Story Courtesy of Mako News - Madison Kasper
Dallas Graziani ended the 2025-26 season with two first team all-American honors, a finalist for the Bevo Francis Award, D2CCA South Region Player of the Year, D2CCA Ron Lenz National Player of the Year, SSC Player of the Year, and SSC Defensive Player of the Year.
Graziani started at NSU for his freshman year for the 2020-21 season. That season was canceled due to COVID-19. The next season, he played in eight games before getting injured and redshirting. During the 2022-23 season, he started in all 36 games and helped lead the team to its National Championship win. Then, for the 2023-24 season, Graziani transferred to Samford University. He came back to NSU for his last two years of eligibility during the 2024-25 season to finish his Bachelor's degree in Sport and Recreation Management in the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
Graziani is currently in his last year as a graduate student in the Master's in Leadership program at Abraham S. Fischler College of Education & School of Criminal Justice. He said NSU has always felt like home.
"Just the system, the culture, the group of guys, the coaching staff, everybody," Graziani said. "Every year the team we have, we don't have any animosity towards each other. No bad blood. Every day is fun."
Graziani was a member of both of the NCAA Division II National Championship winning teams at NSU in 2023 and 2025. He also has won 111 games at NSU and is a part of the group of players that has never lost at home.
"I hate to lose more than I like winning. So, no matter who we're playing, I don't want to lose. I want to win every time," Graziani said.
RJ Sunahara, assistant men's basketball coach, played with and coached Graziani. He said he brings energy and leadership to the team.
"He plays harder than anybody I've ever met. He runs for 40 minutes straight. [He] doesn't really get tired and just makes extra effort plays that you don't really see around the country very much," Sunahara said.
Ryan Davis, senior communication major, said Graziani pushes him to be a better player every time they step onto the court.
"He just runs around like a blur. And I'm like, 'I got to be that fast if I'm on his team.' So, it's pushed me to be faster, be quicker, more energy, just more relentless on the court," Davis said. "If I get hit, I'm always getting back up knowing that if he gets hit, he's going to get back up. So, I think he pushes a lot of the team in that way because he leads by example."
Graziani started taking basketball seriously in the second grade when he played fourth grade travel with his older brother. He said his brother has been his biggest inspiration.
"I grew up playing with him my whole life. He's the one that kind of got me to be the player I am today," Graziani said.
Graziani's brother, Dylan Graziani, said they are best friends and he is happy for his brother because he is the hardest working person he knows.
"We spent hours working together just trying to make each other better and make each other the best players that we could be. And for me to be his biggest inspiration, it's hard to put into words how much that means to me," Dylan Graziani said.
Graziani grew up locally in Pembroke Pines. He said it has been nice getting to be a role model for local kids.
"There is a good amount of kids that come to the games on autographs and stuff. And I have refereed the Cooper City Basketball League, and I'll see a lot of those kids here. It's good to see them enjoying the game, loving basketball and just kind of be invested in it," Graziani said.
Dylan Graziani said that with his brother playing so close to home, he tries to be at every home game to support him.
"I think the fact that he ended up at the best Division II school in the country, and it just so happened to be practically in our backyard, is the most amazing thing that could have happened for him and our family and the community," Dylan Graziani said.
This season was Graziani's last year of college basketball. He is currently figuring out his next steps with the goal of continuing to play basketball.
"I'm going to try to keep playing professionally whether it's overseas or I am lucky enough to get a summer league or G league spot," Graziani said. "Hopefully I can lean on some of the guys that are doing so right now. Like last year, MJ, Ryker, Tyler, those guys and even guys before that."
Dallas' All-Time Program Record Ranks
Career Assists (1st/811) Career Steals (1st/285)
Single Game Assists (1st/17) Single Game Steals (1st/9)
Single Season Assists (1st/340; 2024-25, 5th/206; 2025-26) Career Points (2nd/1601) Career FGM (3rd/571)
Single Game Three Point Field Goal Attempts (3rd/15)
Single Season Steals (3rd/93; 2024-25, 6th/77; 2025-26)
Career Games Played (6th/114)
Single Season Three Point Field Goal Attempts (T4/194; 2022-23)
Single Season Points (8th/659; 2025-26)
Single Season FGM (10th/236; 2025-26)
Single Game Three Pointers Made (T8/7)
