Men's Basketball 9/2/2026 12:00:00 PM Joel Krenz, Assistant AD for Media and Communications

Coach Owen and staff finalize roster for 2026-27 campaign

HICKORY, N.C. - Coming off the arguably the best two-year stretch in Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball history, third year head coach Brent Owen and assistants Tyrone Grady and Cesar Lujan-Flores have announced their roster for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

The coaching staff had the difficult task of re-tooling the roster for this upcoming season as they lost eight of their nine top scorers from last season's team that went 26-9 and advanced to the Southeast Region Championship. Returners include four-year players Sam Martin and Conner Tilley, third years Chris Crudup and Shem Sawy, and second years Zach Curran, Rogelio Rivera, and Landon Vaughan.

To view the entire 2026-27 roster, click HERE.

#0 Mike Jones Jr. - Point Guard | 5'10" | 150 | Freshman | Erie, Pa. | Moravian Prep

High School: Played his senior season at Moravian Prep in Hudson, N.C. ... While at Moravian Prep played for the YNG Dreamerz OTE team, averaging 6.3 points, 2.2 assists, and 1.8 rebounds on 49% from the field and 38% from three ... Prior to Moravian Prep was a standout at Indian Land High School, scoring 2,136 points to become the program's all-time leading scorer ... 2x All-State and 2x Region Player of the Year at Indian Land.
What coach is saying: "Mike joins our team after playing for one of the most competitive prep programs in the country. His ability to make plays, score, and defend at a high level for 94 feet is going to allow him to hit the ground running as a true freshman."

Minot State (2025-26): Appeared and started in all 29 games ... Led the team with 18.1 ppg, scoring a total of 526 points on the season ... Shot 40.6% from the field, 30.2% from three, and 80.5% from the free throw line ... Was the team leader with 41 steals and ranked second on the team with 57 assists ... Scored 20+ points 12 times, including a season-high 30 against South Dakota Mines ... 2x NSIC North Division Player of the Week ... Named to the All-NSIC First Team.
New Mexico Junior College (2024-25): Appeared in 29 games, averaging 9.3 points ... Ranked third on the team with 48 total assists ... Shot 35.3% from the field and 31.6% from three ... Helped the team to a 24-7 record and a 10-6 mark in conference play.
New Mexico Junior College (2023-24): Appeared in all 32 games ... Averaged 11.3 points on 42.9% from the field and 38.8% from three ... Scored 361 total points ... Scored a season-high 22 points against Coastal Bend College (11/18) and the New Mexico Military Institute (3/04) ... Helped lead the team to a 23-9 record and an appearance in the NJCAA Region V semi-final.
High School: Gatorade MaxPreps Player of the Year in the state of New Mexico ... Poured in 25.3 points per game while adding 5.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 2.8 steals per outing for a Bulldawgs team which went 31-1 in 2021-22 ... collected NMAA Gatorade New Mexico Boys Basketball Player of the Year laurels in his junior season as well ... In total, the Bulldawgs piled up a 102-6 record with Benjamin on their roster ... led the Bulldawgs to three appearances in the NMAA 5A State Championship game, including a NMAA 5A state title in 2020.
What coach is saying: "We've known Deuce since our days as a staff in New Mexico. He is a really good young man who brings a winning pedigree and a competitive fire that fits exactly what we need to win championships. His ability to score, make plays for others, and apply pressure defensively will allow him to make a big impact right away."

West Virginia State (2025-26): Played in 29 games, making 16 starts… Averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game… Had two double-doubles… Scored season-high 36 points Feb. 11 at Point Park… Season-best 10 rebounds happened twice, including the Feb. 11 contest at Point Park… Had consecutive 30+ point game.
Lamar State College Port Arthur (2023-24): Appeared in 30 games, starting 23 ... Averaged 11.7ppg on 46.2% from the field and 39.3% from three ... Shot 80.6% from the charity stripe ... Scored 350 total points ... Scored 20+ points eight times with a season-high 24 against Coastal Bend College.
Highland Community College (2020-21): Appeared in 14 games, making 11 starts ... Averaged 6.5ppg on 46.6% from the field and 25.0% from three ... Scored a season-high 15 points at Peru State.
What coach is saying: "Jaylen is a strong, physical player who can score in multiple fashions and defend multiple positions. He will be a matchup problem for our opponents and will fit in great with our team and style of play. His combination of size, strength, athleticism, and shooting ability are really hard to find. Most importantly, he chose Lenoir-Rhyne because he wants to win!"

