Men's Basketball 11/6/2026 9:42:00 PM Chris Myers

New Look Rams Set to Build Men’s Basketball Success

ALBANY, Ga. – The season opener and unveiling of the newest edition Golden Rams is almost upon us. First-year Head Coach Rodney Mayes and his new look Albany State University men's basketball team are in their final week of building team chemistry and making the last preparations to lay the foundation of success for the 2026-27 hard court campaign.

With a true mix of talented newcomers and solid foundation of returners, Mayes is molding his first Golden Ram roster. His first edition will be one of a new style of play and attitude, while the ASU coach brings his own high expectations and hunger for sustained program success within the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and NCAA DII South Region ranks.

"We are a work in progress as we (he and his coaching staff) try to get our guys to buy in to our system," explains Mayes. "From August until November 13, we have to figure it out. If I had to say right now, we are at stage 4 of the process."

The ASU coaching staff are putting the final touches on its preparations as the 2026-27 starts with the SIAC/Sunshine State Conference Classic in Boca Raton, Fla. Tipping off the season, ASU faces host Lynn University on Friday afternoon, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m. The Rams return to the court less than 24 hours later to finish the Classic against the Tars of Rollins College for a 12 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 14) start time. After three road games, ASU makes its home debut on Tuesday night (Nov. 24) in a 7:30 p.m. tip against Shorter University in the West Campus Arena.
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Full Season Schedule
Team Roster
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What Mayes and his staff are figuring out is the gelling of his Rams team. Along with six players returning from last year's squad, the new ASU general has 10 transfers comprising the rest of the Rams this season.

"We brought three players with us from Lyon College, but the rest of the new guys haven't played together before now. It is good we also have continuity with guys back as well," added Mayes.

Expectations

With the changes in the Ram program and coming off a 12-17 season, the SIAC coaches predicted Albany State to finish 7^th of the 15-team men's side of the Conference. Morehouse, Clark Atlanta and Tuskegee garnered the top three spots.

"For us to be a success, we need to be a competitive basketball team every night. We need to turnaround the close games from last year (eight of the team's losses came by seven points or less, with five at four points or fewer). We plan to be competitive and let the chips fall where they fall," stated the ASU coach.

Mayes' last three Lyon College teams finished an identical 18-9, including making the USCAA D1 men's championship three years ago and the Semifinals two years ago. The new ASU coach produced a .667 winning percentage the last trio of seasons at 54-27 after he was able to get the program rolling and left with a five-year mark of 73-63 (.537).

The ASU Head Coach aims to steer the Rams to the same consistent level of success starting in 2026-27. ASU has only one winning season in the last five where it went 18-12 for the 2024-25 season. Last year's 12 victories were the most of the other four years in the last five.

The Ram cupboard was not bare for Mayes with the returners dotting the roster again this year. Leading the six Rams back, Cameron Evans received one of only five spots on the Preseason All-SIAC First Team after he averaged 11.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest as a junior. Fellow starter Christian Gary (6.3 ppg and 4.8 rpg with a .579 field goal percentage) gives two of five starters back to lead the fold.

"We count on Cam and CG (Gary) to give us some continuity with those two guys who started last year back. They pass along the culture of the other teams and what values and strengths the other Conference programs have and what we should expect to see in them," said Mayes. "We aren't putting pressure on Cam, but the expectations will be high. We don't have many returners so there are not many eyes (heading into the season) on us. We plan to be able to compete as a basketball team every night."

Style & Strengths

With the Ram leadership change and the majority of the players being in their first year in the program, what can fans expect for the style of play and strengths of the new look squad on the court.

"We will run a motion offense that is fast-paced, up tempo and high scoring. We want to be up tempo, but efficient in our scoring," explained the ASU coach. "We want transition 3-pointers when we can and to have our average be between 80-85 points.

Unlike other teams, this Ram roster aims to not be 'top heavy' in production.

"We want to share the wealth where we have six to seven guys in double figures as we plan to play between 10 to 12 guys a night," added Mayes.

ASU looks to improve on the defensive side of the equation. The Rams saw their opponents outscore them by five points per game (78.4 ppg to 73.5 ppg), grab six more rebounds (36.2 rpg to 28.5 rpg) and make almost half of the field goal attempts (.484).

"We will be stronger (physically) and defensively as we plan to get up and play hard and physical. We have a lot of good defensive players and offense will come off it (the defensive play). We will match up 94 defense (full court), as well, to force the other team to take quick shots and pressure them," stressed Mayes. "We play really hard physical and intense in practice and will bring it to the games."

With the new philosophy and style of play, Mayes and his staff have another team characteristic they have been working on with them.

"It will surprise teams how hard we play. We intend to be the most in shape team and I know we have the toughness and athletes to keep the pace," the coach said.

The Roster

Starting on the wing, All-SIAC First Team Evans will lead the group. The senior from Americus, Ga., has seen his production increase in each of his first three seasons at ASU from 5.6 to 8.2 and then to 11.6 points per night last year. He has totaled 682 points, 242 rebounds and 133 assists to go with a .789 free throw percentage (116 of 147) over 77 career games.

Four transfers – Jaxon Yancy (Little Rock, Ark.), Marchello Perkins (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), Kenneth Brown (Oak Hill, Calif.) and Xavier Sorrell (Los Angeles, Calif.) – join Evans on the outside.

