University of Delaware Athletics
Men’s Basketball Adds Hofstra/St. Francis Brooklyn Transfer Zion Bethea
4/25/2023 6:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NEWARK, Del. – Delaware men's basketball has added Hofstra/St. Francis Brooklyn transfer Zion Bethea, head coach Martin Ingelsby announced Tuesday. Bethea joins the Blue Hens with immediate eligibility and three years remaining.
"We are thrilled to announce the addition of Zion Bethea to our basketball program," Ingelsby said. "He is a tough, hard-nosed guard who is coming off a highly efficient season at St Francis Brooklyn where he averaged 10.7 ppg and shot 42.2 percent from the three-point line. He brings versatility, a team first approach, and a winning attitude to our roster and we look forward to getting him to Newark this summer."
The South Orange, N.J. native spent the past season at St. Francis Brooklyn and entered the transfer portal after the school announced it would be discontinuing all athletics at the end of the academic year.
"I have played with Niels and Jyáre since middle school and high school, so we already have great chemistry," Bethea said. "Also, Coach Ingelsby and Coach Phillip have built a championship winning program and that was a major factor in coming to Delaware."
In his lone season with the Terriers, the 6-4 guard appeared in 28 games with one start. He averaged 10.7 points per game, which was third best on the roster. Bethea added 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per outing, while shooting 43.5 percent overall and a team best 42.2 percent from deep.
He opened the 2022-23 season with a career high 24-point performance with a 4-of-7 outing from long range. That game was one of two 20-point efforts to go along with 16 double digit games a season ago. Bethea ended the campaign with 10-straight games above the 10-point threshold, while averaging 14.8 ppg.
Prior to transferring to St. Francis Brooklyn, he spent two seasons at Hofstra. Over those two years, Bethea landed on the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll for posting a GPA at 3.0 or better. He appeared in just three games over those two seasons for an average of 3.0 minutes.
A graduate of Immaculate Conception, Bethea played four years of basketball with his first at DePaul Catholic. As a senior, he tallied 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and 1.9 steals per game, finishing his career with 1,503 points. He led Immaculate Conception to its first Essex County Tournament title after back-to-back semifinals appearances. Bethea garnered Third Team All-State and Player of the Year in the Super Essex Conference as a senior, while landing on the Essex County First Team as a junior. In his inaugural campaign, he was tabbed All-Passaic County First Team.
"We are thrilled to announce the addition of Zion Bethea to our basketball program," Ingelsby said. "He is a tough, hard-nosed guard who is coming off a highly efficient season at St Francis Brooklyn where he averaged 10.7 ppg and shot 42.2 percent from the three-point line. He brings versatility, a team first approach, and a winning attitude to our roster and we look forward to getting him to Newark this summer."
The South Orange, N.J. native spent the past season at St. Francis Brooklyn and entered the transfer portal after the school announced it would be discontinuing all athletics at the end of the academic year.
"I have played with Niels and Jyáre since middle school and high school, so we already have great chemistry," Bethea said. "Also, Coach Ingelsby and Coach Phillip have built a championship winning program and that was a major factor in coming to Delaware."
In his lone season with the Terriers, the 6-4 guard appeared in 28 games with one start. He averaged 10.7 points per game, which was third best on the roster. Bethea added 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per outing, while shooting 43.5 percent overall and a team best 42.2 percent from deep.
He opened the 2022-23 season with a career high 24-point performance with a 4-of-7 outing from long range. That game was one of two 20-point efforts to go along with 16 double digit games a season ago. Bethea ended the campaign with 10-straight games above the 10-point threshold, while averaging 14.8 ppg.
Prior to transferring to St. Francis Brooklyn, he spent two seasons at Hofstra. Over those two years, Bethea landed on the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll for posting a GPA at 3.0 or better. He appeared in just three games over those two seasons for an average of 3.0 minutes.
A graduate of Immaculate Conception, Bethea played four years of basketball with his first at DePaul Catholic. As a senior, he tallied 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and 1.9 steals per game, finishing his career with 1,503 points. He led Immaculate Conception to its first Essex County Tournament title after back-to-back semifinals appearances. Bethea garnered Third Team All-State and Player of the Year in the Super Essex Conference as a senior, while landing on the Essex County First Team as a junior. In his inaugural campaign, he was tabbed All-Passaic County First Team.
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