2026-27 Southern Conference Preview: Furman Sets the Pace, Western Carolina Is the Sleeper

2026-10-22

Furman remains Mid-Major Hoops' pick to win the 2026–27 Southern Conference. ETSU is the closest challenger, Wofford stays third, and Western Carolina is our sleeper. The Catamounts sit fifth in MMH's forecast, three places above the coaches poll. The roster research strengthens the case for a crowded middle: several teams can put proven scorers on the floor, but the sources of that production range from major-conference benches to Division II and junior college.

Tennessee Tech's arrival expands the league to eleven teams and a 20-game double round robin. The distinction between a familiar name and a proven returning contributor matters. Cam Lowe is a new Wofford addition from Black Hills State. Marcus Kell moved from Western Carolina to Furman. VMI's Rickey Bradley Jr. is a prominent comeback candidate whose 2025–26 season produced no appearances because of injury.

MMH projected standings and supplied Torvik comparison

MMH's order and records are preserved from the existing preview. Coaches rankings come from the October 7 official preseason poll. Torvik figures below are the supplied October 22 screenshot transcription, retained as a dated model snapshot; they are not MMH predictions or a refreshed live model. AdjO/AdjD are the supplied adjusted efficiencies. No Blue Ribbon ranking was supplied.

| MMH | Team | MMH SoCon record | Coaches | Torvik SoCon | Torvik national | Torvik overall | Torvik SoCon record | AdjO | AdjD | |---:|---|---|---:|---:|---:|---|---|---:|---:| | 1 | Furman | 15-5 | 1 | 1 | 147 | 23-9 | 14-6 | 106.5 | 105.5 | | 2 | ETSU | 14-6 | 2 | 2 | 175 | 20-11 | 13-7 | 105.0 | 106.5 | | 3 | Wofford | 13-7 | 3 | 7 | 275 | 16-16 | 9-11 | 102.1 | 111.1 | | 4 | Samford | 12-8 | 4 | 6 | 233 | 18-14 | 11-9 | 104.4 | 110.4 | | 5 | Western Carolina | 11-9 | 8 | 3 | 176 | 19-12 | 13-7 | 107.0 | 108.6 | | 6 | Chattanooga | 11-9 | 5 | 8 | 284 | 16-16 | 9-11 | 102.8 | 112.4 | | 7 | Tennessee Tech | 10-10 | 6 | 4 | 228 | 17-15 | 11-9 | 105.1 | 110.9 | | 8 | Mercer | 10-10 | 7 | 5 | 229 | 16-16 | 11-9 | 102.9 | 108.6 | | 9 | VMI | 7-13 | 9 | 10 | 336 | 13-19 | 6-14 | 99.0 | 114.8 | | 10 | The Citadel | 4-16 | 10 | 11 | 348 | 11-21 | 6-14 | 98.6 | 115.8 | | 11 | UNC Greensboro | 3-17 | 11 | 9 | 327 | 11-21 | 7-13 | 98.7 | 113.2 |

The MMH records reconcile to 110 wins and 110 losses. Furman received ten first-place votes in the coaches poll; ETSU received the remaining first-place vote. The largest disagreements are in the middle: MMH places Wofford third against Torvik seventh, while Torvik has Western Carolina third against the coaches’ eighth. Those gaps identify questions for the season rather than errors to average away.

Reading the rotations

Each team below has ten individually researched players. Position and role labels are MMH projections, not official starting-lineup announcements. Statistical columns are actual 2025–26 results at the explicitly named school and level. N/A means unverified or inapplicable, never an invented zero. Recruiting entries identify the available provider and ranking scope. Injury, redshirt, source-conflict and eligibility details appear in the linked individual records. The full machine-readable data are in data/socon-rotations-2026-27.json.

1. Furman

MMH forecast: 15-5. Coaches: 1. Supplied Torvik: 1 in the SoCon, No. 147 nationally.

Charles Johnston gives the favorite an established interior reference point: 9.8 points and 9.0 rebounds in 35 games. Marcus Kell arrives from Western Carolina after averaging 13.6 points, adding a league-tested scoring forward alongside him. Johnston's projected place is contingent on continuing eligibility; the court-related status is covered in the individual notes.

The perimeter has more choices than a simple returning-starters count suggests. Boston College transfer Luka Toews supplies organizing experience, Army transfer Jaxson Bell brings 12.2-point production, and Abijah Franklin and Cole Bowser return. Bell is a credible starter option even though the table leaves room for Bowser's rebounding. Jordan Butler supplies another frontcourt body, while Jerrin Samuel and Cameron Elwer bring strong high-school scoring records rather than college production. The title case rests on fitting those additions around the Johnston–Kell pairing without losing perimeter balance.

