Transitioning from the 2024-2025 men’s basketball season to the 2025-2026 campaign, the Marist Red Foxes lost five players to the transfer portal. Most notably, star guard Josh Pascarelli left for Colorado State; this forced head coach John Dunne to quickly react and look at the portal himself, snagging sophomore guard Justin Menard from the Iona Gaels.
During their first 20-win season in 17 years, Dunne saw Menard’s talent twice. Over two games against Marist, Menard played 59 minutes, shooting 50% with four rebounds, eight assists, a steal and 18 points. Thus, when the coaching staff scoured through the transfer portal, they knew Menard could bring something to the table.
“When we saw that he went in [to the transfer portal], as a staff, it was pretty unanimous that we wanted to recruit him,” said Dunne.
At Iona, Menard showed flashes of excellence with both his shooting and playmaking. Despite showing more of an off-ball presence rather than being the primary ball handler, he collected a 3.52 assist-to-turnover ratio. Dunne recognized this talent and saw potential in Menard’s game, knowing he could be a key piece to the Red Foxes offense.
“I thought he shot the ball fairly efficiently, without even knowing where his shots were coming from […] And I think when he’s more comfortable, it’ll be even better,” said Dunne.
Marist will look to use him in more elaborate ways, including offensively, after recognizing his potential explosiveness in ball screens.
“The ball will be in his hands more, and he’ll be making more decisions with us,” said Dunne. “That is always a learning experience. I think as time goes on, he’ll get more comfortable with our offense [and] get more comfortable [with] what our expectations are of him.”
His danger from both beyond the arc and as a playmaker will keep defenses second-guessing in every instance, knowing he has the basketball knowledge to make the correct decision. His 35.5% shooting percentage from deep and 2.6 assists per game display this best, with both stats ranking in the top 20 in the MAAC.
“I can play on the ball, and I can play off the ball. I can shoot the ball well and can also pass, it’s just about making the right play,” said Menard.
The Red Foxes will rely on this shooting skill set, particularly from beyond the arc after the team leaders in 3-point percentage departed; Pascarelli attempted nearly seven 3-pointers per game last season. This guided Menard towards improving his offensive game at Marist.
“My goal is [to become] a better scorer, become a three-level scorer,” said Menard.
Menard exhibits a competitive and tough mindset, making him a perfect fit given Marist’s reputation.
“He could shoot, he could pass, he could dribble, and he’s got a lot of toughness and a high competitive spirit,” said Dunne.
Menard also shows positivity on the defensive front, which fits well on a team that finished second in the conference last season in defense.
“We feel very strongly that he can help us achieve that again,” says Dunne.
Originally from Higganum, Connecticut, Menard played at three different high schools. He started at Xavier High School, including winning team MVP, Conference Player of the Year and making All-State during his sophomore season.
He then transferred to Loomis Chaffee School, within the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC), one of the most competitive high school sports programs in the country. Following an impressive showing there, he finished high school at St. Thomas More in Oakdale, Connecticut.
Despite switching schools several times, Menard never stopped his stellar play. He will look to continue this trend at Marist, already playing well with his new teammates at practice.
“I think we’re all jelling pretty well,” said Menard. “We’ve been here for a couple of months, because we came here in June, and I feel comfortable for sure. I’m excited.”
Menard is not the only athlete in his family. His father, Anthony, is a highly respected high school basketball coach. His older sister, Katie, played soccer and ran track at Iona, and his younger sister, Megan, plays soccer for the College of the Holy Cross.
However, his older brother, Josh, truly influenced his basketball goals. He played collegiately at Saint Anselm College.
“My biggest influence is probably my brother. He played college basketball, and he’s someone I talk to all the time. He was one of my biggest mentors,” said Menard.
Another person who taught valuable lessons about putting the team first is a previous coach of Menard: former Iona head coach Tobin Anderson.
“He taught me a lot, to really play as hard as you can and put the team first. He would [often say] to play for the front of your jersey. That will reward the back of your jersey […] That’s one thing I definitely like to follow,” said Menard.
In addition to his gratitude towards Anderson, Menard speaks highly of his conversations with Dunne.
“He’s an established coach. He’s a great coach. We honestly hit it off really well. We had great conversations, and we had the same goals: get back to the MAAC tournament,” said Menard.
The Red Foxes have never won the MAAC, and they have not made the conference championship game since 2023. Equipped with shooting skills, playmaking skills and talent on the defensive front, Menard has one goal: to win it all.
“Marist obviously had a really good chance to win the MAAC and was so close last year, so I wanted to bring my experience here and get right back to the championship,” said Menard. “I want to go to the tournament. That’s why I came here.”
Edited by Mike Duda and Hayden Shapiro
Graphic by Ben Monrad
Photos from Marist Athletics
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