Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men’s Basketball Captains Announced
9/13/2024 2:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell head men's basketball coach John Griffin III has announced that his four seniors – Pip Ajayi, Josh Bascoe, Elvin Edmonds IV, and Ian Motta – will serve as team captains in 2024-25.
All four seniors have played key roles for the Bison, and in addition to their veteran leadership, all four are expected to be important parts of the rotation again this season.
"Being selected as captains by their peers is a tremendous honor, and Josh Bascoe, Elvin Edmonds, Pip Ajayi, and Ian Motta have truly earned the opportunity to lead Bucknell Basketball's Team 130 for the 2024-25 season," said Griffin, who was a Bucknell captain himself during his senior year in 2007-08. "I am incredibly proud of these four. They represent our program with the utmost pride and respect, both on and off the court."
Motta has played in all 97 of Bucknell's games over the past three seasons, including 43 starts on the wing. The Allen, Texas native averaged a career-high 5.4 points and 2.9 rebounds while playing 18.6 minutes per game a year ago. A strong defender with the ability to stretch the floor, Motta is a career 36.2 percent 3-point shooter, and he has eclipsed 36 percent in each of the last two seasons.
Edmonds has been a starter in the backcourt for most of the last three seasons. Last season was his most productive. Despite missing six games early in the season due to a knee injury, Edmonds set career highs by averaging 10.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. The Hopewell, Va., native ranked third in the Patriot League in assists, fifth in steals, 15th in scoring, and second in minutes played (34.3). Edmonds had three double-digit assist games last season, including a high of 12 at Navy, and he recorded his first career 20-point game against Lehigh.
Bascoe, a Milton, Ontario native, had a breakout season as a junior in 2024-25. He played in 24 games with 15 starts, missing nine due to a mid-season injury, and averaged 9.4 points and 3.6 assists while shooting better than 35 percent from 3-point range. His 11-point, 10-assist performance was a huge factor in Bucknell's win at Penn State, and he had 13 double-digit scoring games and three 20-point efforts during the season. His 23-point showing on 9-for-11 shooting in a win at Lehigh was one of the team's best stat lines of the year.
Ajayi was a welcome addition to the squad a year ago after playing for two seasons at Mercyhurst. The 6'7" forward from Calgary played in all 33 games off the bench, averaging 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per contest. Ajayi shot 59.7 percent from the field and blocked 35 shots on the defensive end.
The Bison tip off their 130th season of basketball on Nov. 4 at Delaware.
All four seniors have played key roles for the Bison, and in addition to their veteran leadership, all four are expected to be important parts of the rotation again this season.
"Being selected as captains by their peers is a tremendous honor, and Josh Bascoe, Elvin Edmonds, Pip Ajayi, and Ian Motta have truly earned the opportunity to lead Bucknell Basketball's Team 130 for the 2024-25 season," said Griffin, who was a Bucknell captain himself during his senior year in 2007-08. "I am incredibly proud of these four. They represent our program with the utmost pride and respect, both on and off the court."
Motta has played in all 97 of Bucknell's games over the past three seasons, including 43 starts on the wing. The Allen, Texas native averaged a career-high 5.4 points and 2.9 rebounds while playing 18.6 minutes per game a year ago. A strong defender with the ability to stretch the floor, Motta is a career 36.2 percent 3-point shooter, and he has eclipsed 36 percent in each of the last two seasons.
Edmonds has been a starter in the backcourt for most of the last three seasons. Last season was his most productive. Despite missing six games early in the season due to a knee injury, Edmonds set career highs by averaging 10.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. The Hopewell, Va., native ranked third in the Patriot League in assists, fifth in steals, 15th in scoring, and second in minutes played (34.3). Edmonds had three double-digit assist games last season, including a high of 12 at Navy, and he recorded his first career 20-point game against Lehigh.
Bascoe, a Milton, Ontario native, had a breakout season as a junior in 2024-25. He played in 24 games with 15 starts, missing nine due to a mid-season injury, and averaged 9.4 points and 3.6 assists while shooting better than 35 percent from 3-point range. His 11-point, 10-assist performance was a huge factor in Bucknell's win at Penn State, and he had 13 double-digit scoring games and three 20-point efforts during the season. His 23-point showing on 9-for-11 shooting in a win at Lehigh was one of the team's best stat lines of the year.
Ajayi was a welcome addition to the squad a year ago after playing for two seasons at Mercyhurst. The 6'7" forward from Calgary played in all 33 games off the bench, averaging 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per contest. Ajayi shot 59.7 percent from the field and blocked 35 shots on the defensive end.
The Bison tip off their 130th season of basketball on Nov. 4 at Delaware.
Players Mentioned
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