2024-25 Southland Basketball Preview

Conference Overview

Join us for our 2024-25 Southland Basketball Preview as we dive into a mid-major conference with two new teams and a powerhouse squad poised for a standout season. Last year, McNeese was a revelation under first-year coach Will Wade, winning 30 games and earning an NCAA Tournament bid. While they fell to Gonzaga in the first round, the loss has only fueled this team’s drive to repeat, and with a stellar offseason, they now boast one of the most talented rosters in Southland history.

McNeese brought in two Power 5 transfers, retained two key players from last season, added two mid-major standouts, and has built the conference’s deepest roster. Syracuse transfer Quadir Copeland is set to be the team’s star and a leading award candidate. Brandon Murray, with Power 5 starting experience at LSU, Georgetown, and most recently Ole Miss, also joins, along with Saint Louis transfer Sincere Parker and Louisiana transfer Joe Charles, both expected to be top contributors. Returning forward Christian Shumate and sharpshooter Jahvohn Garcia round out a team with potential to crack the top-25, go undefeated in conference play, or even make noise in the NCAA Tournament.

Stephen F. Austin reenters the Southland from the WAC and boasts three impactful transfers: UMass guard Keon Thompson, former top-100 recruit Chris Johnson from Texas, and UCF transfer Thierno Sylla, who bring high-level talent to challenge McNeese.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, last season’s runner-up, returns three double-digit scorers and adds a former Power 5 starter, Jaden Walker, and JUCO center Sheldon Williams, who averaged an impressive 23 points and 14 rebounds last season.

Nicholls features a starting lineup full of double-digit scorers from last season, including Gardner-Webb transfer Caleb Robinson, who will play a significant role. Incarnate Word strengthened its backcourt by adding All-Conference candidate Jadin Anderson and Davion Bailey from Ball State, though their frontcourt will need to step up to keep pace.

UTRGV joins from the WAC alongside Stephen F. Austin, bringing back key players Hasan Abdul-Hakim and JJ Howard. Lamar returns a frontcourt duo of double-digit scorers, BB Knight and Adam Hamilton, and has retooled its backcourt with a Division II transfer and JUCO standout Alexis Marmolejos.

Southeastern Louisiana’s roster features JUCO standout Thomas Tut alongside big man Brody Rowbury, with added pressure on their returning backcourt to fill bigger roles. Northwestern State’s roster includes an all-new starting lineup, led by former top-five JUCO prospect Addison Patterson, who redshirted last season due to injury.

Texas A&M-Commerce will rely on top JUCO recruit Scooter Williams Jr., while their returning backcourt must improve on limited efficiency from last year. New Orleans’ new backcourt of JUCO transfers will support forward Jalen White, a UAB transfer with Power 5 experience from Ole Miss. Finally, Houston Christian, facing a challenging season, adds former three-star recruit forward Ahjany Lee, expected to make a significant impact.

The big question remains in our 2024-25 Southland Basketball Preview: can any team dethrone McNeese State during the regular season, or perhaps deliver an upset in the conference tournament? The season promises intense competition, with several teams reloaded and determined to make the NCAA Tournament.

Southland Basketball Preview: Projected Standings

1. McNeese State
2. Stephen F. Austin
3. Texas A&M CC
4. Nicholls
5. Incarnate Word
6. UTRGV
7. Lamar
8. Southeastern Louisiana
9. Northwestern State
10. Texas A&M Commerce
11. New Orleans
12. Houston Christian

Southland Basketball Preview: Projected Award Winners

POY: Quadir Copeland, McNeese State

DPOY: Quadir Copeland, McNeese State

NOY: Quadir Copeland, McNeese State

FOY: Jayden Williams, Incarnate Word

COY: Will Wade, McNeese State

Southland Basketball Preview: Projected All-Conference First-Team

Keon Thompson, Stephen F. Austin

Jadin Anderson, Incarnate Word

Quadir Copeland, McNeese State

Brandon Murray, McNeese State

Christian Shumate, McNeese State

Houston Christian Huskies

Projected Starters:

PG: Bryson Dawkins (14.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.2 apg @ JUCO Itawamba)

SG: Julian Mackey (5.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.9 apg @ Georgia State)

SF: Demari Williams (2.2 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.2 apg @ Oral Roberts) 2022-2023 Stats

PF: Trent Johnson (2.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.6 apg @ Idaho State)

C: Ahjany Lee (4.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.7 apg @ St. Thomas)

6M: Ivan Reynolds (4.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.1 apg @ Jacksonville State)

Incarnate Word Cardinals

Projected Starters:

PG: Jalin Anderson (15.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.5 apg @ Ball State)

SG: Davion Bailey (12.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.5 apg @ Ball State)

SF: Mintautus Mockus (0.9 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.1 apg @ UCF)

PF: Jordan Pyke (13.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.2 apg @ D2 Union)

C: Shon Robinson (8.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.8 apg)

6M: Jayden Williams (FR)

