Men Look to Return to Championship Form

The Greyhounds return three starters, including an All-American, and have added several key newcomers as they look to win their 5th region championship in the last 6 years.

Headlining the returners is forward Sam Smith, who averaged 19.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.0 steal per game while shooting 57.5% from the field, 37.3% from the three-point line, and 78.2% from the free throw line while earning Region Co-MVP honors and being named to the NJCAA All-American Second Team. Smith is the third Greyhound to earn All-American honors and first freshman to be named in school history.

Returning at point guard for his third season is 6'3" speedster J.T. Smith, who has started all 53 games in his Greyhound career and averaged 7.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and a team-best 1.4 steals per game last season. The third returning starter is 6'0" guard Jeremiah Jones who averaged 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 48.8% from the field and 37.1% from the three-point line.

Eight newcomers will make their debut in a Greyhound uniform this season with five recruits having won state championships or appeared in state championship games.

Caleb Allen comes to ASU Mid-South after an outstanding high school career at Mills University Studies in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he led the Comets to back-to-back state championships his junior and senior seasons. The 6'1" guard was named All-Conference, All-State, and All-State Tournament during his high school career.

Jailen Anderson joins the Greyhounds after an incredible career at Jackson (TN) South Side High School where his team was ranked the #1 team in Tennessee for two consecutive years. The 6'2" point guard earned All-Conference and All-Region honors as both a junor and senior, and was named to the All-State Tournament team as a senior while finishing the season ranked in the top 75 players in the state by Tennessee Prep Hoops.

After being a member of the University of Central Arkansas track program the last two seasons, Tim Johnson joins the Greyhounds for his first season of collegiate basketball. A four-sport star at Stuttgart High School, the 6'1" guard earned All-Conference honors in football, basketball, baseball, and track & field before accepting a Division I track & field scholarship where he finished tied for fourth in high jump at the Southland Conference meet.

O.J. Marrs, a 6'4" forward, comes to the Greyhounds from Wynne High School where he was named to the 5A-East All-Conference team as both a junior and senior after averaging 12 points and 6 rebounds per game.

Braxtyn McCuien comes to the Greyhounds after helping lead the Mayflower Eagles to the 3A State Championship game after two state tournament semifinal appearances his sophomore and junior seasons. The 6'7" forward averaged 23 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocked shots per game and was named to the All-Conference team, All-State team, and All-State Tournament team all three years of varsity play. In addition, he was named to the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Team as one of the state's top seniors and was named one of the top five 3A players in the state by the Arkansas Basketball Coaches Association.

T.J. Stewart comes to ASU Mid-South from Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, Arkansas, after being the first player in school history to lead his team in rebounding four seasons in a row. The bouncy 6'6" forward averaged 12 points and 14 rebounds as a senior, earning All-Conference honors, and he was named to the All-State Tournament team 2 years in a row after helping his team to a state championship as a junior.

Christian Thompson comes to the Greyhounds after averaging 16 points, 10 rebounds and 3.6 blocked shots per game as a senior. The 6'9" forward captured All-Conference honors both his junior and senior seasons, and was selected to play in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Game as one of the state's top seniors.

Mekhai Washington, originally from North Little Rock, joins the program after being named First Team All-District, First Team All-Region, and First Team All-State his senior year. The 6'6" guard led Centreville (VA) to the school's first-ever state championship.

The Greyhounds are back to playing a full 30-game schedule after last season's pandemic-induced short season when they finished 16-5 and fell in the Region Tournament Championship Game. The Greyhound Tip-Off Classic resumes this year November 5-6, and the Greyhounds play familiar non-conference foes Northeast Mississippi, Northwest Mississippi, Itawamba, and St. Louis while adding Southwest Tennessee and Dyersburg State to the mix this season. Region 2 play begins in January with 10 region games that conclude with the Region Tournament held February 22-27 at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.