MORRISTOWN, TN – No. 20 Walters State opens up their 2024-25 basketball season on Friday evening with new faces but a lot of talent.

Walters State is coming off a 29-3 season. The Senators won the TCCAA Championship and advanced to the NJCAA DI Tournament Second Round. Walters State lost to the eventual National Champion, Barton. 

The Senators return just two players that saw playing time last season and bring in 10 new student-athletes. However, those newcomers have impressed during the preseason and are expected to contribute a lot. 

"We've had a unique preseason due to the fact that we've played a lot of four-year institutions with older kids and experience," Walters State coach Jerry Nichols said. "Playing against that experience will hopefully help us throughout the season.

"I feel like we can score the basketball and have multiple ways of scoring this year, compared to what we did last year. Our length and size could be a problem for other teams. We have 10 new guys. We have a lot of talent, but we're learning and trying to figure it out. I am excited about it."

The two returning players for Walters State are Carter Metz and Charvez Ambrose. Ambrose averaged 7.4 points in 16 minutes per game last year, while Metz averaged two points and three assists in 13 minutes per game. 

"Leadership is important for those guys," Nichols said. "Being able to show the new guys that tradition and culture at Walters State. We'll lean on their leadership a lot this year." 

In terms of the newcomers, three of them are sophomores. Those are Aiden Goins, Anthony Davis Jr. and Alex Garcia. Goins transferred from Motlow State, earning All-TCCAA honors last season while averaging 14 points and six rebounds per game.

Meanwhile, Davis comes from Fairfield where he played in 15 games last season. Garcia transferred from Wright State. 

"I am excited about Aiden Goins," Nichols said. "He's a kid that was all-conference in the league last year. You expect him to be really, really good. He's learned a lot about himself since the summer, and he's gotten better. He has a long way to go, but I am excited to see him mix it up more. 

"We have a division one transfer in Ant Davis, who is long and strong. And Alex is super talented. He will remind the fans of Ramondo Battle in a sense of how he plays. He's another talent."

The freshmen are led by Da'Mori Lytch, Malaki Brooks and Elijah Clinton. All three have played significant minutes in the preseason and Nichols is excited about their abilities. 

"I think we have a trio of freshmen that are really good," Nichols said. "Da'Mori Lytch is a unicorn because he is so athletic and so well versed. Malaki Brooks is one of the top shooters in the state of Tennessee. He can explode at any time. And Elijah Clinton is a solid guard."

Other freshmen include Quin'Darius Rumph, who Nichols said is young but has a lot of upside, and Jaceion Coffey. Redshirt freshman Nathan Beasley and Adam Kadoura are also two individuals that could see playing time and know the Walters State culture. 

Schedule-wise, Walters State opens the season at home with the Carlyle/Kragel Classic. The Senators will play East Georgia State on Friday and No. 22 Georgia Highlands on Saturday. Both games are at 6 p.m. 

"I think our competition will benefit us a lot early on," Nichols said. "We've got two of the best Georgia teams coming here. East Georgia has had a really good preseason. Georgia Highlands is the No. 22 team in the country. There's not going to be a better weekend of basketball. It's going to be tough. I am just excited to have a classic this year against two really good teams."

As far as goals go, it's the same as always. The Senators will look to repeat as TCCAA/Region 7 Champions and get another shot in the NJCAA Tournament. 

"The goal is the goal," Nichols said. "The standard is the standard. The reality is that the goal is to try and win our conference first and get to nationals and try and win a national championship. That was the goal last year when I first came. We're excited about what we have this year, but we need to grow as the season goes on. Last year, our guys grew. We just need to do that again this year." 

For all information about the Walters State men's basketball team, visit www.wsccathletics.com and follow the Senators on social media.