MOBILE, Ala. – The South Alabama men's basketball team returns four forwards and will add a Sun Belt transfer and a highly touted freshman for the 2023-24 season. The season begins on Nov. 6 , 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) 461-1 USA (1872).
Returning Players (4)
- Judah Brown (Sr., 6-6, 225) – The returning player with the most playing experience for the Jags, Brown made 16 starts last season and made appearances in 32 games for South Alabama. After transferring from Saint Mary's in 2022, Brown averaged 6.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest. The California kid tied or set new career highs in every major statistical category, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, and minutes. Brown also led the team in 3-point percentage at 40.8 percent.
- Marshall Kearing (Sr., 6-9, 235) – Kearing also has starting experience at South Alabama, logging one start last season and 31 appearances. He averaged 2.8 and 2.6 rebounds per game. In his one start last season, he scored a career-high 15 points against Louisiana in over 31 minutes. Additionally, Kearing collected 11 rebounds in the home matchup with Alabama last year.
- Elijah Ormiston (Jr., 6-8, 220) – Ormiston returns for his second season with the Jaguars after transferring from Concordia St. Paul in 2021. In 2022, he appeared in 17 games and 7.5 minutes per game. Ormiston made 48.8 percent of shots and recorded a season-high 10 points and five rebounds against Jacksonville State. He also made three-three-pointers and five of his free throw attempts last year.
- Julian Margrave (So., 6-10, 210) – Margrave made nine appearances last season and showed impressive improvement throughout the season. He recorded a season-high 14 minutes against Mobile and Spring Hill while averaging 1.6 points and 25 percent field goal percentage.
Newcomers (2)
- Thomas Howell (Jr., 6-8, 230) – Howell joins the Jags after transferring from ULM. At ULM, Howell made 67 starts, averaged 9.5 points, a team-high 8.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game for the Warhawks. Howell scored in double figures 15 times, over 20 points once, pulled in 10 or more rebounds 11 times, and had three double-doubles. He ranked seventh in the Sun Belt Conference and 87th in NCAA Division I in rebounds per game. Howell also ranked seventh in the SBC in minutes played per game (33.6) and 15th in offensive rebounds per game (2.2).
- Ethan Kizer (Fr., 6-5, 195) – Kizer joins the Jaguars as the 13th-best recruit in the state of Illinois class of 2023. He averaged 12.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from behind the arc.
2022-23 Roster Members Lost (3)
- Kevin Samuel
- Diante Smith
- Tyler Shirley
Five Telling Stats
- Kevin Samuel received Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year honors after recording 86 blocks last season.
- In conference action, Thomas Howell ranked fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in minutes played per game (36.6), fifth in defensive rebounds per game (6.2), sixth in rebounds per game, and 13th in offensive rebounds per game (2.1).
- Judah Brown led the team in three-point percentage (40.8) and finished second in blocks (21).
- Samuel finished fourth in the Sun Belt in 2022 rebounds per game with 9.0.
- Thomas Howell and Judah Brown made 83 starts combined in 2022.
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