VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University Men’s Basketball sophomore Hussein Elmaraghy (Cairo, Egypt) announced this past weekend that he has signed to continue his basketball career next season at NCAA Division II Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich.

“I chose Ferris State because they are one of the best Division II programs in the country,” Elmaraghy said. “I believe in the Coach and the new team he is building and I hope I am apart of something big there.”

Elmaraghy worked his way into a starting position with the Trailblazers late in the season, serving as the starting big man for the Blazers final 10 games this past season.

Elmaraghy finished the season averaging 5.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in his lone season with the Blue and Gold after spending the 2023-24 season at Bismarck State College in North Dakota.

Elmaraghy came through strong for the Trailblazers in the final stretch of the 2024-25 season, averaging 9.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in VU’s final 12 games of the season.

Elmaraghy also came up big on the big stage for Vincennes, scoring a season-high 20 points to lead VU to a second round win over Indian Hills Community College at the 2025 NJCAA Division I National Tournament.

“My favorite memory at Vincennes was the Sweet 16 game at the National Tournament against Indian Hills,” Elmaraghy added. “We had a great game as a team and won to make it to the Elite Eight.”

Elmaraghy scored in double figures seven times this past season for VU, finishing his time with the Trailblazers with 168 points, 102 rebounds, 17 assists and 16 blocks.

Elmaraghy is the latest of the 2025 Trailblazers to announce their future plans for next season, joining fellow sophomores Bryan Akanmu (Paris, France) and Michael Cooper (Minneapolis, Minn.) who signed with NCAA Division I Wagner College in New York and Lebron Thomas (Bishopville, S.C.) who signed with NCAA Division I Green Bay.

Trailblazers Travelle Bryson (Anderson, S.C.) also announced he will be headed to NCAA Division I Howard University in Washington, D.C. next season and Taveon Smith (Radcliff, Ky.) who committed to play next season at NAIA Campbellsville University.

Together this group led the Trailblazers to another excellent season, finishing the 2024-25 campaign with a 28-5 record, including a perfect 16-0 regular season record in Region 24 play.

The Trailblazers won the 2025 regular season Region 24 Championship and earned VU’s 12th NJCAA Division I National Tournament appearance in the past 13 seasons, reaching the National Quarterfinals in Hutchinson, Kan.

“Vincennes University is a big part of where I am right now,” Elmaraghy said. “I am a better student and a better basketball player because of Vincennes University and the coaching staff here helped me reach that.”

Elmaraghy will be joining a Bulldog squad coming off of a 25-9 season in 2025, including having a 14-6 record in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play and a 16-1 record in home games this past season.

The Bulldogs would reach the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional in Springfield, Ill.

Elmaraghy will get to play next season under new Bulldog Head Coach Bobby Pietrack, who comes to Ferris State after a very successful run coaching at NCAA Division II Fort Lewis College in Colorado.

The Vincennes University Athletic Department would like to congratulate Hussein Elmaraghy on his signing with Ferris State University and wishes him good luck as he continues his athletic and academic careers next season.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Former University of Southern Indiana Softball pitcher Josie Newman will be taking her talents to compete for the Karlskoga Bats of the Elite Softball Series in Sweden. Newman will be a player and help with some coaching for the team.

The club is in Karlskoga, Sweden, in the southern part of the country, and a couple of hours west of Stockholm. The league runs throughout the summer, featuring doubleheaders every weekend during August.

“Being able to extend my career and play the game I love for a little longer means so much to me,” Newman said. “Getting such an amazing opportunity as this one is something I am so grateful for, and I look forward to making the most of it.”

Newman added, “What excites me most about this opportunity is that I can continue and grow the game outside of the U.S. and experience a different culture while creating lifelong friendships and memories. This sport has given me so much in my life that I am forever grateful for, so I am excited to give back to it as much as possible.”

The opportunity came about via a connection with USI Softball Head Coach Sue Kunkle and longtime softball coach Bill Gilbert. Gilbert, who has been recruiting American players to help grow the game in Sweden for some time, helped Newman connect with Karlskoga’s head coach, Daniel Lindkvist, who offered Newman the opportunity.

“We are very excited for Josie to have been given this opportunity to continue playing and give back to the game of softball,” Kunkle said. “She will be able to use her knowledge and experiences to grow the game in a different part of the world.”

The right-hander concluded her USI career this past spring among the top five in the USI Softball record books in innings pitched (690.0), complete games (80), and wins (66). Newman finished just outside the top five with 18 career shutouts. Most notably, Newman landed second in USI history with 753 career strikeouts.

Newman began her USI career as a member of USI’s 2022 NCAA II Midwest Regional Championship team, earning All-GLVC Second-Team and D2CCA All-Region Second-Team accolades as a freshman. During the Screaming Eagles’ first three years at the NCAA Division I level (2023-present), Newman went on to be named All-OVC First Team twice, including OVC Pitcher of the Year and NFCA All-Midwest Region Third Team in 2024. The former Eagles hurler was also named pitcher of the week between the GLVC and OVC seven times while in a USI uniform.

“I am really happy Josie can continue her career after USI!” Kunkle said. “We wish her the best and nothing but success for her.”

At 6-foot-8, Ola provides the kind of hard-playing approach that we expects to see at USI,” said USI Head Coach Stan Gouard. “He brings a high-level work ethic and competitive edge from his time at Tennessee Tech (University), Valparaiso (University), and Central Michigan (University).

“Ola is versatile, tough, and fits perfectly with our culture and style of play,” continued Gouard. “We believe his length, athleticism, and toughness will make an immediate impact and help elevate our program. Ola’s motor is always running and will bring a great physical presence to our roster.”

Ajiboye is transferring to USI after spending last year with Tennessee Tech. He appeared in 32 games for the Golden Eagles in 2024-25, averaging 4.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.

The 6-foot-8 forward posted a season-high 13 points versus Southeast Missouri State University and grabbed a season-best nine rebounds three times in 2024-25.

Prior to playing for TTU, Ajiboye spent a year at Valparaiso and Central Michigan. He competed in 31 of Valpo’s 32 contests during 2023-24, averaging 3.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, and 0.5 steals per game.

As a freshman in 2022-23, Ajiboye played in 30 of CMU’s 31 games, making 14 starts, while averaging 3.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, and 0.7 steals per game.

The Chicago, Illinois, native lettered for and attended Steuben High School (Chicago, Illinois), Evanston High School (Evanston, Illinois), and then Bosco Institute (Crown Point, Indiana) during his prep career.

The USI Screaming Eagles are a member of the Ohio Valley Conference and will be NCAA Tournament eligible in 2025-26 following the completion of the accelerated transition from Division II. USI has reached the OVC Championship in two of the first three seasons of Division I action.