BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The 2025-26 Gulf South Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll has been released, and the coaches have predicted that Lee University will finish fifth when the regular season concludes on Feb. 27.
The University of Montevallo with six first-place votes and 114 points edged out defending champion University of Alabama in Huntsville that had four first-place votes and 111 points. Valdosta State University was third with two first-place votes and 108 points. The University of West Alabama (86 points) was fourth and finished ahead of Lee (82 points).
The margin widens among the remaining seven-team field. Union University (68 points), Delta State University (54 points), Trevecca Nazarene University(51 points), University of West Florida (44 points), Auburn University Montgomery (31 points), Christian Brothers University (26) and Mississippi College (17 points).
Lee did not have a player listed on the Men's Basketball Preseason All-GSC Team. However, the Flames' Dayveun Anderson, a 5-foot-11 transfer guard from Itawamba Community College and Eli Stapler, a 6-foot-1 first-year student from Huntsville, Ala. are among the GSC Men's Basketball Coaches' Newcomers to Watch.
"We are not too surprised with the pre-season polls based off last year's results and what other teams in the league have returning. We certainly have high hopes for the season," said Lee head Coach Bubba Smith. "We like the team we have assembled and feel we can compete near the top of the GSC. The way we finished the season last year and how we were playing was closer to what we had anticipated heading into the year.
"Our team fed off that momentum heading into the spring and summer. Our junior and senior class has really taken ownership of our off-season and have been working hard since last spring. They have provided good leadership and have set a high standard and tone for our newcomers. Not that we need it, but I have no doubt the pre-season polls will be motivating for our group that there is a lot of work to be done!" explained Coach Smith in closing.
2025-26 GSC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Montevallo (6) – 114
2. UAH (4) – 111
3. Valdosta State (2) – 108
4. West Alabama – 86
5. Lee – 82
6. Union – 68
7. Delta State – 54
8. Trevecca – 51
9. West Florida – 44
10. Auburn Montgomery – 31
11. Christian Brothers – 26
12. Mississippi College – 17
First-place votes in parenthesis ( )
2025-26 Preseason Men's Basketball All-GSC Team
Iman Kheirati, Sr., G, Christian Brothers
Kolby Horace, Sr., G, Delta State
Jaylen Curry, Sr., F, Montevallo
Brandon Fussell, Jr., G, Montevallo
Drew Mills, Sr., F, Valdosta State
Listed alphabetical order by school
2025-26 GSC Men's Basketball Newcomers to Watch
Thomas Allard UAH Jr. G 6-7 Suwanee, Ga./Lincoln Memorial
Quentin Toles UAH Sr. G 6-2 Canton, Ohio/Kentucky Wesleyan
Knute Wood UAH Jr. G 6-4 Killen, Ala./Tennessee State
Jayden Doyle AUM Sr. G 6-5 Knoxville, Tenn./Monmouth
Elhadji Thiam AUM Sr. F 6-8 Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Florida Tech
Ti'Avain Scruggs AUM Sr. F 6-6 Huntsville, Ala./D'Youville
Marquis Gill CBU Jr. G 5-10 Middleton, N.Y./St. Patrick College
Nigel Quaynor CBU Jr. F 6-7 Tema, Ghana/Northern New Mexico College
George Patsalos CBU Jr. F 6-7 Newburgh, N.Y./SUNY Orange CC
Decory Porter DSU Sr. G 6-4 Jackson, Miss./Holmes CC
Elisha Puckett DSU Fr. G 6-7 Centerville, Tenn./Hickman County HS
Jackson Twombly DSU Jr. F 6-3 Frankfort, Ky./Danville CC
Dayveun Anderson LEE Jr. G 5-11 Tupelo, Miss./Itawamba CC
Eli Stapler LEE Fr. G 6-1 Huntsville, Ala./Huntsville HS
Marcel Bridges MC Jr. G/F 6-7 Brandon, Miss./Itawamba CC
DeMarcus Powe MC Sr. G 6-2 Meridian, Miss./Belhaven
Phil Nelson MC Fr. G 6-0 Ridgeland, Miss./Ridgeland HS
Sam Duskin UM So. G 6-4 Cullman, Ala./Air Force
Jax Abernathy TNU R-Fr. G 6-4 Calhoun, Ga./Christian Hertiage HS
Fred Bailey TNU R-Fr. G 6-2 Nashville, Tenn./Pope St. John Paul II Prep
Da'Shon Fisher TNU Jr. G 6-3 Iowa City, Iowa/Des Moines Area CC
Jamiir Allen UU Fr. G 5-11 Milwaukee, Wis./St. Cloud State
Terrance Ringo UU Sr. F 6-6 Evansville, Ind./Kentucky Wesleyan
Will Lovings-Watts UU Jr. G 6-5 Jeffersonville, Ind./James Madison
Blasie Wallace VSU Jr. F 6-7 Tallahassee, Fla./Albany State
Jose Cuello VSU Sr. G 6-1 Harlem, N.Y./Maryland-Eastern Shore
Michael Batchelor VSU Sr. G 6-2 Phoenix, Ariz./West Virginia Wesleyan College
BJ Brown UWA Jr. G 5-10 Birmingham, Ala./Huntingdon College
Caleb Parr UWA Sr. G 6-4 Columbus, Miss./Queens (N.C.)
Jakobe Singleton UWA Jr. F 6-5 Woodville, Miss./Hinds CC
Aric Demings UWF Jr. G 6-1 DeSoto, Texas/Monmouth
Anthony Igiede UWF R-Jr. G/F 6-5 Baton Rouge, La./Southern Arkansas
