NORFOLK, Va. – Most college basketball coaches are used to welcoming in five, six or maybe even seven new players to their roster most seasons.

But 12? That presents a new challenge for Norfolk State women's basketball coach Larry Vickers, as 10 brand new faces and two players who were injured in 2020-21 make up the bulk of his roster. But it's a challenge he embraces, and even welcomes.

The new-look Spartans open the 2021-22 season Tuesday with a 6 p.m. home game against Chowan. The game will air on 91.1 FM and be streamed on Spartan Showcase Video Streaming.

"It's been tough in the preseason, but the players and coaches have been patient through some longer practices as we instill our system and culture," said the Spartans' head coach, who enters his seventh season at the helm.

While it's natural to discuss all the new talent on the roster, any mention of the 2021-22 Spartans must start with the two players who saw time for NSU last year – guards Armani Franklin and Niya fields. Franklin was a preseason All-MEAC second-team selection who is now entering his fifth season with the program. She is taking advantage of the free "COVID" year from 2020-21 to come back for a second senior year.

A noted leader and defender in her career who has 115 steals in 91 career games, Franklin increased her scoring output last year to a career-best 8.2 points per game. She scored in double figures in five of the last six games of the season.

"We just want Armani to pick up where she left off," Vickers said. "She always brings that leadership and hard work. Now we'll see how she handles the attention that comes with being a preseason all-conference player."

Fields showed flashes during her freshman year when she played 24.3 minutes per game for a squad that ended the year with just seven players. She hit 32 percent from 3-point range and averaged more than one steal per game.

"Niya is used to what we do and she brings that consistency," Vickers said. "She provides some shooting for us and knows how to execute in the half court."

Forwards Makoye Diawara and Larri Sydnor were both lost to season-ending injuries during preseason practice last year. Now healthy, Vickers is excited to see what his two post recruits in the 2020 class can do.

"Makoye brings us rebounding, 3-point shooting and can stretch the floor at her size," Vickers said. "Larri runs the floor hard and plays hard every possession. She will surprise people with her athleticism and is developing her post game, as well."

While NSU's team is largely new, that doesn't mean they lack experience. Six of NSU's other nine newcomers who will debut this week have Division I experience and two others played two seasons in junior college. On the perimeter, the Spartans welcome Deja Francis (St. Bonaventure), Janay Turner (Daytona State College), Camille Downs (UNCW), Crystal White (North Carolina A&T), Danaijah Williams (St. John's) and local high school product Tamiya Santos.

Francis played three seasons at St. Bonaventure, earning Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team honors in 2018-19. She averaged better than nine points per game in two of her three seasons.

"Deja will provide us some veteran point guard play and we look for her to have a ton of success here," Vickers said. "Offensively, she can do it all."

Turner displayed scoring prowess in her two seasons at Daytona State. The Chicago native averaged more than 15 points per game in two seasons at DSC and made 63 3-pointers in 29 games.

"We haven't had a shooter like Janay in a while," Vickers said. "She can shoot around the screen, behind the screen, you name it. As she puts it together defensively, she is going to be a problem for other teams. We're excited to have her on the team."

Downs transferred to NSU from UNCW, where she averaged 7.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last season – including a career-high 21 points against NSU in the season-opener. A Fredericksburg native, Downs has also made stops at Butler Community College and Coppin State in her career.

"Camille gives us a scoring threat on the wing with good size and ability," Vickers said. "She can do everything offensive and defensively, it's just a matter of her staying locked in."

White is another player who brings scoring and shooting to the wing for NSU. She was an All-Tidewater player locally at Western Branch High in Chesapeake before spending one season at N.C. A&T.

"Crystal is a good 3-pointer shooter who brings depth to the wing rotation," Vickers said. "We're expecting her to come in and make shots when teams throw a zone at us."

Williams spent one season at St. John's during the COVID year, meaning she still has four years left to play. While she played sparingly, she was a noted scorer in Brooklyn during her prep career who Vickers thinks will thrive in a new position.

"Danaijah is a great prospect for us," Vickers said. "She played as an undersized '4' at St. John's but we're moving her to the '3.' She still has a lot to learn, but she can shoot it, is efficient and has great length defensively. Once she puts it together, watch out."

Santos was a prep star at Menchville High in Newport News, a perennial playoff team on the local high school hoops scene. She averaged 14.8 points per game as a junior.

"Tamiya is a combo guard who can play some '1' or the '2'," Vickers said. "She has good shot consistency and can beat people off the bounce, as well."

In addition to Diawara and Sydnor, the Spartans will benefit from the size and versatility of three brand new additions to their post rotation. Mahoganie Williams spent one season at Louisiana Tech before one year at Trinity Valley Community College in Texas, where she averaged 12.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. He had four 20-point games. Tatiana Jones played parts of two seasons at Gulf Coast State College in Florida. In her one full year there, she averaged 10.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

"We're looking for huge things from Mahoganie and Tatiana," Vickers said. "They are both double-double candidates, all-conference type of talents. 'Mo' can get to the rim, block shots and knock down shots. 'Tot' is similar to 'Mo' – she could probably play the wing with her jumper and ability to create for herself."

Lacee Savage will also be an important addition to the Spartan roster. She spent three seasons at Northwestern State University, where she led the team in rebounding as a junior in 2019-20 at 5.2 per game.

"Lacee is a bit undersized as a '4', but she works really hard and is very tough," Vickers said. "She gives us great forward depth."

While he admits the process has been different with so many new players, Vickers knows that he has plenty of talent at his disposal to help the Spartans build upon their recent success, which includes three straight trips to at least the MEAC tournament semifinals or beyond. Early-season matchups at Campbell, Indiana and Ohio State will provide tough tests out of the gate, as will December games against local foes Old Dominion, William & Mary and Hampton.

"As the team is still learning our offense and defense, it will be important to get second-chance opportunities early in the season," Vickers said. "But once we get through that early gauntlet, we'll be able to settle in and really throw some good chemistry on the floor."