Projected ten-player rotation

| Player | Projected position / role | Previous school / verified path | 2025–26 team and level | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | HS recruiting | |---|---|---|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---| | Luka Toews | PG; lead organizer | Boston College → Furman | Boston College; NCAA D-I | 29 | 21.4 | 6.3 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 3 stars — 247Sports and On3 (Boston College bio) | | Abijah Franklin | G; attacking guard | Wren HS (SC); Furman returner | Furman; NCAA D-I | 24 | 11.2 | 4.4 | 1.8 | 0.9 | No. 3 South Carolina, class of 2025 — Prep Hoops | | Cole Bowser | G/W; rebounding wing | DeMatha Catholic HS (MD); Furman returner | Furman; NCAA D-I | 20 | 22.5 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 0.6 | N/A | | Marcus Kell | F; primary scoring forward | Western Carolina → Furman | Western Carolina; NCAA D-I | 31 | 29.3 | 13.6 | 4.8 | 0.9 | N/A | | Charles Johnston | C; rebounding and interior hub | Cal State Monterey Bay → Furman | Furman; NCAA D-I | 35 | 28.2 | 9.8 | 9.0 | 1.7 | N/A | | Jaxson Bell | W; scoring reserve and starter option | Army → Furman | Army; NCAA D-I | 30 | 25.3 | 12.2 | 5.0 | 1.5 | N/A | | Jordan Butler | F/C; frontcourt size | Missouri → South Carolina → Furman | South Carolina; NCAA D-I | 25 | 8.8 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 4 stars — On3, class of 2023 | | Jerrin Samuel | W; freshman scoring option | Winder-Barrow HS (GA) → Furman | Winder-Barrow HS; High school | N/A | N/A | 27.3 | 12.4 | 2.6 | No. 5 Georgia, class of 2026 — Prep Hoops (Furman bio) | | Collin O'Neal | G; reserve perimeter minutes | Montgomery Bell Academy (TN); Furman returner | Furman; NCAA D-I | 17 | 10.5 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 3 stars — 247Sports and Rivals, as reported by Mid-Major Madness in 2025 | | Cameron Elwer | G; freshman shooting option | Delphos St. John's HS (OH) → Furman | Delphos St. John's HS; High school | N/A | N/A | 28.6 | 6.5 | 4.6 | No. 190 nationally, class of 2026 — Prep Hoops profile |

2. ETSU

MMH forecast: 14-6. Coaches: 2. Supplied Torvik: 2 in the SoCon, No. 175 nationally.

BJ Ward's 3.7 assists per game at Southeast Missouri State make him a logical organizing piece. Jayden Cooper averaged 11.3 points at South Alabama, while Tyran Mason arrives through North Texas and UT Arlington. That group gives ETSU multiple experienced perimeter options without requiring every newcomer to carry the same job.

The frontcourt is the more delicate part of the projection. Brayden Crump appeared in only eleven games last season; Wingate transfer Kendall Campbell and Wake Forest addition Marqus Marion must help cover the interior. Trevor Hennig adds another scoring guard, and returning Maki Johnson gives the rotation continuity. Jordan McCullum is excluded from the ten-player projection following reporting of a serious preseason knee injury. MMH keeps ETSU second, but the availability and balance of its frontcourt will shape whether that forecast is conservative or optimistic.

Projected ten-player rotation

| Player | Projected position / role | Previous school / verified path | 2025–26 team and level | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | HS recruiting | |---|---|---|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---| | BJ Ward | PG; lead ball handler | Southeast Missouri State → ETSU | Southeast Missouri State; NCAA D-I | 33 | 30.2 | 10.9 | 2.1 | 3.7 | No. 7 Missouri, class of 2023 — Prep Hoops, reported at 2022 commitment | | Jayden Cooper | G; perimeter scorer | Faulkner → South Alabama → ETSU | South Alabama; NCAA D-I | 33 | 30.0 | 11.3 | 2.6 | 1.0 | N/A | | Tyran Mason | G/W; secondary scorer | North Texas → UT Arlington → ETSU | UT Arlington; NCAA D-I | 32 | N/A | 6.5 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 3 stars — 247Sports (UT Arlington bio) | | Brayden Crump | F; complementary frontcourt scorer | Elon → ETSU | ETSU; NCAA D-I | 11 | 15.6 | 6.4 | 3.1 | 0.5 | N/A | | Kendall Campbell | F/C; interior minutes | Elon → Wingate → ETSU | Wingate; NCAA D-II | 29 | 26.2 | 12.0 | 4.7 | 0.8 | N/A | | Maki Johnson | G; perimeter reserve | Huntington Prep (WV); ETSU returner | ETSU; NCAA D-I | 34 | 22.6 | 5.7 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 3 stars — 247Sports/Rivals (ETSU bio); 247Sports Composite No. 34 SG / No. 1 West Virginia | | Marqus Marion | F; versatile frontcourt reserve | Wake Forest → ETSU; precollege BMS Herlev (Denmark) | Wake Forest; NCAA D-I | 20 | 12.1 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 3 stars — 247Sports; 4 stars — On3 (international precollege prospect, ETSU bio) | | Trevor Hennig | G; scoring and secondary handling | Weber State → ETSU | Weber State; NCAA D-I | 26 | N/A | 10.0 | 2.8 | 1.2 | No. 4 Washington, class of 2024 — Prep Hoops | | DeCarl Payne | G; reserve ball handler | John A. Logan College → ETSU | John A. Logan College; Junior college | 29 | N/A | 10.6 | 2.2 | 2.0 | N/A | | Elton Smith | F/C; developmental interior reserve | Dynamic Prep / OTE FaZe → ETSU | Dynamic Prep / OTE FaZe; Prep / OTE | 18 | 13.8 | 5.1 | 4.0 | 1.1 | N/A |

