LWOS continues its conference previews with the 2020-21 SWAC Basketball Preview. This league was fairly competitive a season ago, but Prairie View A&M ended up capturing the regular-season title as expected. However, the Panthers were tested by Southern and Texas Southern. Prairie View loses some of the talent that has helped them compete recently, opening the door for other programs. Fans of this conference should be in for another great title race.
2020-21 SWAC Basketball Preview
10. Alabama State Hornets
Key Returners: Brandon Battle, D.J. Heath
Key Losses: Tobi Ewuosho, Leon Freeman-Daniels
Key Newcomers: Trace Young (JUCO), Kareem Clark (JUCO), Kenny Strawbridge Jr. (JUCO)
Mo Williams is back in Alabama, though as the new head coach of the Hornets. He has his work cut out for him with a roster full of mostly newcomers. Alabama State hit the transfer market hard, bringing in a plethora of junior college guys. Some of them do have prior experience at the Division I level, though not much. However, this is largely a transitional year for the Hornets. The program will have to adjust with all of the changes, but there is hope that Williams is the guy to turn things around.
9. Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils
Key Returners: Caleb Hunter, Quinton Alston
Key Losses: Michael Green, Torico Simmons, Jordan Lyons
Key Newcomers: Tirus Smith (Louisiana), Kam’Ron Cunningham (JUCO), Keiondre Jefferson (JUCO)
Mississippi Valley State was the last team to get their first win a season ago. However, the Delta Devils did not let that deter them and went on to win three league games. The program is bringing in a decent number of junior college transfers to give this team a veteran presence. MVSU does have a future star in Hunter, who was the freshman of the year after averaging 15.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game in 2019-20. Still, The Delta Devils are not close to competing for anything but should see some improvement this season.
8. Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions
Key Returners: Shaun Doss, Markedric Bell, Dequan Morris
Key Losses: Marquell Carter
Key Newcomers: Tayvion Johnson (JUCO)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff is heavy on seniors this season, with most players returning from last year. However, that group managed just four wins a season ago on their way to a ninth-place finish. Potentially, playing with each other for a year may allow the Golden Lions to improve a bit. Doss is the leader in the backcourt while Bell mans the frontcourt. Pine Bluff really needs everyone to step up more this season just for them to move a few spots in the standings.
7. Alabama A&M Bulldogs
Key Returners: Garrett Hicks, Cameron Tucker, E.J. Williams
Key Losses: Cameron Alford
Key Newcomers: Anjay Cortez, Eric Lee
Alabama A&M was heavily dependent on freshmen last season. While that group took their lumps, most of them are back and now have a year under their belt of playing together. Hicks established himself as the scorer of the backcourt, while Tucker ran the offense, averaging 3.6 assists per game. The Bulldogs appear to be on the right track with the guys they have. However, they are still probably a year away from realistically jumping into the next tier of the league.
6. Prairie View A&M Panthers
Key Returners: Lenell Henry, Faite Wiliams
Key Losses: Devonte Patterson, Gerard Andrus, Darius Williams
Key Newcomers: Damari Parris (Eastern Michigan), Jeremiah Gambrell Jr. (Western Kentucky), Boe Nguidjol (Detroit)
Prairie View enjoyed a nice two-year run in the SWAC. The Panthers hoped to make it back-to-back NCAA appearances last season, but the pandemic ended any hopes of that. Patterson and Andrus were big reasons behind the team’s success, and both have graduated. Patterson was the player of the year, and the duo combined for 31.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game in 2019-20. There will be a lot on the shoulders of those left as well as the incoming transfers to replace that production. Prairie View will take a step back, but it should not be for long.
5. Alcorn State Braves
Key Returners: Troymain Crosby, Kobe Wilson
Key Losses: Maurice Howard, DeShaw Andrews, Corey Tillery
Key Newcomers: Jacoby Ross (Alabama State), Michael Cole (JUCO), David Pierce III (JUCO)
Alcorn State managed to wiggle its way to a fourth-place finish last season. The Braves will move forward without three starters from last year’s team now, but that does not mean there is no experience left. Troymain Crosby should be in the hunt for the player of the year honor after averaging 13.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game a season ago. The hope is that the incoming transfers, including Ross, who is switching schools in the conference, will help. However, there will be an adjustment period. Still, Alcorn State should find a way to stay in the top half of the league.
