MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama men's basketball returns three forwards and welcomes four newcomers to help bolster the front line. The season begins on November 9, as the Jags host the University of Mobile Rams at the Mitchell Center. Tickets are available and can be purchased online at usajaguars.com/tickets or by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
 
RETURNING PLAYERS (3)
- Diante Smith (Sr., 6-7, 200) – The returning player with the most playing experience for the Jags, Smith made 10 starts last season and averaged 27 minutes per game for Coach Riley's squad. He led the team in three-point field goal percentage at 38.6%.
- Marshall Kearing (Sr., 6-9, 235) – Kearing also has starting experience at South Alabama, logging six starts last season. He shot 62 percent from the field to go along with 88 total rebounds and 14 blocks.
- Tyler Shirley (So., 6-7, 205) – Shirley came on late last season and had his biggest games. In the final game of the season, he scored a career-high 14 points on 5-9 shooting while going 4-8 from 3-point range.
 
NEWCOMERS (4)
- Kevin Samuel (Gr., 7-0, 260) – Samuel joins the Jags after transferring from FGCU. Before FGCU, he played for three years at TCU. After only three seasons, he became the all-time leader in blocked shots at TCU. Samuel has started every game he has played in in his career, 128. He is currently the active leader in Division I in total career rebounds, and he is one of three players currently in Division I to have over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in their careers.
- Elijah Ormiston (So., 6-8, 220) – One of three players to transfer from Division II schools, Ormiston joins the Jaguars after playing one year at Concordia-St. Paul. He averaged 16.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season. Ormiston recorded a career-high 30 points against Sioux Falls on February 4, 2022.
- Judah Brown (Jr., 6-6, 225) – Brown previously played for two seasons at Saint Mary's. He has postseason experience, starting a game for the Gaels in the NIT in the 2020-21 season and appearing in two NCAA Tournament games last season. Brown has also played for the Panama national team.
- Julian Margrave (Fr., 6-10, 205) – One of two freshmen to join the program this year, Margrave was the sixth-highest rated recruit from the state of New Hampshire. His junior year, Margrave averaged 17.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game on route to a state runner-up finish at Louisburg High School in Kansas.
 
2021-22 ROSTER MEMBERS LOST (5)
- Kayo Goncalves
- Javon Franklin
- Jamal West
- Alex Anderson
- Lance Thomas
 
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
- Samuel was named to the All-Sun Belt preseason first team.
- Samuel is one of four 1,000-point scorers on the South Alabama roster this season (Moore, Parham II, White).
- Javon Franklin was selected as a member of the All-Sun Belt third team at the end of last season as he led the team in field goal percentage, rebounds and blocks.
- Goncalves was fifth in the conference in total three-point field goals made.
- South Alabama was first in the Sun Belt last season in blocked shots (4.9).  
 
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