3. Wofford

MMH forecast: 13-7. Coaches: 3. Supplied Torvik: 7 in the SoCon, No. 275 nationally.

Chace Watley's 9.7 points in 32 games provide a returning perimeter base. Cam Lowe is an incoming scorer, not a returning Wofford guard: he averaged 17.0 points and 6.4 rebounds at Division II Black Hills State. Jacob Daniels arrives from Lander with 5.6 assists per game, giving the projected lineup a playmaker to connect its scoring options.

The interior can draw on returning Brian Sumpter and UVA Wise addition Evan Ramsey. Luke Flynn offers experienced guard minutes; Chris Arias adds another perimeter option. Wofford's third-place MMH position requires the Division II newcomers to translate their production quickly. That is the central reason to separate its attractive raw scoring totals from a guaranteed offensive ceiling. Torvik's seventh-place league ranking makes the Terriers one of the clearest tests of MMH's personnel-based optimism.

Projected ten-player rotation

| Player | Projected position / role | Previous school / verified path | 2025–26 team and level | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | HS recruiting | |---|---|---|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---| | Jacob Daniels | PG; playmaker | Lander → Wofford | Lander; NCAA D-II | 36 | 31.9 | 13.6 | 3.3 | 5.6 | N/A | | Chace Watley | G; returning perimeter scorer | Wofford returner; no prior college | Wofford; NCAA D-I | 32 | 24.8 | 9.7 | 3.3 | 1.3 | N/A | | Cam Lowe | W; featured scoring addition | Colorado State → Black Hills State → Wofford | Black Hills State; NCAA D-II | 35 | 32.2 | 17.0 | 6.4 | 2.7 | N/A | | Brian Sumpter | F; interior finisher | W.J. Keenan HS (SC); Wofford returner | Wofford; NCAA D-I | 31 | 22.7 | 6.6 | 4.9 | 0.8 | N/A | | Evan Ramsey | C; interior scoring and rebounding | UVA Wise → Wofford | UVA Wise; NCAA D-II | 31 | 25.2 | 14.1 | 7.8 | 1.2 | N/A | | Luke Flynn | G; experienced perimeter reserve | Wofford returner; no prior college | Wofford; NCAA D-I | 21 | 26.0 | 5.7 | 3.9 | 1.2 | N/A | | Chris Arias | G/W; shooting reserve | Jacksonville → Wofford | Jacksonville; NCAA D-I | 30 | N/A | 7.3 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 247Sports rating 87 (Rivals comparison profile); not converted to a star rating | | Cutter Sisk | F/C; freshman size | Beech HS (TN) → Wofford | Beech HS; High school | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 3 stars — Prep Hoops profile description, class of 2026 | | Jyi Dawkins | G/W; freshman scoring reserve | Ben L. Smith HS (NC) → Wofford | Ben L. Smith HS; High school | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | | Cannon Richards | F; reserve frontcourt minutes | Wofford returner; no prior college | Wofford; NCAA D-I | 2 | 7.5 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | N/A |

4. Samford

MMH forecast: 12-8. Coaches: 4. Supplied Torvik: 6 in the SoCon, No. 233 nationally.

Cooper Noard's 18.2-point Cornell season changes the scoring possibilities. He joins a returning group that includes Cade Norris and Isaiah Campbell-Finch, while Montevallo transfer Brandon Fussell brings 17.3 points and 5.4 assists from Division II. Fussell is a real lead-guard candidate, and a smaller lineup could elevate him from the table's rotation position.

Win Miller, Ty Davis and Najimi George give Samford several perimeter combinations. The frontcourt depends on more modest recent production: Will Shaver averaged 2.7 points in 9.9 minutes, and Braeden Macvicar logged 7.3 minutes per game at Coastal Carolina. That contrast defines the fourth-place pick. There are enough guard options to imagine a strong offense, but interior minutes and Noard's continuing eligibility remain meaningful conditions on the forecast.