4. Grambling Tigers
Key Returners: Cam Christon, Prince Moss, Kelton Edwards
Key Losses: Devante Jackson, Ivy Smith Jr., Travon Bunch
Key Newcomers: Brian Thomas (Florida Gulf Coast), Cameron Woodall (JUCO), Reyhan Cobb (JUCO)
Grambling finished in a tie for fourth last season, and a bulk of the guys that helped with that are returning. However, the loss of Ivy Smith will be a hit for this team. He was first-team honoree after averaging 12.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2.3 steals per game in 2019-20. It is hard for programs to find an all-around player like that. That will be the Tigers’ biggest challenge heading into the new season. Grambling has the pieces to compete for a title, but it will depend on who can step in and be the new floor leader.
3. Texas Southern Tigers
Key Returners: Justin Hopkins, Yahuza Rasas, John Jones
Key Losses: Tyrik Armstrong, Eden Ewing
Key Newcomers: Galen Alexander (Georgetown)
Texas Southern is a mainstay in the SWAC in terms of title contention. The Tigers are always in the mix at the end and have pulled off some great upsets for the league over the last few seasons. A lot of that success comes in the form of impact transfers, which they hope Alexander can be. However, that does not mean there is no good talent coming back. Rasas was a second-team finisher last season after averaging 9.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Justin Hopkins and John Jones lead the backcourt. The Tigers are title contenders once more.
2. Jackson State Tigers
Key Returners: Tristan Jarrett, Jayveous McKinnis, Jonas James
Key Losses: Roland Griffin
Key Newcomers: Zeke Quinlan (Montana State), Calvin Temple (Louisiana), Darius Hicks (Eastern Kentucky), Kelvin Robinson (Appalachian State)
Jackson State is usually another program that is fighting for titles in most seasons. However, that had not been the case recently until being competitive again in 2019-20. The Tigers got a few wins over the top of the league and finished tied for fourth. The program has a player of the year candidate Jarrett back for one more season, while McKinnis was close to averaging a double-double last season. The Tigers get even better with all the incoming transfers. Jackson State will make their own claim for the league’s auto-bid this season.
1. Southern Jaguars
Key Returners: Kirk Parker, Ahsante Shivers, Damiree Burns
Key Losses: Amel Kuljuhovic, Darius Williams
Key Newcomers: Andre Allen (Arizona State), Andre Toure (Howard), Harrison Henderson (Milwaukee)
Southern took many by surprise last season after pushing for a league title and finishing in second. Most of that team is back this season and looking to finish the job this time. The Jaguars will arguably be stronger with Parker back from a season-ending injury just one game into the 2019-20 season. The incoming transfers provide this team the depth they need to rotate without too much of a talent loss on the court. Southern appears to be the team to beat in the SWAC this season.
2020-21 SWAC Basketball Preview Award Projections
Player of the Year: Tristan Jarrett, Jackson State
Jarrett will look to make the most of his final season with the Tigers. He averaged 16.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, good enough for the SWAC’s second-team. Jarrett is good enough to improve on those already impressive numbers while looking to get Jackson State back to the NCAAs.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jayveous McKinnis, Jackson State
McKinnis staked his claim on this award last season and will now look to defend it. He makes most of his impact on the defensive end in the paint, where he swatted 1.8 blocks per game a season ago. However, his career average is even better, sitting at an even two blocks per game. McKinnis can pick your pocket too, averaging just a shade under one steal per game in 2019-20. He should continue to improve as a defender, which is scary given how good he already is.
Freshman of the Year: Anjay Cortez, Alabama A&M
Cortez should find some playing time in the Bulldogs’ rotation down low. He comes to Alabama A&M from United Faith Christian Academy in Charlotte, NC. He averaged 13.7 points, 10.8 rebounds, four assists, and 2.4 blocks per game as a senior. Those stats are reflective of the versatility Cortez has in the paint, and that will allow him to shine as he develops for the program.
Newcomer of the Year: Harrison Henderson, Southern
Henderson comes to Southern as a grad transfer from Milwaukee. He had spent two seasons at USC prior to that. Henderson never really got the minutes he wanted at either stop but figures to play a bigger role for the Jaguars. He should sub in for Kirk Parker, and his size should allow him to do well in this league. He is the type of guy you want coming off the bench and making an impact, especially for a team with a title on its mind.
Coach of the Year: Sean Woods, Southern
Woods has done a tremendous job so far during his time with Southern. He engineered a 10-win improvement last season, getting 17 victories after only seven in year one. He appears ready to continue that upward trajectory, with 20 wins and a league title as the next step. If Woods gets his team to play to their capabilities this season, he can get the Jaguars back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years, winning this award along the way.
All-Conference First-Team Projection: Troymain Crosby (Alcorn State), Tristan Jarrett (Jackson State), Jayveous McKinnis (Jackson State), Yahuza Rosas (Texas Southern), Kirk Parker (Southern)
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