BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Coaches of the Gulf South Conference feel the University of West Alabama (9 first-place votes) and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (2 first-place votes) will be the top two teams to beat in regular season play during the 2026-27 season. Trevecca Nazarene University, Valdosta State University and Lee University round out the top five in the voting. Flames senior forward Zach Gray was one of five players selected to the Preseason All-GSC Team.
Said Lee Coach Bubba Smith, "Pre-season rankings are what they are. It is difficult in today's landscape to know who has what and what each team's roster will look like year to year. I don't think anyone is surprised to see West Alabama and UAH near the top, and then a log jam at the next few spots. I do think the league will have some parity and could be well balanced this year. We do like the experience we have returning and have four seniors that have logged starter minutes in the GSC."
Scoring Should not be Issue
"We lost a couple of guys that could score it last year and one of our best defensive players in Tim Vaughn to graduation. But we don't feel like scoring will be the issue with this year's team," Smith noted. "Last year's team was one of the best offensive teams we have had since I have been here, but we struggled on the defensive end to finish games. We struggled in close games for different reasons and hope to learn from those losses headed into this season."
The Flames finished the regular season at 15-13 and were 11-11 against GSC opponents. They averaged almost 75 points per game but allowed 73. Coach Smith has always taken great pride in the defense of his clubs.
Seniors need to be Consistent
"I think our four seniors, who logged heavy minutes last year in Zach Gray, Willie Walton, Dayveun Anderson, and Jamarcus Wilkins will be the guys that will have to be consistent for us each night. Zach has been recognized as a first team pre-season all GSC pick. Zach gives us a dual threat and can play multiple positions offensively, which makes him one of our most dynamic offensive weapons." Gray averaged 13 PPG and 4 RPG.
"Dayveun led our backcourt with 114 assists and was our team's best perimeter defender. Willie led our team in rebounding (7 RPG) and was second on our team in three pointers made (50). He brings a high motor and competitive edge to our wing play. Jamarcus, I believe is one of the best defensive big men in the league. He led our team in blocks (24) and shot close to 60% from the field. These four have provided consistent leadership since last spring and throughout our off-season."
Coach Smith said returning sophomore guard Reese Frazier, and redshirt freshman point guard Eli Stapler will bring added depth to the backcourt. Seven newcomers were added to the roster in the off-season and will provide depth at every position.
New Additions
"We expect the new additions to find their way into our rotations this season. Freshman point guard Jonathan Woodlee and teammate Luke Sigmund, junior college transfer Matthew Curprew Elsy, along with transfer wing Corwin "Deuce" Holland, KJ Swain, and freshman wings Mamadou Traore and Turner Clayton round out our incoming class," pointed out Coach Smith. Woodlee and Curprew Elsy are on the Newcomers to Watch List.
Non-Conference Schedule
"We feel our non-conference schedule is challenging and will prepare us for GSC play," stressed Smith. "We have a favorable early-season home slate of games and need to take advantage of our home court we have created over the last few years."
The Flames open with Homecoming against Oglethorpe University on Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. They will be in Paul Dana Walker Arena for five more non-conference games, including the GSC-SSC Challenge against the University of Tampa and Miles College before opening conference play at home at Auburn Montgomery and Montevallo. That is eight straight home games for area fans to enjoy.
COACHES PRESEASON POLL
Rk. Team, Pts.
1. West Alabama (9), 99
2. UAH (2), 92 points
3. Trevecca Nazarene, 73
4. Valdosta State, 70
5. Lee, 69
6. AUM, 61
7t. Delta State, 37
7t. Mississippi Christian, 37
9. Union, 33
10t. Christian Brothers, 17
10t. Montevallo, 17
First-place votes in parentheses
PRESEASON ALL-GSC TEAM
Jordan Mabe, UAH, So., F
Zach Gray, Lee, Sr., F
Fred Bailey, Trevecca Nazarene, So., PG
Blaise Wallace, Valdosta State, Sr., F
BJ Brown Jr., West Alabama, Jr., PG
Listed alphabetical order by school
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
Name School Yr. Pos. Ht. Hometown/Prev. School
Jax Abernathy UAH So. G 6-4 Calhoun, Ga./Trevecca Nazarene
Xavier Martinez UAH Sr. G 5-10 San Antonio, Texas/Univ. of Colorado Colorado Springs
Justin Holloway AUM So. F 6-7 Opelika, Ala./UAB
Parker Robison AUM Jr. G 5-11 Chattanooga, Tenn./UT-Chattanooga
RJ Williams AUM So. G 5-10 Snellville, Ga./Young Harris
Bryson Holmes CBU Jr. F 6-7 Houston, Texas/Coastal Alabama CC-North
Caleb Kawela CBU So. F 6-6 Kinshasa, Congo/Western Iowa Tech CC
Moustapha Salekh CBU Jr. F 6-8 Nguekhokh, Senegal/Copiah-Lincoln CC
Grant Guess DSU Fr. F 6-7 Washington Courthouse, Ohio/Archbishop Alter HS
Ahmed Ibrahim DSU Jr. F 6-8 Jamaica, N.Y./Coahoma CC
Matthew Curprew Elsy LEE Jr. F 6-6 Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Southwestern Illinois
Jonathan Woodlee LEE Fr. G 6-3 Maryville, Tenn./Maryville HS
London Fields MC Sr. G 6-5 Tupelo, Miss./East Texas A&M
Sawyer Griffin MC Jr. G 6-4 Huntsville, Ala./Wallace State CC-Hanceville
Jaden Webb MC 5th F 6-10 Memphis, Tenn./Ouachita Baptist
Xzayvion Childress UM Sr. G 6-1 Calera, Ala./Mississippi Valley State
Dominic Commisso UM Jr. F 6-8 Roscoe, Ill./Saint Leo
Jett Montgomery TNU So. G 6-1 Franklin, Tenn. /Southern Miss.
Tylan Lewis TNU So. G 6-2 Nashville, Tenn./Abilene Christian
D'Shay Knights Wright TNU Jr. F 6-9 Toronto, Ontario, Canada/South Carolina State
PD McCraney UU 5th G 6-2 Newellton, La./LSU Alexandria
JP Ricks UU 5th G 6-1 Baton Rouge, La./UNC Pembroke
Donaven Younger UU Jr. F 6-10 Bolingbrook, Ill./Illinois-Springfield
Keshawn Evans VSU Sr. F 6-7 Atlanta, Ga./Edward Waters
DJ Hamlett VSU Jr. F 6-5 Tuscaloosa, Ala./Shelton State CC
Jack Voth VSU Jr. F 6-6 Wilmington, N.C./Warner
Tyler Byrd UWA Sr. G 6-3 Memphis, Tenn./Alabama State
Michael Cooper UWA Jr. F 6-6 Minneapolis, Minn./Wagner
Michael Nwoye UWA So. F 6-7 Nashville, Tenn./Cumberland
