It is a reunion of sorts, but this get together won’t be finished at the end of the night.

Former NIU basketball assistant coach Ryan Marks has opened the doors at Southern Vermont College to former Huskie Sean Ezell.

Ezell, who would be a rising senior at NIU, now will have two years of athletic eligibility at the Division III college. When Ezell, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound guard, came to NIU out of Lew Wallace (Ind.) High School, he sat out his first year as a partial academic qualifier. If he had graduated on time he would’ve earned back his first year of eligibility that he lost. However, he was not on schedule to graduate in four years, and going to a Division II or III school opened up that fourth year regardless of when he graduated.

“The main reason I transferred was just to guarantee me two years to play and finish up my degree,” said Ezell from his residence hall room at SVC. “Coach Marks, I’ve known him from before and wanted to play for a coach that I knew very well.”

Marks, who was at NIU from 1995 until 2001, is in his second year as head baseball and basketball coach for the Mountaineers.

Last year, in Marks’ first season, the team improved to 15-12 from 3-22 prior to his arrival.

“I talked with some of the [NIU] guys and I just tried to stay in touch with them and keep track of how they were doing. Someone mentioned to me that Sean might be interested in transferring,” said Marks, who also picked up 6-foot-7 Cortney Denson from Kishwaukee College. “So I contacted Coach [Rob] Judson and he confirmed that a couple of coaches had contacted him about having interest in Sean.

“I think because of my prior relationship with him, I think I have a pretty high trust factor in dealing with Sean and I think it’s the same with him. Once I talked to him and Coach Judson a couple more times we arranged for him to come out and visit the school.”

After visiting the Bennington, Va., campus on May 31 through June 2, Ezell knew that a change was in his best interests.

With two sons, SeAndre (5) and Dorrein (2), Sean is looking to graduate college and better himself for post basketball. He thinks that it is best to continue playing basketball for as long as possible while he strives to obtain a degree.

“I really like being out East,” Ezell said. “They talk different, dress different and the type of stuff they eat is different, but it’s cool. I’m excited about starting something new. Change is good.”

Added Ezell: “I still love Northern. They always are going to be my first love, but sometimes you’ve got to make decisions for yourself, too.”