Rakim Chaney Commits to Valpo

Powell Doesn't Waste Time Rebuilding Roster

Rakim Chaney, a 6’3” point guard, committed to Valparaiso, becoming the second commitment this offseason, following Carter Hopoi. Chaney hails from Rockford, Illinois and played on the Rockford Auburn varsity squad for three seasons. Per MaxPreps, he averaged 16.1 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, and 3.1 steals per game in his senior season. Following his senior season, he played at Two Twelve Sports Academy in Sarasota, Florida. Coached by former University of Michigan assistant John Mahoney, Chaney’s game continued to improve and he scored 25 points per game, added 5 assists per game, and pulled down 7 rebounds per game.

Chaney’s highlight reels from Hudl include not only scoring, but also feeding his teammates for open looks or being aggressive on defensive, blocking shots and grabbing steals.

Prior to his commitment, both Coach Powell and Coach Garrison posted cryptic social media posts. Powell’s included an AI generated video of him dancing and Garrison’s featured a GIF of social media influencer “Big Justice” flexing and saying “Boom!"

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Other Valpo Basketball News

Kaspar Sepp, a 6’7” sophomore, entered the transfer portal. Sepp averaged 3.5 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game in 34 games for the Beacons. Sepp excelled at rebounding; he ranked in the top 5 in D-Reb% in the MVC. However, he struggled with defending without fouling and fouled out in 4 games, more than any other Beacon.

Jesse McClung, a seasoned basketball coach, recently joined Valparaiso University as an assistant coach. He previously led Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College to historic success, including back-to-back NAIA national tournament appearances and a 53-15 record over two years. McClung also earned the 2024 RSC Coach of the Year title. Before that, he served as associate head coach at Marian University, achieving six straight NAIA tournament appearances. His experience and leadership make him a valuable addition to Valpo's program.