Projected ten-player rotation

| Player | Projected position / role | Previous school / verified path | 2025–26 team and level | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | HS recruiting | |---|---|---|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---| | Isaiah Campbell-Finch | G; driving and secondary handling | Tampa Catholic HS (FL); Samford returner | Samford; NCAA D-I | 29 | 23.4 | 7.4 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 3 stars — Rivals and ESPN (Samford bio) | | Cooper Noard | G; featured scorer | Cornell → Samford | Cornell; NCAA D-I | 28 | 27.5 | 18.2 | 3.3 | 2.0 | N/A | | Cade Norris | G/W; connecting wing | Illinois State → Samford | Samford; NCAA D-I | 32 | 30.5 | 8.9 | 4.6 | 2.1 | N/A | | Braeden Macvicar | F/C; frontcourt rotation | Coastal Carolina → Samford | Coastal Carolina; NCAA D-I | 24 | 7.3 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 0.1 | N/A | | Will Shaver | C; interior rotation | North Carolina → UAB → Samford | Samford; NCAA D-I | 30 | 9.9 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 3 stars — 247Sports (Samford bio) | | Win Miller | G; perimeter reserve | Belmont → Samford | Belmont; NCAA D-I | 27 | 8.7 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 0.6 | No. 4 Alabama — Prep Hoops (Belmont bio) | | Ty Davis | PG; ball-handling reserve | Creighton → Samford | Creighton; NCAA D-I | 33 | 11.2 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 3 stars — On3, class of 2024 | | Najimi George | W; scoring rotation | New Haven → Samford | New Haven; NCAA D-I | 30 | 33.7 | 11.2 | 3.6 | 1.6 | N/A | | Brandon Fussell | PG; lead-guard and starter option | Montevallo → Samford | Montevallo; NCAA D-II | 31 | 35.5 | 17.3 | 3.4 | 5.4 | N/A | | Lawson Lee | C; freshman frontcourt reserve | Battle Ground Academy (TN) → Samford | Battle Ground Academy; High school | N/A | N/A | 18.0 | 10.0 | N/A | N/A |

5. Western Carolina

MMH forecast: 11-9. Coaches: 8. Supplied Torvik: 3 in the SoCon, No. 176 nationally.

The sleeper case begins with a new backcourt and an established rebounder. Malachi Brown averaged 12.3 points and 3.0 assists in Georgia State's final overall table. Travelle Bryson arrives from Howard, Jaxon Prunty from Charleston and Isaiah Manning from Sam Houston. Manning's 10.7-point season came in only sixteen appearances, so his scoring average should be read alongside that smaller sample.

Samuel Dada is the returning interior anchor after averaging 7.6 rebounds in 20.3 minutes. Jaeden Roberts offers another guard option, Donovan Raymond brings reserve size, and Tayeshaun Smith supplies returning frontcourt depth. Freshmen Antonio McKoy and Fola Sodipo add upside without a college statistical record. MMH's fifth-place forecast asks this collection to develop into a balanced rotation; the supplied Torvik third-place ranking explains why an eighth-place coaches prediction should not close the discussion.

Projected ten-player rotation

| Player | Projected position / role | Previous school / verified path | 2025–26 team and level | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | HS recruiting | |---|---|---|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---| | Malachi Brown | PG; lead creator | Seton Hall → Georgia State → Western Carolina | Georgia State; NCAA D-I | 32 | 31.2 | 12.3 | 3.8 | 3.0 | N/A | | Travelle Bryson | G/W; perimeter scoring | Howard → Western Carolina | Howard; NCAA D-I | 32 | N/A | 8.5 | 3.3 | 0.9 | N/A | | Jaxon Prunty | W; complementary perimeter minutes | Charleston → Western Carolina | Charleston; NCAA D-I | 32 | 16.3 | 3.8 | 2.0 | 0.9 | N/A | | Isaiah Manning | F; featured frontcourt scorer | TCU → Sam Houston → Western Carolina | Sam Houston; NCAA D-I | 16 | 19.9 | 10.7 | 3.9 | 1.3 | No. 87 nationally, class of 2023 — 247Sports (Western Carolina bio) | | Samuel Dada | C; rebounding anchor | North Kansas City HS / Link Academy (MO); Western Carolina returner | Western Carolina; NCAA D-I | 31 | 20.3 | 6.6 | 7.6 | 0.7 | N/A | | Jaeden Roberts | G; reserve creation | Hofstra → Western Carolina | Hofstra; NCAA D-I | 23 | 8.5 | 4.1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | N/A | | Antonio McKoy | G/W; freshman scoring option | Harrells Christian Academy (NC) → Western Carolina | Harrells Christian Academy; High school | N/A | N/A | 28.4 | N/A | N/A | N/A | | Donovan Raymond | C; reserve size | Hampton → Old Dominion → Western Carolina | Old Dominion; NCAA D-I | 31 | 6.5 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 3 stars — ESPN; No. 20 North Carolina (Western Carolina bio) | | Tayeshaun Smith | F; returning rotation depth | 1 of 1 Academy / Combine Academy (NC); Western Carolina returner | Western Carolina; NCAA D-I | 30 | 9.8 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.2 | N/A | | Fola Sodipo | F; freshman frontcourt reserve | Tompkins HS (TX) → Western Carolina | Tompkins HS; High school | N/A | N/A | 18.3 | 8.2 | 2.4 | N/A |

