2024-25 Horizon Basketball Preview

Conference Preview

Join us for our 2024-25 Horizon Basketball Preview, where we take a look at one of college basketball’s most offensive-minded conferences. Last year’s conference tournament champion, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, made a significant impact in March Madness by defeating #3 seeded Kentucky which gave rise to a March Madness legend in Jack Gohlke. The conference featured eight teams with winning records during conference play, though the bottom two teams only mustered three wins combined. This season, powerhouse programs return with star players and revamped rosters, while underdogs hope to defy expectations.

Milwaukee made it to the conference tournament final last season as the number six seed and just came up short. This season, they have added a powerhouse backcourt through the transfer portal, featuring Queens transfer AJ McKee and Louisiana transfer Themus Fulks, who are quickly establishing themselves as two of the best guards in the conference due to McKee’s electric shooting ability and Fulks’ dynamic playmaking.

Northern Kentucky follows closely behind, returning Player of the Year candidate Sam Vinson and adding two impactful Division II transfers to complement their returning players, positioning themselves at the top of the conference. In terms of retention, Purdue Fort Wayne excelled by bringing back all three members of their backcourt, each of whom scored more than 13 points per game last season, providing them with an instant scoring advantage. They also addressed their physicality weakness from last season by bringing in UTSA transfer Chandler Cuthrell.

Wright State was one of the most offensively efficient teams in all of college basketball but struggled defensively. This season, they bring back Player of the Year favorite Brandon Noel and capable scorer Alex Huibregtse. Coming off a successful season, Oakland has reloaded in the transfer portal after losing Gohlke to graduation and last year’s Horizon Player of the Year, Trey Townsend, to Arizona. Returner DQ Cole is likely to take on a leadership role and will be paired with international star Malcolm Christie, a prolific scorer.

After the top five, Youngstown State aims to break into that group, having overhauled almost their entire projected starting lineup through the transfer portal with players capable of scoring efficiently. Cleveland State will rely on a mix of transfers who either didn’t play much last season due to injury or competed at higher-level programs, along with returners seeking larger roles.

Robert Morris is another intriguing team, bringing in transfers from various levels, from high-major to low-major and Division II standouts, leading to a wide range of potential outcomes this season. Green Bay had an interesting offseason, bringing in a new coach with no prior coaching experience, alongside a Horizon League rarity: 4-star recruit Jeremiah Johnson, who is expected to contribute immediately. The cohesion of the team under a coach with no experience will be a storyline to watch this season.

Finally, the two teams that had dreadful seasons last year return at the bottom with low expectations but hope to prove doubters wrong. Detroit Mercy will return players who were injured last season, along with a group of transfers who found success at different levels. The key player is Alex Tchikou, a former starter at Rhode Island who previously played at Alabama but sat out last year. IU Indy is bringing in an entirely new starting core, featuring a projected starting five made up entirely of Division II transfers. The team’s success will hinge on their ability to transition to Division I, as many players lack Division I experience.

This season promises to deliver some of the most entertaining mid-major basketball, as showcased in our 2024-25 Horizon Basketball Preview, with the top five teams all having a chance to secure the conference tournament title. Anticipation is high for thrilling high-scoring matchups throughout the season.

Horizon Basketball Preview: Projected Standings

1. Milwaukee
2. Northern Kentucky
3. Purdue Fort-Wayne
4. Wright State
5. Oakland
6. Youngstown State
7. Cleveland State
8. Robert Morris
9. Green Bay
10. Detroit Mercy
11. IU Indy

Horizon Basketball Preview: Projected Award Winners

Player of the Year: Brandon Noel, Wright State

Defensive Player of the Year: Gabe Dynes, Youngstown State

Newcomer of the Year: AJ McKee, Milwaukee

Freshman of the Year: Jeremiah Johnson, Green Bay

Coach of the Year: Bart Lundy, Milwaukee

Horizon Basketball Preview: Projected All-Conference First Team

Themus Fulks, Milwaukee

Sam Vinson, Northern Kentucky

Jalen Jackson, Purdue Fort-Wayne

AJ McKee, Milwaukee

Brandon Noel, Wright State

Cleveland State Vikings

Projected Starters:

PG: Tahj Staveskie (10.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.5 apg @ Canisius) 2 Games

SG: Tevin Smith (8.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.0 apg)

SF: Ebrima Dibba (0.5 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.3 apg @ South Carolina)

PF: Isaac Abidde (3.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.3 apg @ Wichita State)

C: Dylan Arnett (5.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.1 apg)

6M: Chase Robinson (5.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.5 apg)

Detroit Mercy Titans

Projected Starters:

PG: Orlando Lovejoy (9.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.8 apg @ Eastern Michigan)

SG: Mak Manciel (5.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.9 apg)

SF: Ryan Hurst (12.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.2 apg)

PF: Legend Geeter (5.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.5 apg @ Eastern Michigan)

C: Alex Tchikou (4.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.3 apg @ Rhode Island) 2022-2023 Stats

6M: Emmanuel Kuac (4.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.8 apg)

Green Bay Phoenix

Projected Starters:

PG: Preston Ruedinger (8.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.2 apg)

SG: Jeremiah Johnson (FR)

SF: Foster Wonders (7.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.4 apg)

PF: Marcus Hall (6.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.3 apg)

C: Isaiah Miranda (2.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.0 apg @ Oklahoma State)

6M: Anthony Roy (18.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.5 apg @ NAIA Langston)

IU Indy Jaguars

Projected Starters:

PG: Alec Millender (15.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.2 apg @ D2 Wayne State)

SG: Jarvis Walker (13.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.1 apg @ D2 Indianapolis)

SF: Paul Zilinskas (12.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.4 apg @ D2 Indianapolis)

PF: Timaris Brown (15.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.6 apg @ D2 Rockhurst)

C: Julian Steinfeld (2.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.3 apg @ D2 Indianapolis)

6M: Briggs McClain (5.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.8 apg @ Manhattan)

Milwaukee Panthers

Projected Starters:

PG: Themus Fulks (10.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.4 apg @ Louisiana)

SG: AJ McKee (18.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.4 apg @ Queens)

SF: Erik Pratt (12.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.2 apg)

PF: Jamichael Stillwell (12.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 1.4 apg @ JUCO Butler CC)

C: Faizon Fields (9.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 0.8 apg)

6M: Kentrell Pullian (10.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.1 apg)

Northern Kentucky Norse

Projected Starters:

PG: Sam Vinson (13.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.2 apg)

SG: Dan Gherezgher, Jr. (15.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.3 apg @ D2 Michigan Tech)

SF: Trey Robinson (11.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.9 apg)

PF: LJ Wells (8.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.2 apg)

C: Keeyan Itejere (7.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.6 apg)

6M: Josh Dilling (18.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.3 apg @ D2 Northern State)

Oakland Golden Grizzlies

Projected Starters:

PG: DQ Cole (8.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.1 apg)

SG: Malcolm Christie (22.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.6 apg @ Dalhousie U (Canada))

SF: Jayson Woodrich (8.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.8 apg @ Cleveland State)

PF: Isaiah Jones (4.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.5 apg)

C: Allen Mukeba (7.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.7 apg @ Kansas City)

6M: Jaylen Jones (9.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.7 apg @ Tennessee State)

Purdue Fort Wayne Mastadons

Projected Starters:

PG: Rasheed Bello (14.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.3 apg)

SG: Quinton Morton-Robertson (13.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.3 apg)

SF: Jalen Jackson (15.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.5 apg)

PF: Chandler Cuthrell (4.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.5 apg @ UTSA)

C: Eric Mulder (6.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 0.4 apg)

6M: Corey Hadnot II (6.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.5 apg)

Robert Morris Colonials

Projected Starters:

PG: Kam Woods (1.2 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.2 apg @ NC State)

SG: Justice Williams (12.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.5 apg)

SF: Josh Omojafo (20.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.4 apg @ D2 Gannon)

PF: Alvaro Folgueiras (5.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.2 apg)

C: Ismael Plet (7.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.0 apg @ Arkansas Pine-Bluff)

6M: D.J. Smith (4.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.9 apg @ Bowling Green)

Wright State Raiders

Projected Starters:

PG: Keaton Norris (3.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.5 apg) 2022-2023 Stats

SG: Alex Huibregtse (12.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.3 apg)

SF: Andrew Welage (5.1 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.3 apg)

PF: Michael Imariagbe (11.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.0 apg @ Houston Christian)

C: Brandon Noel (14.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.6 apg)

6M: Drey Carter (4.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.6 apg)

Youngstown State Penguins

Projected Starters:

PG: Jason Nelson (4.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.7 apg @ VCU)

SG: Ty Harper (21.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.1 apg @ NAIA Master’s)

SF: Siem Uijtendaal (13.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.1 apg @ Canisius)

PF: Nico Galette (13.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.1 apg @ Sacred Heart)

C: Gabe Dynes (3.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.4 apg)

6M: EJ Farmer (7.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.9 apg)

Coming Next

Thank you for reading the 2024-25 Horizon 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 Ivy 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
• CUSA Conference Preview

Cover Image: Photo Credit: Horizon League