After reaching the Southland Conference semifinals for the first time in three years, the Lamar men’s basketball team enters the 2024-2025 season with a chip on their shoulder, ready to prove critics wrong.
Last season, the Cardinals were predicted to go ninth in SLC play, but surprised everyone by winning 19 games, the most since the 2018-2019 season. LU finished fifth in the conference and are predicted to land there again in a Southland Conference Preseason Poll of league head coaches and media relations directors.
The Cardinals see seven players returning, three of whom were starters.
Leading the team is head coach Alvin Brooks who is returning for his fourth year at his alma mater.
“We have a really good group of returners,” Brooks said. “Adam Hamilton has been here three years now. Janko has been here three years. Cody Pennebaker has been here three years. B.B. (Knight) who averaged 10 a game returns for a second year, Ja’Sean Jackson returns for second year. So, it’s a really good group.”
Last year, LU saw four players average double-digit points but only two of them are returning. Hamilton, the team’s leading rebounder, averaged 10.5 points per game and 6.7 rebounds. Knight, the team’s top returning scorer, averaged 10.7 points per game and proved himself as one of the league’s top long-range threats in his first season with the team, converting 66-of-178 three-point attempts.
Lamar also returns Pennebaker (6-5, Jr., G, two-year starter), Jayden Barrs (6-1, 190, Fr., G, redshirted 2023-24), Errol White (6-7, 205, Sr., F), Ja’Sean Jackson (6-0, 176, Sr., G) and Janko Bulajic (6-10, 233, Jr., C).
The Cardinals also added new players to the roster with Beaumont native Andrew Holifield returning to his hometown to play for the Cardinals. The 6’10 junior forward transferred from Ranger College where he averaged 12 points with 6.5 rebounds per game.
The other transfers Lamar acquired are Alexis Marmolejos (6-1, 180, Jr., G, Arizona Western), Danquez Dawsey (6-2, 180, Sr., G, Central Oklahoma), Terrance Dixon, Jr. (6-8, 235, Jr. F, North Texas). The incoming freshmen are Braden East (6-9, 238, F, Houston, Texas), Jayden Gambrell (6-3, 170, G, Houston, Texas) and Jace Jeffries (5-10, 165, G, Tomball, Texas).
“We’ve got a good nucleus of returners and newcomers that make our team bigger on the front line,” Brooks said. “Our guard group is better, faster, and can score it. As a group collective, I think we’ll be a better defensive group and it’ll be an exciting team to watch.”
Not only did the team focus on getting better on the court, but they also focused on their chemistry and mental health.
“During the offseason, I just got my mental health right,” Knight said. “I’m really focused on that because I’m at the age now where I’ve watched so much basketball that I’m trying new ways to get better on and off the court.
“Our chemistry is very good. We get along on the court, and off the court. Most importantly, we’re, we’re cool off the court. We’re able to all hang out and be cool and just kick it. I feel like being able to do that is honestly more important than anything else.”
According to coach Brooks, this season is the most challenging non-conference schedule since he’s been at Lamar
“The number of NCAA tournament teams that we play in the non-conferences is much greater than what we’ve had in the past,” Brooks said. “So, it’s a challenging schedule, but one that I think that we’re prepared for, we’re ready for. They help us get ready for the Southland Conference schedule, which is tougher this year.”
The Cardinals now have their eyes set on the SLC tournament championship, a feat they haven’t accomplished since 2012. LU is set to start their season against Paul Quinn College on Nov. 4, in the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center.
“The excitement and energy in the Montagne Center was really good last year compared to years past,” Brooks said. I thought the student body and the campus community and the community in the Beaumont and the Golden Triangle area was a part of that and helped make that come to fruition.
“We just want people to come out and support us, see us again, and, man, we’re going to give them something to cheer for.”
