MTsU Basketball Roster: Who’s Who on the Team?

Get to know the players on the Middle Tennessee State University men’s basketball team with this helpful roster.

Introducing the team- a brief overview of the roster

The Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) men’s Basketball team is led by Head Coach Nick McDevitt. The team competes in Conference USA (CUSA) and plays its home games at the Murphy Center.

The Blue Raiders have had some success in recent years making the NCAA tournament in 2009 and 2017. In 2018, the team won the CUSA regular season title and made it to the semifinals of the CUSA Tournament.

This season, the team is looking to build on its success from last year. Here is a brief overview of who is on the team:

Guards:

-Jacob Coker: A junior from Nashville, Tennessee, Coker is a key player for the Blue Raiders He averaged 9.4 points per game last season and has been named to the Preseason All-Conference USA team

-Tyrik Dixon: A sophomore from Murfreesboro, Dixon is another important player for MTSU. He averaged 8.6 points per game last season and will look to build on that this year.

-Antwain Johnson: A junior transfer from Motlow State Community College Johnson will be looking to make an impact for MTSU this season.

Forwards:

-Jayvon Graves: A freshman from Toledo, Ohio, Graves is one of the top recruits in MTSU’s incoming class. He was named Ohio’s Mr. Basketball last year after averaging 24 points per game

-Toby Egbuna: A sophomore from London, England, Egbuna is a key player for the Blue Raiders frontcourt. He averaged 5.4 points and 4 rebounds per game last season.

-Reggie Scurry: A junior transfer from Motlow State Community College Scurry will also be looking to make an impact for MTSU this season.

The starting lineup who are the starting five?

The Starting Lineup

The starting lineup for the MTsU basketball team is:

1. shooting guard Cameron Wells
2. point guard Jaden Shackleford
3. small forward Willie McClendon
4. Power Forward Darius Johnson-Odom
5. center Luke Witte

Who are the starting five?

Cameron Wells is a shooting guard from Chicago, Illinois. He is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds. He attended High School at Simeon Career Academy where he was a four-year starter and helped lead his team to four consecutive State Championships He was named Mr. Basketball of Illinois in 2018 and was a McDonald’s All-American. He averaged 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists per game as a senior in high school He chose to attend MTsU over offers from Kansas, Duke, and Kentucky.

Jaden Shackleford is a point guard from Los Angeles California. He is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 185 pounds. He attended high school at Sierra Canyon School, where he was a four-year starter and helped lead his team to four consecutive state championships He was named Mr. Basketball of California in 2018 and was a McDonald’s All-American. He averaged 18 points, eight assists, and five rebounds per game as a senior in high school He chose to attend MTsU over offers from UCLA, USC, and Arizona.

Willie McClendon is a small forward from Atlanta, Georgia. He is 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 210 pounds. He attended high school at Wheeler high school where he was a three-year starter and helped lead his team to the state championship as a senior. He was named Mr. Basketball of Georgia in 2018 and was a McDonald’s All-American

The bench players who provides support from the bench?

The bench players are essential to the team, providing support and relief during the game. They are the players who come in when the starters need a break, and they provide a spark of energy to the team. The players on the bench are often called “role players” because they play a specific role on the team. Here is a list of the bench players for the MTsU men’s Basketball team

-Cameron Johnson: A 6’9″ forward who provides energy and defense off the bench.

-Daryl Edwards: A 6’3″ guard who is a good shooter and can provide a spark on offense.

-Jared Johnson: A 6’6″ forward who is a strong defender and rebounder.

-Justin Seymour: A 6’4″ guard who is a good shooter and can provide scoring when needed.

The Coaching Staff who are the masterminds behind the team’s success?

The University of Tennessee at Martin’s (UTM) head basketball coach is Anthony Grant He is assisted by five other full-time assistant coaches and one part-time Assistant Coach The head strength and Conditioning Coach for the team is also full-time. Here is a closer look at the coaching staff for the 2017-2018 season

Anthony Grant – Head Coach
Entering his sixth season as head coach Anthony Grant has had a lot of success at UTM. He has led the team to two Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) regular season championships, one OVC Tournament Championship and two NCAA Tournament appearances. In his first five seasons, his teams have had a combined record of 113-85 (.570). Prior to coming to UTM, Coach Grant was an assistant coach at the University of Florida and then the Head Coach at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He also worked as an assistant coach in the NBA for the Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks

Matt McMahon – Associate Head Coach/Assistant Coach
In his fourth season as associate head coach/assistant coach Matt McMahon has been a big part of Coach Grant’s success at UTM. Prior to coming to UTM, he was an assistant coach at Appalachian State University and then served as Head coach at Alcorn State University for four seasons. He has also been an assistant coach at McNeese State University Southeastern Louisiana University and Centenary College

Tom Schubeck – Assistant Coach
In his third season as an Assistant Coach Tom Schubeck has helped the team to two OVC Regular Season championships and one OVC tournament championship. Prior to coming to UTM, he was an assistant coach at Air Force Academy and then served as head coach at Division II Stony Brook University for four seasons. He has also been an assistant coach at Colgate University and Loyola Marymount University.

Jason Shay – Assistant Coach
Jason Shay is entering his third season as an assistant coach. Prior to coming to UTM, he was an assistant coach at Auburn University Montgomery and then served as head men’s golf professional at Alabama’s Capitol Hill Club in Montgomery. Shay has also worked as a director of operations/assistant men’s basketball coach at Mississippi Valley State University and as an administrative graduate assistant for men’s basketball at Auburn University Montgomery.

Kevin Howard – Assistant Coach
Kevin Howard is entering his second season as an assistant coach after being promoted from director of basketball operations in August 2016. Prior to coming to UTM, he spent two seasons (2012-2014) as a video coordinator/assistant men’s Basketball Manager at Tulane University Howard also worked in player development for the New Orleans Pelicans from 2014-2016 before joining the Skyhawks’ staff

The team’s strengths- what makes this team so successful?

This year’s MTSU men’s basketball team is looking to build on last year’s success. The team is led by senior guard Giddy Potts, who was recently named Conference USA Player of the Year. The team also features junior guard Brandon Walters, who was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team. Other Key Players include senior forward Reggie Upshaw Jr., who was named honorable mention All-Conference USA and junior forward JaCorey Williams, who was named to the Conference USA All-Defensive team The team’s success is due in large part to their experience and leadership.

The team’s weaknesses- what areas need improvement?

The team’s weaknesses- what areas need improvement?

Just like any MTsU Sports Team the men’s basketball team has its own share of weaknesses. One of the areas that could use some improvement is the team’s free throw shooting As a whole, the team isn’t particularly strong from the Charity Stripe averaging just under 70 percent for the season. If the team can improve its free throw shooting, it will be in a better position to win close games.

Another area that could use some work is rebounding. The team doesn’t have a lot of size, and as a result, it can be outrebounded by taller and more physical teams. If the team can do a better job of securing defensive rebounds and limiting second-chance points, it will be in a better position to win games.

The team’s upcoming schedule- what challenges lie ahead?

MTSU will take on some tough competition in the coming weeks. The team’s upcoming schedule includes games against ranked opponents such as Duke, Kentucky, and UCLA. With a record of 7-5, the team will need to step up their game if they want to make a run in the NCAA tournament

The team is led by senior point guard Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Tank is averaging 17 points per game and is the Heart and Soul of this team. Other key players include junior forward Reggie Scurry, who is averaging a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds per game, and freshman guard Luke McNamara, who is leading the team in Three-point shooting percentage.

If the team can stay healthy and play to their potential, they could make some noise come March Madness

The team’s recent results- how have they been performing?

The team’s recent results
The team’s recent results have been mixed, with some good wins and some tough losses. Overall, the team is currently 14-12 on the season. They started off the season strong, winning their first seven games. However, they then went through a tough stretch where they lost eight of their next ten games. They have since rebounded and won six of their last eight games.

The team’s fans- the best supporters in the nation!

The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders basketball team has some of the best fans in the nation. From students to alumni, the team’s supporters are always cheering them on to victory. Here is a look at some of the team’s most dedicated fans.

Go Blue!- a message of support for the team

We’re so excited for the new basketball season! The team has been working hard in preparation and we can’t wait to see them in action. Here’s a quick guide to the roster so you can get to know the team.

Guards
– number 2: Jaden McDaniels, freshman
– number 5: Tyrese Haliburton sophomore
– number 12: Mark Williams freshman
– number 13: D’Mitrik Trice, junior

Forwards
– number 15: Xavier Tillman Sr., senior
– number 21: Joey Hauser sophomore

Center
– number 44: Thomas Kithier, sophomore