6. Chattanooga

MMH forecast: 11-9. Coaches: 5. Supplied Torvik: 8 in the SoCon, No. 284 nationally.

Tate Darner's 9.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in thirty games give Chattanooga a returning player to build around. The newcomers could change the attack: Matt Hampton averaged 16.9 points and 5.3 assists at Three Rivers, Tre Powell brings Division II scoring from Goldey-Beacom, and Anthony Swift averaged 12.9 points and 6.9 rebounds at Nebraska Kearney.

Yonatan Levy adds size and passing from Pepperdine. Kobe McDowell-White's official biography describes an impressive sixteen-game NBL1 snapshot, but those international numbers are not a complete NCAA season and should not be treated as one. Sean Cusano's six-game season and Zach Bleshoy's redshirt make health part of the depth discussion. MMH places the Mocs sixth: there are several ways to assemble a productive lineup, with considerable translation and availability questions behind it.

Projected ten-player rotation

| Player | Projected position / role | Previous school / verified path | 2025–26 team and level | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | HS recruiting | |---|---|---|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---| | Matt Hampton | PG; lead creator | Three Rivers College → Chattanooga | Three Rivers College; Junior college | N/A | N/A | 16.9 | 5.5 | 5.3 | N/A | | Tre Powell | G/W; scoring addition | Goldey-Beacom → Chattanooga | Goldey-Beacom; NCAA D-II | 32 | 30.0 | 19.4 | 3.4 | 3.5 | N/A | | Tate Darner | G/W; returning scoring hub | Santa Fe HS (FL); Chattanooga returner | Chattanooga; NCAA D-I | 30 | 27.5 | 9.9 | 4.4 | 1.7 | N/A | | Anthony Swift | F; scoring and rebounding | Nebraska Kearney → Chattanooga | Nebraska Kearney; NCAA D-II | 28 | 23.7 | 12.9 | 6.9 | 1.0 | N/A | | Yonatan Levy | C; passing and interior size | Green Bay → Pepperdine → Chattanooga | Pepperdine; NCAA D-I | 32 | N/A | 5.2 | 4.2 | 1.7 | N/A | | Kobe McDowell-White | PG; international playmaking addition | Cairns Basketball (Australia) → Chattanooga | Cairns Basketball; International; NBL1 North | 16 | 32.0 | 15.2 | 6.4 | 8.5 | N/A | | Sean Cusano | F; returning frontcourt rotation | Chattanooga returner | Chattanooga; NCAA D-I | 6 | 13.8 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 1.0 | N/A | | Lenny Anigbata | F; developmental frontcourt reserve | Bayern Munich / Porsche BBA / MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg (Germany) → Chattanooga | MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg system; International | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | | Josh Bowman | F; reserve minutes | Bradley Central HS (TN); Chattanooga returner | Chattanooga; NCAA D-I | 23 | 12.1 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 0.9 | N/A | | Zach Bleshoy | G; redshirt perimeter option | Pope HS (GA); Chattanooga returner | Chattanooga; NCAA D-I | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 3 stars — 247Sports (Chattanooga bio) |

7. Tennessee Tech

MMH forecast: 10-10. Coaches: 6. Supplied Torvik: 4 in the SoCon, No. 228 nationally.

The league newcomer can lean on returning guard Ty Owens and incoming perimeter production from Davante Hackett and Trent Mosquera. Hackett averaged 13.6 points at Stonehill; Mosquera supplied 13.5 points and 5.8 rebounds at Le Moyne. Cbo Newton and Caleb Hollenbeck provide additional guard options rather than leaving all of the offense to one transfer.

Indianapolis addition Shaun Arnold brings 8.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game from Division II. De'Ante Green's injury rehabilitation makes his projected interior role conditional; conflicting appearance information is left unresolved rather than filled with an older season. Caleb Sanders, Dane Christensen and returning Mekhi Turner round out the frontcourt pool. MMH's seventh-place pick is more reserved than Torvik's fourth, reflecting the work needed to establish a reliable interior rotation.

