Reggie Theus overhauls Bethune-Cookman basketball roster

Courtesy of Bethune-Cookman Athletics

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Under the direction of Head Coach Reggie Theus, Bethune-Cookman Men’s Basketball announced a significant roster overhaul for the fast-approaching 2024-25 season, announcing a total of 11 new players while retaining four contributors from last year’s squad that qualified for the 2024 Ro College Basketball Invitational (CBI) in Daytona Beach, Florida. It marked the second postseason berth for the Wildcats in program history, and the first since 2011, when B-CU participated in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

Head Coach Reggie Theus, who also serves as the university’s athletics director, has assembled a diverse group of talent, blending together experienced transfers who look to bolster the Wildcats’ lineup.

Theus expressed optimism about the team’s potential for the upcoming year, hoping to stem from last year’s success both in and out of the conference.

“We’ve brought in a mix of experience and young talent that we believe will elevate our program,” commented Theus. “Our program has improved with each year that I have been on campus, but our goal remains the same – to build on last season’s success and compete for the SWAC championship. And I believe this crop of young men will bring exactly what we need in order to try and do just that – win a SWAC title.”

The new signings include the following:

• Brayon Freeman, a 6-foot-2 guard from Washington D.C., transfers from Coastal Carolina. The three-level scorer averaged 7.0 points this past season after stints at Rhode Island (14.3 PPG in 22-23) and George Washington (10.3 PPG in 21-22).

• Gianni Hunt, a 6-foot-4 graduate student transferring in from CSUN, is a versatile point guard that started 21 games last season for the Matadors, averaging 10.2 points per game, 4.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists across the campaign. The leader on the floor brings real Division I experience to B-CU, led by a solid foundation defensively.

• Trey Thomas, a 6-foot-2 guard from Washington, D.C., transfers from Hampton University (6.6 points per game in 23-24), bringing a scoring threat with experience, leadership, and a hyper-competitive spirit to the backcourt.

• Antwann Jones, a 6-foot-6 athletic scoring wing originally from Orlando, brings Power Five experience after playing at UCF this past season (4.3 points per game) along with Memphis, Creighton, and Louisiana, respectively. Jones is a matchup nightmare who has the ability to play multiple positions on either side of the ball.

• Kalil Camara, a 6-foot-7 forward transferring in from West Virginia State, arrives as a graduate student with size out of the Bronx, New York. In addition to his length, Camara shot 46.1 percent from beyond the arc this past season.

• Jarrell Love, a 6-foot-7 athletic forward from Fort Worth, Texas, transfers from Baton Rouge CC where showcased his versatility with 10.8 points per game and 5.3 rebounds at the JUCO level.

• William Gonzalez, a 6-foot-5 small forward from Chicago, brings great upside with his shooting as he arrives as a freshman from Curie High where he turned in double-digits scoring average as a senior.

• Jesus Carralero-Martin, a 6-foot-7 Spanish forward, joins after stints at Campbell (10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 22-23) and most recently Missouri. The point forward brings an understanding of the game with the ability to contribute in a number of ways with his scoring, passing, and basketball IQ.

• Daniel Rouzan, a 6-foot-8 junior forward from Las Vegas, is a back to the basket and face-up threat that arrives to Daytona Beach from Manhattan College, where he played and started in 27 games a season ago averaging 11.4 points per game with 4.6 rebounds while shooting 52.7 percent from the field. His ability to contribute from multiple positions adds another level of versatility to the floor for B-CU .

• Jerome Beya, a 6-foot-9 five-man from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, transferring in from Tennessee Tech, brings international experience and shot-blocking ability to the frontcourt. The hyper-athletic Beya also adds a talented lob threat to the Wildcats arsenal .

• David Onanina, a 6-foot-8 center from Yaoundé, Cameroon, is transferring into Bethune-Cookman from Eastern Kentucky after two seasons with the program, adding height and rebounding ability on the inside. The strong, athletic Onanina also brings an excellent touch around the rim for a big man.

Bethune-Cookman basketball also returns senior guard Reggie Ward Jr. , after the Chicago native amassed 9.6 points per game last year, arriving from Riverside CC. It will be a reunion, of sorts, with incoming freshman Gonzalez from their days at Curie High. Seneca Willoughby , a rising junior from Philadelphia, also returns to the Wildcats backcourt, along with Simeon Womack . Mason Dorsey also returns for the Maroon and Gold, as the 6-foot-5 guard from Los Angeles saw limited time as a true freshman in 2023-24.

Reggie Theus and Wildcat basketball aim to improve upon their performance from the previous season, where they secured a spot in the semifinals of the SWAC Tournament for the first time in school history.

“We entered the offseason tasked with essentially retooling our entire roster,” Reggie Theus said. “Our staff has worked incredibly hard to address a number of different areas this summer, and I think we have been able to bring in what we need in these key areas. The opportunity to coach this team with the talent we’ve brought in, it’s exciting to think about, and I can’t wait to get out on the court with these guys.”

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