CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team announced the signing of Zen Goodridge (F/C, 6-7 235, Orlando, Fla./Bethune-Cookman University). Goodridge is a Division I transfer from Bethune-Cookman University of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

Goodridge is the sixth signee for the Golden Eagles joining Uzo Dibiamaka (G, 6-3 185, Adelaide, South Australia/Iowa Central C.C.), Nathaniel Powell (F/C, 6-9, Nottingham, England/Williston State College (N.D.), Jerome Mabry (G/F, 6-3 194, Milwaukee, Wis./Northwest College (Wyo.), Dylan Hushaw (G, 6-2 170, Las Vegas, Nev./Miles C.C. (Mont.), and Ron Kirk, Jr. (G, 6-4 176, Milwaukee, Wis./Northwest College (Wyo.).

"Zen really shores up our interior play," said Head Coach Dan Weisse. "We wanted to address our deficiencies and I believe we have done that with adding Nathaniel Powell, with Hunter Lyman being a year older and gaining experience, and now having Zen join our program. Zen will give resistance in the post defensively, he is a good rebounder, and is a team first guy. He has good feet and really runs the floor hard. He has a physicality about him, something we have been missing in the post in the past. In getting to know Zen and talking to his former coaches, it is apparent that he is a culture builder. I am looking forward to working with Zen and welcome him to the Golden Eagle basketball family."

Goodridge aids the interior play for UMN Crookston, joining returning player Hunter Lyman (R-Fr., F/C, West Fargo, N.D.) and fellow signee Powell. The Golden Eagles are looking to improve their play inside both offensively and defensively. He played two seasons at Bethune-Cookman University. The 2020-21 season was canceled for Bethune-Cookman due to COVID-19.

Goodridge is the only Division I transfer in the recruiting class. He joins junior college signees Dibiamaka, Powell, Mabry, and Hushaw. The Golden Eagles have one incoming freshman in Kirk.

"I chose to commit to Minnesota Crookston because from the jump Coach Weisse showed a lot of belief in me as a basketball player but more importantly as a person," Goodridge said. "I feel like this program has a good foundation to win games and I would love to be a part of that. I also spoke with a few players during the recruiting process and it felt like a brotherhood and that is what will help win games. The biggest strengths I bring to Minnesota Crookston are my size, ability to make reads out of the post, and my experience. I feel like I can develop into a leader and help others around me while allowing others to help me."

The Golden Eagles have a core of returning players coming back for the 2021-22 season. UMN Crookston returns 2020-21 starters Brian Sitzmann (R-Sr., G, Savage, Minn.), Leonard Dixon (R-Jr., F, Damascus, Ore.), and Ethan Channel (R-Jr.., G, Beaverton, Ore.). In addition, key reserve Zach Westphal (R-Jr., G, West Fargo, N.D.) returns, while Tyrese Shines (R-So., G, LaGrange, Ill.) is back after missing the majority of the 2020-21 season due to injury. Lyman and Silas Xia (Sr., G, Guangzhou, China) also are back in the fold for the Golden Eagles. Minnesota Crookston had a young squad for the 2020-21 season. They are looking to build on a 2-14 mark. Sitzmann is back after tallying 11.5 points per game. Dixon notched 10.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per tilt, while Channel averaged 10.0 points and 5.9 board per tilt. Sam Tiley (G/F, Fort Collins, Colo.) who was with the team in the fall of 2020, is also returning to the program.

The student-athlete listed as having signed a National Letter of Intent or Offer of Admission to play men's basketball at the University of Minnesota Crookston have been verified by the Minnesota Crookston compliance office once they sign the National Letter of Intent or once the student-athlete has accepted an Offer of Admission for Minnesota Crookston.

Zen Goodridge (F/C, 6-7 235, Orlando, Fla./Bethune-Cookman University)
Goodridge was a member of the team at Bethune-Cookman University, a Division I program located in Daytona Beach, Fla., for two seasons. In 2019-20, Goodridge played in 12 games and averaged 1.1 points and 0.9 rebounds per game. He tallied six points against Trinity Baptist College and secured three rebounds. Goodridge grabbed three boards against Stetson University. He had three points versus Norfolk State University. Goodridge attended Paris Junior College in Paris, Texas during the 2018-19 season but he redshirted. As a freshman, he competed for Rend Lake College in Ina, Ill. Goodridge notched 5.2 points and 5.4 rebounds for Rend Lake College. He shot 53.7 percent from the field. Goodridge played in 27 games. He tallied 19 points against Lincoln Land C.C. Goodridge notched 17 points versus Parkland College. He tallied 17 points against Lake Land College. Goodridge tallied 14 points versus Olney Central College. He notched 11 boards against Danville Area C.C. He had 10 boards against Lincoln C.C. Goodridge notched 12 rebounds versus Lake Land College. He notched 14 rebounds versus Olney Central C.C. Goodridge tallied four blocks against John A. Logan College. He attended Central Florida Christian Academy for high school. He averaged 6.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game as a senior. He notched 4.0 offensive rebounds per tilt. Goodridge helped his high school to the regional semifinals as a junior and a state runner-up finish during his senior season. He had 22 rebounds in a game in high school.

He is the son of Therol and Christine James-McKenzie. Goodridge was born March 2, 1999. He plans to major in business at UMN Crookston.