Lamar Cardinals

Projected Starters:

PG: Danquez Dawsey (13.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 5.0 apg @ D2 Central Oklahoma)

SG: Alexis Marmolejos (22.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.3 apg @ JUCO Arizona Western)

SF: Cody Pennebaker (8.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.1 apg)

PF: BB Knight (10.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.8 apg)

C: Adam Hamilton (10.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.7 apg)

6M: Ja’Sean Jackson (7.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.4 apg)

McNeese State Cowboys

Projected Starters:

PG: Quadir Copeland (9.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.8 apg @ Syracuse)

SG: Sincere Parker (15.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.9 apg @ Saint Louis)

SF: Brandon Murray (4.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.4 apg @ Ole Miss)

PF: Christian Shumate (12.1 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 0.9 apg)

C: Joe Charles (11.3 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 1.1 apg @ Louisiana)

6M: Javohn Garcia (11.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.7 apg)

New Orleans Privateers

Projected Starters:

PG: JR Jacobs (8.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 7.2 apg @ JUCO Walters State)

SG: Dae Dae Hunter (14.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.4 apg @ JUCO Pearl River)

SF: Jamond Vincent (8.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.2 apg)

PF: James White (3.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.4 apg @ UAB)

C: Omarion Henry (3.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.6 apg)

6M: Jah Short (6.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.3 apg)

Nicholls Colonels

Projected Starters:

PG: Byron Ireland (11.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.2 apg)

SG: Robert Brown III (13.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.6 apg)

SF: Caleb Robinson (12.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.3 apg @ Gardner-Webb)

PF: Jamal West, Jr. (13.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.1 apg)

C: Brian Myles (11.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.2 apg @ Prairie View A&M)

6M: Trae English (10.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 3.6 apg @ McNeese State) 2022-2023 Stats

Northwestern State Demons

Projected Starters:

PG: Jon Sanders (7.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.6 apg @ Coastal Carolina)

SG: Micah Thomas (8.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.1 apg @ Nicholls)

SF: Dontae Walker (12.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.5 apg @ JUCO Chipola)

PF: Addison Patterson (19.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.5 apg @ JUCO Tallahassee)

C: Lado Laku (2.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.0 apg @ Arkansas State)

6M: Willie Williams (14.3 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.7 apg @ JUCO Kilgore)

Southeastern Louisiana Lions

Projected Starters:

PG: Carlos Paez (5.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.5 apg)

SG: Kam Burton (5.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.4 apg)

SF: Sam Himes, Jr. (4.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.8 apg @ USF)

PF: Thomas Tut (14.5 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.4 apg @ JUCO Garden City)

C: Brody Rowbury (8.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.7 apg)

6M: Jakevion Buckley (7.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.6 apg @ Lamar)

Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks

Projected Starters:

PG: Keon Thompson (9.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.0 apg @ UMass)

SG: Chris Johnson (1.1 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 0.4 apg @ Texas)

SF: Matt Hayman (9.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.4 apg)

PF: Thierno Sylla (4.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.3 apg @ UCF)

C: Nana Antwi-Boasiako (8.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.6 apg)

6M: Chrishawn Christmas (5.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.8 apg)

Texas A&M-Commerce Lions

Projected Starters:

PG: Evan Phelps (3.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.9 apg)

SG: Khaliq Abdul-Mateen (4.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.8 apg)

SF: Scooter Williams, Jr. (21.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 6.6 apg @ JUCO Chattanooga State)

PF: Tay Mosher (13.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.2 apg @ JUCO Otero)

C: Josh Taylor (7.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 0.7 apg @ ETSU) 2022-2023 Stats

6M: Demarco Bethea (13.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.2 apg @ JUCO Ranger)

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders

Projected Starters:

PG: Jaden Walker (5.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.1 apg @ Eastern Carolina)

SG: Jordan Roberts (9.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.6 apg)

SF: Dian Wright-Forde (10.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.6 apg)

PF: Garry Clark (13.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.0 apg)

C: Sheldon Williams (22.8 ppg, 14.0 rpg, 1.7 apg @ JUCO Coastal Alabama)

6M: Stephen Giwa (5.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.6 apg)

UTRGV Vaqueros

Projected Starters:

PG: Trey Miller (1.1 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 1.0 apg @ Southern Illinois)

SG: Cliff Davis (13.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.7 apg @ Northwestern State)

SF: J.J. Howard (10.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.0 apg)

PF: Hasan Abdul-Hakim (13.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.2 apg)

C: Kwo Agwa (8.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.6 apg @ Texas A&M Commerce)

6M: KT Raimey (6.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.2 apg @ DePaul)

Coming Next

Thank you for reading the 2024-25 Southland 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 Summit 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
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• Horizon Conference Preview
• Ivy Conference Preview
• MAAC Conference Preview
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• Missouri Valley Conference Preview
• Mountain West Conference
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Cover Image: Photo Credit: Southland Conference