Jacksonville (2025-26): Appeared in eight games in final season as a Dolphin... Scored two points in season opener against Miami... Logged season-high 17 minutes and seven points against Trinity College of Florida... Added two points at FSU... Dished 13 total assists.
Jacksonville (2024-25): Appeared in 4 games before suffering season-ending knee injury... Scored 5 points against Furman... Had 7 assist and 4 rebound game against Trinity Baptist.
Ashland (2023-24): Appeared in 27 games, starting 26 and helped lead the Eagles to a 17-11 record and an appearance in the G-MAC Tournament ... Scored 424 total points on an average of 15.7 ppg ... Dished out 145 assists (5.4 apg) and hauled in 96 rebounds 3.6 rpg) ... Racked up 38 steals ... Scored 39 points twice against Malone (11/30) and Lake Erie (2/03) ... All-G-MAC Second Team honoree.
Ashland (2022-23): Appeared and started all 29 games, leading the Eagles to a G-MAC Tournament championship and an appearance in the NCAA DII Tournament ... Averaged 11.2 points and 6.0 assists per game ... Had 43 steals and 106 boards ... Scored a season-high 26 points against Ohio Dominican ... Named the G-MAC Freshman of the Year.
High School: Was first-team All-Grind Session playing in the Under Armour Grind Session post-grad league ... Averaged 19.0 points and 8.0 assists per game while leading his team to the league's Final Four ... Played alongside Emoni Bates (now with the Cleveland Cavaliers), the nation's top-ranked player in the class of 2021, then finished his senior season in Arizona due to the COVID-19 rules in the state of Michigan.
What coach is saying: "Simon brings elite point guard play to our team. His ball-handling and vision for passing are as good as anyone I've coached. He brings high-level speed and quickness to the game and has proven that he can score as needed. We needed to find a point guard with good leadership qualities and high-level experience. I believe we found both in this young man."

High School: Was ranked the sixth best prospect in the 2026 Tennessee senior class ... Help lead Providence Christian Academy to back-to-back TSSAA Division II Class A State Championships (2025 & 2026), as well as a runner-up finish in 2024 ... In the 2026 state title game he scored a game-high 23 points, hit three threes, and had four steals in route to a 60-48 victory ... He was named the 2026 Region MVP and scored over 1,800 points during his high school career.
What coach is saying: "I normally do not hype up freshmen, but frankly I think Nick has a chance to be really special. He's a great young man who comes from a great high school program. He's a state champion, he's legitimately 6'7" with a 40"+ vertical leap, he made 90 3's at 41% last season, and he absolutely competes. That's a heck of a recipe and we are excited about the opportunity to coach him."

Florida A&M (2025-26): Appeared in four games, making one start before being sidelined due to injury ... Averaged 7.8 point and 3.5 rebounds on 45% shooting from the field ... Scored a season-high 16 points against Kennesaw State.
Monroe Community College (2024-25): Appeared in 28 games, starting 26 ... Averaged 13.6 points and 5.5 rebounds on 49% from the field and an efficient 79% from the free throw line ... Helped lead the Mustangs to a 26-8 record, a NJCAA Regional Tournament Championship, and an appearance in the NJCAA National Championships second round ... Tallied a season-high 23 points on the road at Hagerstown Community College.
Monroe Community College (2023-24): Appeared in 31 games, starting five during his freshman campaign ... Averaged 9.6 points and 5.5 rebounds on 52.5% from the field ... Led the team with 21 blocks and was third with 169 rebounds ... Scored a season-high 19 points against Wake Technical Community College ... Helped the team to a 23-8 record.
What coach is saying: "Devere is a great young man and a proven winner. His combination of length, skill, and athleticism will fit in great with our style of play. He is one of the more versatile players we have had at Lenoir-Rhyne. I expect him to make a big impact on both ends of the floor this November."

Central Washington (2025-26): Appeared in all 31 games with 13 starts while playing 619 minutes … scored 282 points, averaging 9.1 points per game … shot .521 from the field … led the team with 205 rebounds, averaging 6.6 per game … added 38 assists, 22 blocks, and 15 steals … recorded 77 offensive rebounds and 128 defensive rebounds.
Tacoma Community College (2024-25): Averaged 20.6 points and 12.4 rebounds per game before his season was cut short due to injury 20 games into the season ... Scored a total of 411 points and hauled in 248 rebounds, both of which led the team ... Scored 20+ points eight times with a season-high of 31 at Treasure Valley Community College.
Tacoma Community College (2023-24): Named an NABC NWAC All-American after leading the Titans to the NWAC Championship game ... Averaged 16.8 ppg on 57% from the field ... Led the team with 11.6 rpg to go along with 53 steals and 23 blocks ... Scored a career-high 37 points against Shoreline Community College after going 15-21 from the field and 7-10 from the charity stripe ... Nearly had a double-double with nine points and 13 boards in the championship game vs. former LR Bear Tyler Burraston and Green River College.
What coach is saying: "Chae brings efficient interior scoring and great rebounding ability to the team, something which our program has thrived on the past two seasons. He has a good skillset with the ball and good feet for his size. We are excited to get to work with him to help him grow his game even further."

High School: Averaged 22 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 62% from the field during his senior year at Lampasas High School in Texas ... During that senior season was named to the All-State, All-Region, and All-District teams ... Scored more than 1,000 points and had a school record 1,100+ rebounds during his high school career ... 2025-26 District MVP.
What coach is saying: "Beau is just the perfect fit for our program. We've had a ton of success in developing big men and Beau has the size, skills, and attitude to become a great player here. He is a really hard worker and has a nose for the ball having gathered over 1,100 rebounds in high school. He has a chance to help us as a freshman and will be a great addition on the court and on our campus."

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