Founded in 1968 by Tom Werner, the men's basketball program at Northampton has been a staple of the athletic department, capturing three Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (EPCC) titles, two Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association (PCAA) state championships and five Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC) championships.
The 2025-26 campaign witnessed the Spartan men's basketball team ascend to #2 in the NJCAA national poll (their highest ranking ever), capture the program's inaugural Region 19 Championship, and make their 2nd NJCAA National Tournament appearance. Northampton won the EPAC conference and were also named North Atlantic B District champions after downing Brookdale 96-86 in the Region championship game. Head Coach Brennan McCarthy brought home a wheelbarrow full of hardware, earning EPAC, Region 19 and NJCAA North Atlantic B District Coach of the Year honors. The Spartans finished 26-6 overall, after earning the #8 seed for the national tournament.Â
The 2024-25 season saw the Spartans finish with an overall record of 23-6, falling to top-ranked Union County College (NJ) in the Region 19 championship game. Northampton was ranked 12th in the final NJCAA poll, finishing 5-3 vs. nationally-ranked teams. Nasir Ruhani was named an Honorable Mention All-American, First Team All-Region and First Team All-Conference, while Nate Rivera was tabbed as a Second Team All-Conference performer. Head Coach Brennan McCarthy eclipsed the 200 career win mark, with his overall record at 204-83 following the 2024-25 campaign. McCarthy earned HoopDirt Coach of the Week Honors in February.
The Spartans finished the 2023-24 season with an overall record of 20-10, including a 12-2 mark in conference play. Northampton was ranked as high as #4 in the NJCAA National poll during the season. Freshman Elijah Hamilton earned EPAC Player of the Year honors and was named 2nd Team All Region. Sophomore CJ Miles was a 2nd Team All-Conference selection. The Spartans earned the #6 seed for the Region 19 playoffs, after going 13-5 in Region play, and fell to #3 Atlantic Cape in the quarterfinals.Â
2022-23 was a highlight year for men's basketball, as they qualified for the NJCAA Division III national tournament, garnering an at-large bid after falling in the Region 19 championship game to eventual national champion, Brookdale Community College. The Spartans finished 30-5 overall, ranked #4 in the country and won their 5th Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC) championship in program history. Head Coach Brennan McCarthy became the winningest coach in program history, eclipsing Fran Toner, and won his 2nd EPAC Coach of the Year honor. Mike Marable was named EPAC Player of the Year and First Team All Region. In addition, Marable earned Second Team All-American honors, becoming just the third Northampton men's basketball player in program history to earn that recognition.Â
After a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Spartan men's basketball team returned to the hardwood during the 2021-22 season and quickly returned to their pre-pandemic form, earning top-15 national rankings throughout the season, finishing second in the EPAC and earning the #2 seed in the Region 19 tournament. The Spartans finished the year with a 19-5 record, falling in the Region 19 semifinals. Amyr Fox and Michael Marable earned All-Region honors (Third Team) and All-Conference accolades.
The 2019-20 season saw the Spartans amass a 25-4 overall record, win their 4th EPAC Championship, garner the top seed for the Region XIX Tournament and advance to the Region XIX Final Four. Head Coach Brennan McCarthy picked up his 100th career victory, while Tony James earned EPAC Player of the Year honors and was named First Team All Region. The Spartans were nationally-ranked all season, topping out at #6, finishing 12th in the final poll of the 2020 season. James also earned All-American accolades, becoming just the second Spartan men's basketball player to garner that award.
Veteran mentor Brennan McCarthy followed up his outstanding 2017-18 campaign with a 21-9 overall record in 2018-19, including a 12-2 mark in conference play. The Spartans captured the EPAC regular season championship and also won the inaugural EPAC postseason tournament title. Sophomore Jay Davis broke the all-time Northampton career scoring record, and was named EPAC Player of the Year. Davis also earned the prestigious Region XIX Player of the Year Award, becoming the first Spartan men's basketball player to earn the honor. Elijah Barrett and Tony James joined Davis on the All-EPAC team. Davis was also named a NJCAA All-American after finishing 3rd in the country in scoring at 27.4 ppg.Â
Brennan McCarthy's 4th year at Northampton was one for the record books, as the Spartans finished 23-7, their best record since joining the NJCAA, went 14-2 in the EPAC, were nationally-ranked multiple times throughout the season and advanced to their second consecutive Region XIX Final Four. The Spartans led the country in defensive field goal percentage and were ranked in the top-ten in rebounding margin. Sophomore Isiah Hinton-Gray was named First Team All-Region and All-Conference, while Jay Davis earned Second Team All-Conference honors and Third Team All-Region accolades. Hinton-Gray also re-wrote the rebounding records at Northampton, setting the career and single-season marks. McCarthy was recognized by his peers as the EPAC Coach of the Year.Â
The 2016-17 season was a break-through season for McCarthy, as they won the EPACÂ Championship, advanced to the Region XIX Final Four and finished with an overall record of 19-9. Â Sophomore Jerrel Burke was named EPACÂ Player of the Year and First Team All-Region, while McCarthy garnered the East Coast Basketball Writers Association (ECBWA) Coach of the Year Award. Â
McCarthy was hired in the summer of 2014 and led the Spartans to an 11-15 record and a 9-9 in conference play.  McCarthy had three players earn all-conference honors in addition to sophomore Derek Kulp earning the prestigious RoseAnn Palsi Award from the EPAC, which is given annually to the student-athlete in the conference who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship, dedication and a commitment to academics and community service.  McCarthy returned the Spartans to the postseason in 2015-16, leading them to a 13-13 overall mark, including a tournament title at the Onondaga Community College Invitational.  Juan Perez-Jones earned 2nd Team All Conference honors as the Spartans finished 10-8 in conference play. Â
The 2009-10 season marked the first year as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Freshman Josh Vargas (Faith Christian) earned 2nd Team All-Region Honors as the Spartans finished 11-16 overall and 9-13 in Region XIX.
In 2010-11 Head Coach Kevin Foley led the Spartans to the Region XIX Final Four, finishing with an overall record of 21-9, and placing three student-athletes on the All-Region Team.
The 2011-12 season was a tough one for Northampton, as they finished 10-17 overall and did not qualify for the Region XIX playoffs. The Spartans lost eight games by 8-points or less. Ralph Padilla led Northampton in scoring and rebounding and was named 2nd Team All-Region.
2012-13 saw the Spartans ascend the NJCAA national poll, all the way to #5, capture the inaugural Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC) championship and advance to the Region XIX title game, where they fell to Brookdale Community College. Â Coach Foley was named EPAC Coach of the Year, while Jaylonn Tullis was a 1st Team All-Conference selection and 3rd Team All-Region. Â Andrew Miller earned 2nd Team All-Region and 2nd Team All-Conference and Dontae Davis was a 2nd Team All-Conference selection.
Mike Kaminski took over the program in 2013-14 and led the team to a 14-13 overall record, including a playoff victory over Lehigh Carbon Community College. The Spartans went 10-6 in conference play, with Malcolm Lyles earning First Team All-Conference honors.
The Northampton basketball record book is littered with outstanding players and coaches such as Hall of Fame Inductees; Mike Nelson (1979-80), Richard Johnson (1985-87), Perry Nardella (1983-85), Coach Jeff Thatcher (1985-88) and Ralph Padilla (2010-12)
