2024-25 CUSA Basketball Preview

Conference Overview

Join us for our 2024-25 CUSA Basketball Preview, where we dive into one of the most competitive conferences from top to bottom. Last season’s conference seeding demonstrated that as aside from the top two teams, every team was within two games of each other, including a four-way tie for fourth place. The fourth-seeded Western Kentucky emerged victorious, making it to the NCAA Tournament as yet another underdog from the conference. This season offers a more stable presence in the conference transition, with every team returning and the addition of Kennesaw State.

Louisiana Tech and Sam Houston State are again projected to be the top two teams, having finished significantly ahead of the rest of the conference last season. Louisiana Tech brings back Daniel Batcho, a favorite for both Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, showcasing his dominant presence. The Bulldogs also welcome three high-major transfers, all looking for expanded roles.

Last year’s regular season champions, Sam Houston State, focused on retention, with four of their five projected starters returning. This squad only dropped three games during conference play, led by Lamar Wilkerson. While the Bulldogs and Bearkats are expected to be forces again, the rest of the conference is closing in.

Liberty returns standouts Zach Cleveland and Kaden Metheny, looking to rebound after a rocky first season in their transition from the ASUN to CUSA. Liberty boasts one of the best passing cores in the conference, with each player averaging between three and four assists last season. Last year’s champions, Western Kentucky, bring back All-Conference First Team member Dom McHenry, surrounded by a strong group of returners who gained valuable experience after making the NCAA Tournament.

New Mexico State could emerge as a dark horse in the conference, featuring a dynamic backcourt led by highly regarded Division II transfer Zawdie Jackson and Cal State Northridge transfer Dionte Bostick. Together with returnee Christian Cook, they have the potential to score at an impressive level. Middle Tennessee is not far behind, boasting a strong backcourt as they welcome back injured point guard Camryn Weston and add two high-major transfers to a new-look frontcourt.

UTEP also brings in a promising point guard in Tarleton State transfer Devon Barnes, who could be an all-conference candidate alongside top JUCO prospect Ahamad Bynum in a revamped backcourt. Kennesaw State aims to make an impact in their first year in CUSA after transitioning from the ASUN, returning star Simeon Cottle. The rest of the team will need to elevate their game, as CUSA represents a significant step up defensively.

Jacksonville State will rely on two high-major transfers who missed last season due to injuries; if they return successfully, it could propel the team into the middle of the conference. Finally, FIU may lack a true star this season but returns a solid group of players who averaged between six and nine points last season, along with a new point guard in JUCO standout Asim Jones.

This season promises to be more cohesive from top to bottom, as highlighted in our 2024-25 CUSA Basketball Preview, with the top six teams all being major threats to finish at the top. With teams raising their game, anticipation is high for exciting matchups throughout the season.

CUSA Basketball Preview: Projected Standings

1. Louisiana Tech
2. Sam Houston State
3. Liberty
4. Western Kentucky
5. New Mexico State
6. Middle Tennessee
7. UTEP
8. Kennesaw State
9. Jacksonville State
10. FIU

CUSA Basketball Preview: Projected Award Winners

Player of the Year: Daniel Batcho, Louisiana Tech

Defensive Player of the Year: Daniel Batcho, Louisiana Tech

Newcomer of the Year: Devon Barnes, UTEP

Freshman of the Year: Adrian Wooley, Kennesaw State

Coach of the Year: Talvin Hester, Louisiana Tech

CUSA Basketball Preview: Projected All-Conference First Team

Devon Barnes, UTEP

Dom McHenry, Western Kentucky

Lamar Wilkerson, Sam Houston State

Zach Cleveland, Liberty

Daniel Batcho, Louisiana Tech

FIU Panthers

Projected Starters:

PG: Asim Jones (17.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.8 apg @ JUCO Southern Idaho)

SG: Dashon Gittens (9.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.3 apg)

SF: Jaidon Lipscomb (6.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.5 apg)

PF: Jayden Brewer (8.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.8 apg)

C: Jonathan Aybar (7.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.3 apg)

6M: George Pridgett, Jr. (3.7 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.4 apg)

Jacksonville State Gamecocks

Projected Starters:

PG: Marcus Fitzgerald, Jr. (9.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.4 apg @ Tennessee State)

SG: Jao Ituka (3.0 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.8 apg @ Wake Forest) 2022-2023 Stats

