Pirate Preview: Najai Hines

Published: Sunday, September 21, 2025

by Nick DiBlasi

The Seton Hall Men’s Basketball program will face a full reset in 2025, as Coach Shaheen Holloway finds himself in uncharted waters for his fourth season at the helm of the blue and white. After facing significant hardships in his third season as head coach, there is hope that this Pirate team can get back on track and return to its 2024 NIT Championship form. 

With only two key returners, Jahseem Felton and Godswill Erheriene, the Pirates will look for fresh faces to make some noise. 

One of the biggest signings in all the BIG EAST was the Pirates' landing of four-star recruit Najai Hines. A physically dominant big man with a football background, Seton Hall will rely on Hines for his rebounding and shot-blocking abilities. Over the last few years, the Pirates have struggled to find consistent big man play; however, that can change with Hines’ big frame of 6’10, 250 pounds. 

Ranked as the #36 overall prospect in the 2026 class, Hines will stay in the state of New Jersey. At Plainfield High School, Hines was a force on both the offensive and defensive ends, earning the name of “Baby Shaq” while becoming one of the nation’s top rising bigs.  

In a highly physical BIG EAST conference, Coach Holloway will certainly love using Hines in different ways. Known for being a bully on the court, Hines knows exactly how to use his body effectively, helping with his rim-protecting responsibilities. 

Perhaps his best trait on the court is his ability to lay precise screens on offense and roll to the net with his large hands for an emphatic finish. In high school, he led the EYBL with 2.8 blocks, while adding 9.8 rebounds per game.  

Throughout the past few seasons, Coach Holloway has stressed physicality and effort, two traits Hines will look to express in 2025. Hines will make his long-awaited debut with the Pirates on Monday, November 3rd, when Seton Hall takes on Saint Peter's in their season opener. 

Nick DiBlasi can be reached at nick.diblasi@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: sports,