Getting to Know the South Alabama Basketball Roster

The South Alabama basketball team is gearing up for another season and we wanted to help you get to know the roster. Check out the blog post to learn more about the team and get excited for another season of Jaguar basketball!

Introduction

The South Alabama Jaguars men’s Basketball team represents the University of South Alabama in the NCAA Division I college basketball They play their home games at the Mitchell Center in Mobile, Alabama and are members of the Sun Belt Conference The Jaguars are currently coached by Richie Riley.

The Guards

The 2019-20 South Alabama men’s basketball team will feature a talented and experienced backcourt. returnees Dederic Currington and Tyree White will lead a group of nine guards that also includes newcomers Josh Ajayi, Andre Fox, Kayvon Thibodeaux and transfer Tyrone Nesby.

Currington, a 6-foot-1 junior from Mobile, is the Jaguars’ leading returning scorer after averaging 11.5 points per game last season. He also averaged 2.9 assists and 2.1 steals per contest while shooting 39 percent from 3-point range.

White, a 6-foot-4 senior from Jacksonville, Fla., averaged 9.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game last season while shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc. He will again be one of the team’s top perimeter threats in 2019-20.

Ajayi, a 6-foot-5 native of Nigeria who attended High School in Texas, is one of four true freshmen on the roster. He is a versatile wing player who can score in a variety of ways and is expected to make an immediate impact for the Jaguars.

Fox, a 6-foot point guard from Lithonia, Ga., was one of the top floor generals in the state of Georgia last season. He averaged 18 points, seven assists and three steals per game as a senior at Martin Luther King Jr. high school

Thibodeaux, a 6-foot-5 guard from Baton Rouge La., comes to South Alabama after spending last season at IMG Academy in Florida. He is rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN and was ranked as high as No. 22 nationally in the Class of 2019 by 247Sports.com

The Forwards

The South Alabama Basketball team is made up of five forwards, all of whom contribute to the team in their own way. One of the forwards, Lamar Peters, is the team captain and has been with the team for four years. He is originally from Mobile, Alabama and is one of the team’s best three-point shooters. Another forward, Josh Ajayi, is a junior who transferred to South Alabama from Wright State University He is originally from Nigeria and is one of the tallest players on the team at 6’8″. The other three forwards are Traylin Farris, T.J. Johnson, and Antione “Scootie” Bryan.

The Centers

The South Alabama basketball team will have a new look in the post this season with the departure of Romelo Banks and Josh Ajayi. Here is a look at the three centers that will be seeing significant playing time this season.

Alec invited redshirt freshman Matt Reed to join the team this season. A 7-footer from Daphne, Reed was a highly sought after recruit coming out of high school and should provide an immediate presence in the post for the Jaguars. He averaged 17 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks per game during his senior season at Daphne high school

returns for his senior season after averaging 3.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game last year while playing in all 33 games. The 7-footer from Mobile has seen his minutes and production increase each year during his career and will be looked upon to provide leadership for this young Jaguar team.

Freshman Charles Baldwin rounds out the group of centers on the roster. Baldwin, a 6-foot-10 inch center from New York, was rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN coming out of high school He averaged 17 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks per game during his senior season at Imhotep Charter School in Philadelphia.

The Coaches

The South Alabama men’s basketball team is coached by Richie Riley. He is entering his fourth season with the team. Associate head coachJeff Price and assistant coaches Nicholas Kaye and Michael Paterniti round out the Coaching Staff

The Jaguars finished the 2019-20 season with an overall record of 19-12 and a Sun Belt Conference record of 10-8. They lost to UL Monroe in the first round of the Sun Belt conference tournament

The Schedule

The South Alabama basketball team finished their 2019-2020 Season with a record of 21-12. The Jaguars competed in the Sun Belt Conference and were coached by Richie Riley. The team’s leading scorer was Josh Ajayi, who averaged 16 points per game Other key contributors included Tyreke Locure, who averaged 11 points per game and David Bell, who averaged 9 points per game

The Fans

The fans of the South Alabama basketball team are some of the most diehard and spirited in the country. They are always looking for ways to support their team and show their school pride. The fans are also very welcoming to opposing fans, and they always enjoy a good game, regardless of who is playing.

The Arena

The University of South Alabama’s Mitchell Center is a state of the art facility that serves as the home for the Jaguar Basketball Program The 10,000 seat arena opened its doors in 1998 and has been the site of some of the most memorable moments in USA Basketball history. The Mitchell Center is also home to the USA Volleyball program, as well as multiple commencement ceremonies and special events.

The History

The South Alabama Jaguars men’s Basketball team represents the University of South Alabama in the Sun Belt Conference The Jaguars have competed in NCAA Division I since 1969 and began conference play in 1978 as a member of the Sun Belt They are currently coached by Richie Riley.

The Jaguars have appeared in two NCAA Division I Tournaments. Their first appearance came in 1986 as a #12 seed where they lost to Memphis State in the first round. Their second appearance came 28 years later as a #15 seed where they again lost to Memphis, this time in the first four. The Jaguars have appeared in two National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their first appearance came in 2014 where they defeated Tulane and Florida State before losing to Minnesota in the quarterfinals. Their second appearance came a year later where they lost to Ole Miss in the first round.

The Jaguars have appeared in one CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). Their only appearance came during the 2009–10 season where they defeated Central Arkansas before losing to Murray State in the quarterfinals.

Conclusion

The South Alabama Basketball Team has a lot of potential this season. They have a mix of experienced players and newcomers that should make for an exciting season. Be sure to keep an eye on these guys as they battle their way through the Conference Schedule