Projected ten-player rotation

| Player | Projected position / role | Previous school / verified path | 2025–26 team and level | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | HS recruiting | |---|---|---|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---| | Ty Owens | PG; returning organizer | Polk State College → Tennessee Tech | Tennessee Tech; NCAA D-I | 31 | N/A | 6.8 | 2.7 | 3.7 | N/A | | Davante Hackett | G; perimeter scorer | Stonehill → Tennessee Tech | Stonehill; NCAA D-I | 33 | N/A | 13.6 | 4.1 | 1.5 | N/A | | Trent Mosquera | W; scoring and rebounding | Le Moyne → Tennessee Tech | Le Moyne; NCAA D-I | 32 | 31.8 | 13.5 | 5.8 | 2.3 | N/A | | Shaun Arnold | F; rebounding and connective passing | Indianapolis → Tennessee Tech | Indianapolis; NCAA D-II | 30 | 27.3 | 11.3 | 8.9 | 2.9 | N/A | | De'Ante Green | F/C; interior addition, health dependent | Florida State → South Florida → Tennessee Tech | South Florida; NCAA D-I | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 4 stars — 247Sports, class of 2022 | | Cbo Newton | G; scoring reserve | Abilene Christian → Tennessee Tech | Abilene Christian; NCAA D-I | 30 | 25.9 | 10.1 | 2.2 | 1.2 | N/A | | Caleb Hollenbeck | G; shooting rotation | Marshall → Tennessee Tech | Marshall; NCAA D-I | 32 | 17.3 | 5.7 | 1.6 | 1.0 | N/A | | Caleb Sanders | F; reserve frontcourt minutes | South Florida → Tennessee Tech | South Florida; NCAA D-I | 11 | 7.5 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 0.7 | N/A | | Dane Christensen | C; interior size | Gillette College → UT Rio Grande Valley → Tennessee Tech | UT Rio Grande Valley; NCAA D-I | 27 | 13.5 | 3.7 | N/A | 0.9 | N/A | | Mekhi Turner | F; returning frontcourt reserve | Kennesaw State → Tennessee Tech | Tennessee Tech; NCAA D-I | 25 | N/A | 4.1 | 2.7 | 0.4 | N/A |

8. Mercer

MMH forecast: 10-10. Coaches: 7. Supplied Torvik: 5 in the SoCon, No. 229 nationally.

Brady Shoulders averaged 6.8 rebounds while playing 30.7 minutes, giving Mercer a returning wing who can contribute beyond scoring. Quinton Perkins II also returns. Karon Boyd arrives after a 36-game Wichita State season, while KJ LaMonte brings junior-college experience from Indian Hills and Keelan Steele adds interior production from Maine.

The bench offers several distinct scoring possibilities: Shane Cherry from Tallahassee State, Dawson Barr from Embry-Riddle and guard Ryder Cate from Clarendon. Petras Padegimas is a comeback option after missing last season with injury, and Makoi Mabor Makoi supplies reserve size. The eighth-place MMH projection is below the supplied Torvik fifth-place position. To beat it, Mercer needs its varied incoming scoring to complement Shoulders' rebounding and give the backcourt a dependable distribution of responsibilities.

Projected ten-player rotation

| Player | Projected position / role | Previous school / verified path | 2025–26 team and level | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | HS recruiting | |---|---|---|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---| | KJ LaMonte | PG; lead organizer | New Mexico Highlands → Indian Hills CC → Mercer | Indian Hills CC; Junior college | 31 | N/A | 11.7 | 3.1 | 2.5 | N/A | | Quinton Perkins II | G; perimeter scorer | Indian Hills CC → Mercer | Mercer; NCAA D-I | 28 | 23.5 | 8.9 | 1.6 | 1.6 | N/A | | Brady Shoulders | G/W; rebounding and secondary creation | Lyon County HS (KY); Mercer returner | Mercer; NCAA D-I | 29 | 30.7 | 9.3 | 6.8 | 1.9 | N/A | | Karon Boyd | F; experienced frontcourt scorer | USC Aiken → ETSU → Wichita State → Mercer | Wichita State; NCAA D-I | 36 | 33.8 | 10.9 | 5.8 | 1.6 | N/A | | Keelan Steele | C; interior rotation | Maine → Mercer | Maine; NCAA D-I | 24 | 20.6 | 8.1 | 4.5 | 0.9 | N/A | | Shane Cherry | G; reserve scoring | Tallahassee State College → Mercer | Tallahassee State College; Junior college | 30 | N/A | 19.2 | N/A | N/A | 3 stars — 247Sports (Mercer bio) | | Dawson Barr | W; perimeter scoring option | Embry-Riddle → Mercer | Embry-Riddle; NCAA D-II | 27 | N/A | 13.4 | N/A | N/A | N/A | | Petras Padegimas | F; returning frontcourt option | Dayton → Mercer | Mercer; NCAA D-I | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | | Makoi Mabor Makoi | C; reserve size | UNC Wilmington → Mercer | UNC Wilmington; NCAA D-I | 33 | 8.7 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.2 | N/A | | Ryder Cate | G; reserve ball handler | Clarendon College → Mercer | Clarendon College; Junior college | 11 | 20.1 | 8.8 | 3.4 | 3.0 | N/A |

9. VMI

MMH forecast: 7-13. Coaches: 9. Supplied Torvik: 10 in the SoCon, No. 336 nationally.

