FRISCO, Texas – Coming off a season where the Lamar University men's basketball team stunned all the prognosticators, the Cardinals have gained more respect entering the 2024-25 season. Lamar has been picked to finish fifth in a Southland Conference Preseason Poll of league head coaches and media relations directors.
 
Just a year ago, the Cardinals enter the season picked to finish ninth (of 10 teams) just three votes ahead of Houston Christian, but the Red and White posted a 19-win season – it's most wins since 2018-19 – and finished fourth in the conference standings with a 12-6 (.667) record.
 
Under the direction of head coach Alvin Brooks, now in his fourth season with his alma mater, the Cardinals go in search of even more league respect with a roster that includes three returning starters. Senior Adam Hamilton is the team's second-leading returning scorer (10.5 ppg) and top returning rebounder (6.7 rpg) and provides LU with one of the league's premier big men. He is joined in scoring by B.B. Knight who is the team's top returning scorer averaging 10.7 points per game and proved himself as one of the league's top long-range threats in his first year with the team converting 66-of-178 three-point attempts.
 
This duo will be joined by letterwinners Cody Pennebaker (6-5, Jr., G, two-year starter), Jayden Barrs (6-1, 190, Fr., G, redshirted 2023-24), Errol White (6-7, 205, Sr., F), Ja'Sean Jackson (6-0, 176, Sr., G) and Janko Bulajic (6-10, 233, Jr., C).
 
Coach Brooks, and his staff, has also brought in a talented mix of prep standouts to go along with another strong transfer class. The transfers include Alexis Marmolejos (6-1, 180, Jr., G, Arizona Western), Danquez Dawsey (6-2, 180, Sr., G, Central Oklahoma), Terrance Dixon, Jr. (6-8, 235, Jr. F, North Texas) and Andrew Holifield (6-10, 185, Jr., F, Ranger College). The incoming freshmen are Braden East (6-9, 238, F, Houston, Texas), Jayden Gambrell (6-3, 170, G, Houston, Texas) and Jace Jeffries (5-10, 165, G, Tomball, Texas).
 
Lamar tips off the 2024-25 campaign Tuesday, Oct. 29^th against LSU-Alexandria in and exhibition game, followed by the regular-season opener Monday, Nov. 4 against Paul Quinn College.