BEAUMONT, Texas – While there are still a couple days left in September, the Lamar University men's basketball team is making plans for the 2023-24 season with their first official team workout Thursday afternoon at the Rec Center on campus. Big Red has just over a month to prepare for its regular-season opener which will take place Monday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. against Jarvis Christian.
 
There is a lot of excitement surrounding the upcoming season as the Cardinals return the heart of their roster, including more than half the scoring and rebounding from a year ago. The roster consists of two seniors, five juniors, five sophomores and three freshmen.
 
Once again, LU head coach Alvin Brooks returns a roster with a great deal of size. The Cardinals have four players standing at least 6-9, and three standing 6-10.
 
The guards include Brian Gordon (6-2, So., Houston, Texas), Jakevion Buckley (6-0, 162, Shelbyville, Texas), Chris Pryor (5-11, Sr., DeSoto, Texas), B.B. Knight (6-6, So., Tulsa), Cody Pennebaker (6-5, So., Brooklyn Park, Minn.), Max Pearcy (6-1, So., Woodbine, MD), Ja'Sean Jackson (6-0, Jr., Abilene Christian) and Jayden Barrs (6-1, Fr., Manor, Texas). The forwards are Janko Bulajic (6-10, So., Montenegro), Errol White (6-7, Jr., Eastern New Mexico), Terry Anderson (6-6, Jr., Arkansas-Cossatot) and Javon Murray (6-4, Fr., League City, Texas) and the centers are Adam Hamilton (6-9, Sr., Buckeye, Ariz.), Valentin Catt (6-10, Jr., Orangefield, Texas) and Aleksa Lekic (6-10, Fr., Montenegro).
 
Pryor returns as the team's top returning scorer (among all players who played in at least 20 games last season) averaging better than 10.3 points per game and ranked among the league leaders in assists. Classmate Adam Hamilton was off to a great start in 2022-23 averaging 11.0 points per game and pulling down nearly six rebounds per game until injuries cut his season short.
 
The Cardinals' coaching staff brought in six newcomers to assist an already talented returning corps of players. The newcomers include Jayden Barrs (6-1, 190, Fr, G), B.B. Knight (6-6, 189, So., G, Tulsa), Errol White (6-7, 205, Jr., Eastern New Mexico), Ja'Sean Jackson (6-0, 170, Jr., G, Abilene Christian), Aleksa Lekic (6-10, 215, Fr., C, Montenegro), Javon Murray (6-4, 225, Fr., F, League City, Texas).