SF: Jaron Pierre, Jr. (10.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.2 apg @ Wichita State) 2022-2023 Stats

PF: Marcellus Brigham, Jr. (7.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.0 apg)

C: Mason Nicholson (6.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.2 apg)

6M: Michael Houge (8.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.0 apg @ Saint Peter’s)

Kennesaw State Owls

Projected Starters:

PG: RJ Johnson (6.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.8 apg)

SG: Simeon Cottle (15.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.5 apg)

SF: Ricardo Wright (6.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.8 apg @ SMU)

PF: Frankquon Sherman (5.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.3 apg)

C: Andre Weir (6.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.3 apg @ FGCU)

6M: Rongie Gordon (4.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 0.9 apg)

Liberty Flames

Projected Starters:

PG: Colin Porter (7.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.9 apg)

SG: Kaden Metheny (13.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.7 apg)

SF: Jayvon Maughmer (20.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.0 apg @ D2 Cedarville)

PF: Zach Cleveland (11.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.0 apg)

C: Isaiah Inhen (3.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.4 apg @ Minnesota)

6M: Josh Smith (8.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.8 apg @ Stetson)

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

Projected Starters:

PG: Sean Newman, Jr. (7.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 5.2 apg)

SG: Amaree Abram (3.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.1 apg @ Georgia Tech)

SF: Kaden Cooper (1.5 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.0 apg @ Oklahoma)

PF: Devin Ree (5.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.3 apg)

C: Daniel Batcho (15.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 0.4 apg)

6M: William Jeffress (1.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.2 apg @ Pittsburgh)

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

Projected Starters:

PG: Camryn Weston (11.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.5 apg) 2 Games

SG: Jestin Porter (13.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.8 apg)

SF: Alec Oglesby (10.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.2 apg @ Stetson)

PF: Kamari Lands (4.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.8 apg @ Arizona State)

C: Essam Mostafa (2.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.4 apg @ TCU)

6M: Justin Bufford (7.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.3 apg)

New Mexico State Aggies

Projected Starters:

PG: Zawdie Jackson (22.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.5 apg @ D2 West Georgia)

SG: Dionte Bostick (15.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.7 apg @ Cal State Northridge)

SF: Christian Cook (11.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.1 apg)

PF: Peter Filipovity (14.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 0.9 apg @ Maine)

C: Emmanuel Tshimanga (4.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 0.3 apg @ UC San Diego)

6M: Carl Cherenfant (0.6 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.2 apg @ Memphis)

Sam Houston State Bearkats

Projected Starters:

PG: Marcus Boykin (7.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.5 apg)

SG: Damon Nicholas, Jr. (8.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.1 apg)

SF: Lamar Wilkerson (13.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.4 apg)

PF: Cameron Huefner (7.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.6 apg)

C: Kalifa Sakho (2.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.2 apg @ Utah State)

6M: Dorian Finister (2.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.9 apg @ Kansas State)

UTEP Miners

Projected Starters:

PG: Devon Barnes (13.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.2 apg @ Tarleton State)

SG: Ahamad Bynum (18.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.1 apg @ JUCO Trinity Valley CC)

SF: Corey Camper, Jr. (8.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.3 apg)

PF: Otis Frazier III (10.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.8 apg)

C: Kevin Kalu (3.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.1 apg)

6M: David Terrell, Jr. (5.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.8 apg)

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Projected Starters:

PG: Braxton Bayless (11.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.5 apg @ Niagara)

SG: Don McHenry (15.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.4 apg)

SF: Khristian Lander (9.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.0 apg)

PF: Tyrone Marshall, Jr. (8.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.2 apg)

C: Babacar Faye (7.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.8 apg)

6M: Enoch Kalambay (6.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.2 apg)

Coming Next

Thank you for reading the 2024-25 CUSA Basketball Preview. To view the conference preview release schedule, keep up to date with us on X @collegehoopsrpt. If you haven’t already, feel free to check out one of our other conference previews linked below! Next up is the Horizon League. Thank you for reading, and we appreciate all the support!

• America East Conference Preview
• American Athletic Conference Preview
• ACC Conference Preview
• ASUN Conference Preview
• A10 Conference Preview
• Big East Conference Preview
• Big Sky Conference Preview
• Big South Conference Preview
• Big Ten Conference Preview
• Big 12 Conference Preview
• Big West Conference Preview
• CAA Conference Preview

Cover Image: Photo Credit: Conference USA (CUSA)