Navy men’s basketball player transfers to East Carolina

Navy men’s basketball lost a potential member of its regular rotation for next season with the announcement that Dave Kasanganay is transferring to East Carolina.

Kasanganay saw his role increase toward the end of last season, playing double-digit minutes in nine of Navy’s last 11 games. He played 16 minutes and contributed five points in the season-ending Patriot League tournament loss at Boston University.

Kasanganay told the East Carolina fan website Hoist the Colours he was unwilling to commit to the mandatory five years of postgraduate service to the United States Navy. The Charlotte, North Carolina native noted he would have been required to sign the so-called “two-for-seven” paperwork prior to beginning his junior academic year at the Naval Academy.

“I no longer wanted to serve in the military,” Kasanganay said. “I wanted to join a program I felt I could help build to its potential and that’s what I saw in ECU. A program that is on the rise and has a lot of potential to be great. It’s also close to home and purple is my favorite color.”

Kasanganay will be a walk-on at East Carolina but could earn a scholarship through performance. In accordance with NCAA Division I transfer records, he must sit out the 2020-2021 season and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

The Pirates went 11-20 last season and 5-13 in the American Athletic Conference. Head coach Joe Dooley, who led Florida Gulf Coast to five 20-win seasons and five Atlantic Sun Conference championships, will be entering the third season of his second stint at ECU.

Kasanganay was a prolific scorer at Ardrey Kell High, completing his career ranked third on the school’s all-time points list. As a direct-entry plebe at the academy, the 6-foot-2, 178-pound wing guard was a member of the Navy junior varsity, which head coach Ed DeChellis refers to as the developmental team.

After seeing little playing time early last season, Kasanganay wound up appearing in 15 of 30 games and averaging 10.3 minutes, 3.1 points and 1.4 rebounds. He scored a career-high nine points against American and swiped four steals versus Holy Cross.

In a text message response to The Capital, DeChellis had best wishes for Kasanganay in his future endeavors and declined further comment.

Kasanganay described himself as a combination guard and has heard his game described as resembling NBA standouts Lou Williams of the Los Angeles Clippers and Jamal Crawford of the Brooklyn Nets.

“I am a gifted shooter with a solid handle who can score and bring energy offensively and defensively,” he told the East Carolina fan website.

Kasanganay likely would not have started for Navy next season. The Midshipmen return three perimeter starters in point guard Cam Davis, wing guard Greg Summers, and small forward John Carter Jr.

However, Kasanganay probably would have been part of the reserve rotation along with three sophomores ― point guard Sean Yoder along with wing forwards Tyler Nelson and Jaylen Walker.