TJ Johnson's 18.3 points and 7.2 rebounds in 31 appearances are among the strongest verified returning statistical lines in this audit. Rickey Bradley Jr. remains first in MMH's preserved Top 10 ordering, but that is a health-dependent comeback projection: he missed all of 2025–26. No previous-year scoring average is presented as last season's production.

AJ Clark and Cal Liston provide supporting experience, and Trap Johnson joins after UC San Diego and a Montana State redshirt year. Robert Peters also returns from a medical redshirt. Alexander Daushvili's five-game sample and the newcomers' limited verifiable recent statistics make depth harder to measure than the top names. VMI stays ninth in the standings forecast, with a route upward if Bradley returns effectively and the frontcourt can sustain a full season.

Projected ten-player rotation

| Player | Projected position / role | Previous school / verified path | 2025–26 team and level | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | HS recruiting | |---|---|---|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---| | Rickey Bradley Jr. | G; returning primary creator, injury comeback | VMI returner | VMI; NCAA D-I | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | | AJ Clark | G/W; rebounding and support scoring | VMI returner | VMI; NCAA D-I | 22 | 26.5 | 6.6 | 6.0 | 1.6 | N/A | | Trap Johnson | G/W; perimeter addition | Montana State → UC San Diego → VMI | UC San Diego; NCAA D-I | 25 | 9.0 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 3 stars — 247Sports; top 30 Texas, class of 2024 (VMI release) | | TJ Johnson | W/F; featured scorer and rebounder | VMI returner | VMI; NCAA D-I | 31 | 35.6 | 18.3 | 7.2 | 1.4 | N/A | | Robert Peters | F/C; injury-return frontcourt option | VMI returner | VMI; NCAA D-I | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | | Cal Liston | G/W; experienced rotation minutes | VMI returner | VMI; NCAA D-I | 32 | 23.2 | 5.3 | 3.2 | 1.0 | N/A | | Alexander Daushvili | F; frontcourt scoring option | VMI returner | VMI; NCAA D-I | 5 | 17.0 | 6.8 | 4.2 | 1.0 | N/A | | Paulius Narvilas | F; frontcourt newcomer | Western Wyoming CC → VMI | N/A; Unverified 2025-26 competition | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | | Joao Panzo | F; developmental frontcourt minutes | Hillcrest Prep (AZ) → VMI | Hillcrest Prep; Prep | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | | Cazell Henderson-Bradley | G; freshman perimeter option | PHH Phoenix Prep (AZ) → VMI | PHH Phoenix Prep; Prep | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Top 40 guards in Arizona — Prep Hoops (VMI release; position/state scope) |

10. The Citadel

MMH forecast: 4-16. Coaches: 10. Supplied Torvik: 11 in the SoCon, No. 348 nationally.

Marcos Gonzales and Keynan Davis return from relatively small roles, while Eddrin Bronson supplies experience from Furman. Tyler Mrus arrives after stops at Alaska Fairbanks, Idaho and BYU, and Joe Hurlburt brings size from Davidson following Colorado. Their previous affiliations alone do not establish a high-scoring college nucleus; the 2025–26 table shows the actual roles they played.

Chase Cormier adds another experienced guard after Northeastern, Wofford and Iona. Ramel Bethea, Cassius Bonjasky and freshman Yaw Ansong supply interior alternatives, with Colin McKenzie providing another ball handler. MMH's tenth-place prediction reflects the amount of role expansion required. The clearest path to improvement is converting the larger opportunity for these players into steadier creation and enough frontcourt production to support it.

