnership, the Valparaiso University men’s basketball program will send associate head coach Luke Gore and current Crusaders Micah Bradford and Derrik Smits on an Athletes in Action tour to the Czech Republic and Poland – a trip which begins May 23. Gore will serve as head coach for the 10-player team.

The Valparaiso University men’s basketball program is currently searching for students who are interested in joining the program as student managers for the 2017-2018 academic year.