2024-25 Austin College Men's Basketball Season Preview

The Austin College men's basketball team heads into the 2024-25 campaign looking to build on its 12-13 record from a year ago, a season in which the 'Roos went 7-9 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play including a pair of victories over last season's SCAC Tournament champion Centenary College.

The 'Roos will be forced to replace All-Conference wing Tristan Dick, who paced the 'Roos with 13.3 points and 6.1 rebounds-per-game last season, but junior wing Kidus Getenet returns after coming in just behind Dick in the scoring department. Last season was a breakout year for Getenet, who finished the season averaging 13.1 points-per-game while adding 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists-per-game. Jackson Rennie also returns as one of the top sharpshooters in the SCAC, with the senior guard heading into his final year in Sherman with 147 three point makes in his career and a career scoring average of 9.8 points-per-game.

Like Getenet, junior forward Ethan Pearce enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign on his way to earning All-SCAC honors. Pearce finished the season averaging 6.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks-per-game. He'll be joined in the frontcourt by fellow junior Jordan Hudgins, who tied for the team lead with 2.4 assists-per-game a year ago and added 5.2 rebounds and 4.9 points-per-game. Helping to bolster the paint is senior post Ocie Berry, who chipped in 2.4 points and 2.6 rebounds off the bench last year and figures to have a larger role in his final season in Sherman.

The 'Roos will be looking to multiple sophomores to make big contributions this season, with guards Price Bradley and Jamien June both returning after a year in which they averaged 4.3 and 3.9 points-per-game, respectively. Bradley added 2.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists, and June had a season high of 14 points on the road at Trinity. They'll be helped in the backcourt by Kaleb Bennett, who enters his senior season looking to make an impact defensively and with his rebounding from the perimeter, while other frontcourt returners who head coach Rodney Wecker is hoping will rise to larger roles this season include junior Jacob Jackson and sophomore Fred Nnyina. 

Wecker will also be looking to his incoming crop of freshmen to make an immediate impact, including 6-foot-6 forwards Gabe Markhart and Blake Kilian, as well as 6-foot-5 forwards Duncan Pearce and Tyler Cross, along with 6-foot-7 forward Sammy Laeky. Guards Wesley Westbrooks and Aiden Schnurr round out the talented group of first-year players, and each will have an opportunity to make a splash early.

Austin College opens the season on Friday, November 8 when they play host to East Texas Baptist at 7:00 p.m. in Hughey Gym.