Projected ten-player rotation

| Player | Projected position / role | Previous school / verified path | 2025–26 team and level | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | HS recruiting | |---|---|---|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---| | Marcos Gonzales | PG; returning organizer | The Citadel returner | The Citadel; NCAA D-I | 29 | 12.6 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 1.5 | N/A | | Eddrin Bronson | G; perimeter addition | Furman → The Citadel | Furman; NCAA D-I | 34 | 19.2 | 5.4 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 247Sports rating 84, class of 2023 (Rivals comparison profile); not converted to stars | | Keynan Davis | G/W; rotation scorer | The Citadel returner | The Citadel; NCAA D-I | 32 | 12.6 | 4.8 | 1.4 | 0.9 | N/A | | Tyler Mrus | W/F; scoring addition | Alaska Fairbanks → Idaho → BYU → The Citadel | BYU; NCAA D-I | 27 | 9.6 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | N/A | | Joe Hurlburt | C; rebounding and interior size | Colorado → Davidson → The Citadel | Davidson; NCAA D-I | 8 | 8.9 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 0.8 | No. 70 nationally / No. 11 C, class of 2022 — 247Sports as reported March 29, 2021; historical snapshot, not final ranking | | Chase Cormier | G; experienced shooting reserve | Northeastern → Wofford → Iona → The Citadel | Iona; NCAA D-I | 32 | N/A | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 3 stars — 247Sports; No. 11 Georgia, class of 2022 (Citadel bio) | | Ramel Bethea | F/C; reserve interior minutes | MiraCosta College → Green Bay → The Citadel | Green Bay; NCAA D-I | 30 | N/A | 3.6 | 2.6 | N/A | N/A | | Cassius Bonjasky | F; returning frontcourt depth | Garrett College → New Mexico Military Institute → The Citadel | The Citadel; NCAA D-I | 19 | 5.9 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 0.1 | N/A | | Yaw Ansong | C; freshman interior option | Union Catholic / Hargrave Military Academy → The Citadel | N/A; Prep; 2025-26 school statistics unverified | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | | Colin McKenzie | G; reserve ball handler | East Carolina → Spartanburg Methodist → South Carolina State → The Citadel | South Carolina State; NCAA D-I | 6 | N/A | 2.7 | 1.8 | 0.3 | N/A |

11. UNC Greensboro

MMH forecast: 3-17. Coaches: 11. Supplied Torvik: 9 in the SoCon, No. 327 nationally.

Dionte Neal's prolific Reidsville high-school season offers a reason to watch the backcourt immediately, but his 34.7 points and 8.1 assists are high-school statistics. West Texas A&M transfer Brock Mishak and Southeast Missouri State addition Braxton Stacker bring established college scoring at different levels. RJ Greer offers another perimeter option after Davidson.

Zavier Fitch brings rebounding from Wagner, while Ante Beljan, Cameron Grant, Jon Mani and Vernon Collins Jr. give the staff multiple frontcourt choices. Mani's 2025–26 Colorado redshirt is recorded as zero appearances, not repackaged Denver production. Chane Bynum is included as a returning developmental option. MMH preserves its eleventh-place forecast; a quicker-than-expected transition for Neal and a stable scoring partnership around him would be the most direct way to challenge it.

Projected ten-player rotation

| Player | Projected position / role | Previous school / verified path | 2025–26 team and level | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | HS recruiting | |---|---|---|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---| | Dionte Neal | PG; freshman lead-guard projection | Reidsville HS (NC) → UNC Greensboro | Reidsville HS; High school | N/A | N/A | 34.7 | 4.4 | 8.1 | 3 stars — 247Sports, class of 2026 | | Brock Mishak | G; experienced scoring addition | West Texas A&M → UNC Greensboro | West Texas A&M; NCAA D-II | 31 | 31.5 | 14.3 | 4.8 | 3.4 | N/A | | RJ Greer | G/W; perimeter scorer | Davidson → UNC Greensboro | Davidson; NCAA D-I | 17 | 6.6 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 3 stars — On3/Rivals, class of 2025 | | Zavier Fitch | F; rebounding and interior minutes | Wagner → UNC Greensboro | Wagner; NCAA D-I | 18 | N/A | 6.8 | 6.2 | 1.1 | N/A | | Ante Beljan | C; interior size | UIC → UNC Greensboro | UIC; NCAA D-I | 26 | 7.4 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | N/A | | Braxton Stacker | G/W; scoring reserve and starter option | Murray State → Southeast Missouri State → UNC Greensboro | Southeast Missouri State; NCAA D-I | 33 | 28.1 | 11.8 | 3.4 | 1.4 | N/A | | Cameron Grant | F; frontcourt reserve | Stanford → UNC Greensboro | Stanford; NCAA D-I | 20 | 10.4 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 0.4 | N/A | | Jon Mani | F; redshirt frontcourt addition | Denver → Colorado → UNC Greensboro | Colorado; NCAA D-I | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | | Vernon Collins Jr. | C; reserve interior minutes | Princeton → Western Carolina → UNC Greensboro | Western Carolina; NCAA D-I | 5 | N/A | 1.2 | 2.8 | 0.2 | N/A | | Chane Bynum | F; returning developmental reserve | UNC Greensboro returner | UNC Greensboro; NCAA D-I | 15 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.2 | No. 188 nationally, class of 2025 — Prep Hoops profile |

Sources and availability

Roster membership, transfer paths, recruiting details and statistical qualifications are documented in the 110-player research register. The official league poll supports the preseason comparison. Mid-Major Madness preseason reporting supplies context on McCullum’s knee injury and the court-related eligibility situations involving Johnston and Noard. All role, standings and upside judgments above are editorial projections.