LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Basketball Head Coach Carmen Maciariello continues to reload his roster with three more impact additions set to join the 2023-24 Saints. Siena has officially announced the signings of transfers Sean Durugordon (Austin Peay) and Giovanni Emejuru (Sam Houston State), and incoming freshman Michael Evbagharu.  
 
Durugordon matriculates to Siena after spending this past season at Austin Peay State University, where he led the Governors in both scoring (12.4) and rebounding (6.0). The 6-5, 220-pound rising redshirt junior guard from Harlem, New York was named the ASUN Newcomer of the Week on Dec. 5, and ranked second in the conference in offensive rebounding (2.44), sixth in double-doubles (four), and 10^th in rebounding. Durugordon appeared in 27 games (23 starts) while averaging 28.3 minutes during the 2022-23 season at Austin Peay, where he scored in double figures 19 times including four 20-point performances, highlighted by a career-high 27-point output on New Year's Eve at North Florida.  
 
Durugordon began his collegiate career at the University of Missouri, where he enrolled in Jan. 2021 after graduating early from Putnam Science Academy (CT). After red-shirting for the remainder of the 2020-21 season, he appeared in 12 games for the Tigers in 2021-22, averaging 3.2 points and 1.2 rebounds in 5.4 minutes of action. Durugordon grabbed 11 of his 14 rebounds off the offensive glass, and posted a season-high 11 points and three rebounds in just six minutes of action at No. 8 Kansas on Dec. 11, 2021.
 
Durugordon was rated a three-star recruit, and was ranked the No. 38 small forward nationally in his class by Rivals. He averaged 23 points and 11.5 rebounds while shooting 44% from three-point range while leading Canterbury School (CT) to a 21-2 record during his junior season.   
 
"Sean is an athletic wing who can beat you with the three-ball or the quick attack to the rim, with or without the ball," said Maciariello. "He is capable to start the break off a defensive rebound, or get us an extra possession off the offensive glass. Sean is an aggressive, attacking defender who will fit well within our defensive identity. We cannot wait to coach him."
 
Emejuru joins the Saints after spending the past two seasons at Sam Houston State University. The 6-10, 255-pound rising redshirt sophomore forward from Leicester, England, who was born in Italy, was part of a Bearkats program which posted a 45-22 overall record including a 27-9 mark in Western Athletic Conference action spanning his time in Texas. Emejuru appeared in 17 games this past season, averaging 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting a stellar 71% (25-35) from the field in 6.8 minutes of action for the WAC Regular Season Champions who advanced to the Second Round of the NIT. He posted a season-high 16-point outburst on 8-9 shooting while adding seven rebounds in the season-opener vs. Southwestern Adventist. Emejuru played in just one game (eight minutes) during his true freshman season in 2021-22, before taking a redshirt.
 
Emejuru previously played for Charnwood College in his native England. As a junior, he averaged 5.5 points and 3.8 rebounds while competing for U18 Barking Abbey at the Euroleague Adidas Next Generation Tournament held in Lithuania. He was also selected to participate in the 2020 Hoopsfix All-Star Classic, prior to its cancellation due to the pandemic.
 
"We are excited to bring Gio to Loudonville," proclaimed Maciariello. "He is an athletic frontcourt player who is ready to contribute from Day One. Gio is a relentless rebounder and worker, and a tremendous person. He is a very good screener and roller, as well as a catch and finish player around the rim. Gio's physicality will be welcomed from the day he sets foot on campus."
 
Evbagharu is a 6-4, 185-pound guard from Scarborough, Ontario who starred for Royal Crown Academic School under the direction of head coach Mike DeGiorgio and athletic director Chris Exilus. He helped guide Royal Crown to a 72-11 record in his two seasons with the team, and averaged 18.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals this past winter while earning Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association Finals MVP honors.
 
Evbagharu was also named the Co-MVP of the Biosteel All-Canadian Basketball Games, which features the top Canadian high school basketball players. He competed for Team Canada at the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas Championship.
 
"Michael is a big guard who has a college-ready body, and no role is too big or small for him," explained Maciariello. "He is a true competitor who can play multiple positions and loves to win – all attributes that we cherish here. We can't wait to get to work."
 
The official announcement of the program's three newest signees doubles the current number to six total additions set to join Siena Basketball for the 2023-24 season, featuring four true freshmen and a pair of transfers. Siena previously announced the signing of incoming freshman Max Frazier last month, while Michael Ojo and Bralyn Smith committed during the Early Signing Period in November.
 
The additions join a Siena Basketball program looking to build off of a program-record fifth consecutive top-three Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season finish this past winter.