COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL
UNI announces addition of third international player
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Jacobson
The Panther men on Wednesday announced the addition of Levi Valdo to the 2025-26 roster.
Valdo is the fourth player to sign with the Panthers this spring, joining NAIA First Team All-American Tristan Smith (Elizabeth, Colo. / Concordia [NE]), as well as a pair of international players in Canadian Ismaël Diouf (Saint-Jean-Sur Richelieu, Quebec / North Carolina State) and Croatian Marino Dubravcic (Otocac, Croatia / Baylor).
The Panthers also added high school seniors Jalen Wilson (Minneapolis, Minn. / Benilde-St. Margaret's High School) and Geon Hutchins (Detroit, Mich. / Warren Lincoln High School), via signing day last fall.
Valdo joins the Panthers with four years of eligibility.
"Through our relationship with our former strength coach Andrea Comini, we were able to get involved in the recruiting process with Levi," UNI head coach Ben Jacobson said. "We learned quickly that Levi is a tremendous young man. Watching film of Levi, it was an easy decision to get involved and want to learn more about him. He has very good positional size and can really score the basketball."
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A 6-foot, 4-inch, 215-pound guard originally hailing from Cameroon, Valdo played this previous season with Foppiani Fulgor Fidenza in Serie B Italy. In 38 regular season appearances, he averaged 16.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.4 blocks in 30.9 minutes per game.
On Tuesday Jacobson announced the hiring of James Pollard as the program's new video coordinator.
Pollard, who recently graduated from UNI with a degree in sports administration this spring, will oversee video operations for the Panthers including film breakdown and exchanges and opponent scouting.
"James is a big-time worker," said Coach Jacobson. "Over the past four years, he has built tremendous relationships with our players and staff. He has earned the trust and respect of those in and around our program."
Pollard has spent the previous four years as a student manager for the Northern Iowa men's basketball team. During his time as a manager, Pollard worked with Sportscode, Synergy and other film software to aid the coaching staff in film breakdown and scouting reports.
"I couldn't be more excited for the opportunity to join Coach Jacobson's staff," Pollard explained. "I am thankful to have worked with Coach Jake and his staff the last four years as a manager and look forward to helping continue the success and tradition of the program. Go Panthers!"
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