Yancy brings an elite 3-point shooting presence to the roster. The junior spent the last two seasons excelling at Arkansas State Mid-South where he totaled 905 points in 66 games with averages of 14.0 and 13.5 points per night. The 6-5 wing drained 177 treys (88 and 89 for season totals made) in 463 attempts for a .382 percentage.

Coming east, Perkins played at Shelton State Community College where he averaged 7.2 points in 31 games a year ago. The 6-5 junior hit 46 of 107 long-range tries for a .438 percentage.

Moving to ASU along with Coach Mayes, Brown and Sorrell both played for Lyon College a season ago. Brown, a 6-5 defensive specialist and physical guard, averaged double figures at 10.4 ppg to go with 38 assists, 44 steals and 21 blocked shots.

Sorrell, a long wing who can guard the four inside, is a high energy guy for the lineup. He contributed 7.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 58 steals. The 6-5 junior led Lyon in field goal percentage at .595 where he made 91 of his 153 shot attempts.

Being healthy for the first time as a Ram, Greg Maxwell adds another quality wing player to the team's arsenal. Maxwell from Gainesville, Fla., played in seven games two years ago where he finished with six points in 26 total minutes played.

Kaleb Murray also returns as the final outside Ram for his third season. The St. Mary's, Ga., native saw action in 14 games the last two campaigns and put up eight points.

Turning to the quarterback position of the team, ASU will have a trio of fast point guard options starting with returner Malique Johnson (College Park, Ga.), who will be joined by transfers Shemarion Hardy (Cleveland, Ohio) and J.J. Moore (Gastonia, NC).

Johnson logged 10 minutes a night in 25 of the Rams games last season. The third-year guard netted 2.0 points and 1.2 assists (27) per contest, and downed four 3-pointers.

A super-fast point, who can finish layups through the lane, Hardy was the second-leading scorer last year for Henry Ford Community College. The 6-1 guard averaged 12.4 points (310 points) and led in assists at 6.5 per contest (162), while he also pulled in 4.3 rebounds, swiped 1.5 steals and drained 35 long-range shots.

Moore finished as Cape Fear Community College's leading point producer last year where he posted a 15.8-point average (378 points) in 24 games. The 5-10 junior also paced his team with 5.6 assists (135) and 2.1 steals (50) averages, while he clutched 5.7 rebounds (137), downed 39 treys and registered a solid .819 free throw clip (113 of 138).

Turning to the inside, ASU has the luxury of a returning duo to count in Gary and Alex Mena (Quibdo, Columbia), who will be joined by four new inside presences – Tre Taylor (Jackson, Miss.), Mark Saade (Lee County, Ga.), Opeyemi Wilson (Tulsa, Okla.) and Zion Gardner (Albany, Ga.).

The top athletes of the group are Gary, who aims to add to his solid second-year production (6.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Taylor, who is the third player to accompany Coach Mayes to ASU from Lyon College. Taylor, in fact, led Lyon in both scoring (14.8 ppg – 399 points) and rebounding (7.6 rpg – 205 rebounds). The 6-8 forward also swatted 30 shots, stole 35 passes and made .466 of his field goals (167 of 358) in 27 games.

Described as a 'big body bruiser,' Saade returns to his home area after he contributed 9.3 points (251) and 7.0 rebounds (189) for Enterprise State Community College last season. The 6-8 junior also made over half of his field goals (105 of 205 at .512) and blocked 13 shots.

Wilson brings a shot blocker, who can catch-and-finish and run the floor. The 6-9 inside player turned in a solid 8.9 points (161) and 6.6 boards (119) per night for Rend Lake College. The junior put in 67 of his 126 shot attempts at a .519 rate, while he blocked 51 shots or 2.8 per game.

Like Saade, Gardner comes home for his third year playing collegiate basketball. The 6-9 Albany native averaged 5.1 points and 2.9 rebounds, while he made .604 of his field goals (64 of 106) last season at Brunswick Community College.

With the long list of talent now throughout the Ram roster, Mayes has some plans to not let others dictate ASU's game this year.

"I want to force the other team to adjust to us and we don't adjust to them."

If the new coach's track record his last few seasons is any preview, ASU fans have some exciting basketball set to be unveiled with what should be success in the team's record to follow.

-GoldenRams-

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Players Mentioned

#23 Cameron Evans: G; 6' 4"; Senior

#12 Christian Gary: F; 6' 8"; Junior

#13 Malique Johnson: G; 6' 1"; Junior

#11 Greg Maxwell: G; 6' 2"; Junior

#32 Alex Mena: F; 6' 8"; Senior

#21 Kaleb Murray: G; 6' 2"; Junior

#2 Shemarion Hardy: G; 6' 1"; Junior

#3 Kenneth Brown: G; 6' 5"; Senior

#4 Marchello Perkins: G; 6' 5"; Junior

#10 Xavier Sorrell: G; 6' 4"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#23 Cameron Evans
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

#12 Christian Gary
: 6' 8"; Junior
: F

#13 Malique Johnson
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G

#11 Greg Maxwell
: 6' 2"; Junior
: G

#32 Alex Mena
: 6' 8"; Senior
: F

#21 Kaleb Murray
: 6' 2"; Junior
: G

#2 Shemarion Hardy
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G

#3 Kenneth Brown
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G

#4 Marchello Perkins
: 6' 5"; Junior
: G

#10 Xavier Sorrell
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G