MBB: Southern Athletic Association

[Ron Boerger]

Trinity AC Thomas Orr, a late add to the staff after former AC Sterling Holmes left coaching for a better opportunity just before the season started, has been named HC at Lyon.  Coach Rock will have to hire another assistant in less than a year. 

[scottiedoug]

I guess it was inevitable. I hate it.

https://mcscots.com/news/2026/5/12/general-saa-announces-exclusive-media-rights-partnership-with-flosports.aspx

[Ron Boerger]

Courtesy of nescac1 in the Transfers/Seniors with Remaining Eligibility thread, SAA players who will not be playing next season (portal moves):

Fletcher Bigham, Sewanee (6'8" F, 19.4 PPG, 11.0 RPG) -> Coastal Carolina
Aeden Lewis, Southwestern (6'3" G, 13.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 41.8% FT!) -> South Alabama

In the portal, no new home yet:

Nikolas Avaliani, Sewanee (6'4" G, 18.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG)
Jackson Huxtable, Rhodes (6'6" F, 16.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG)
Kalib Thomas, Centre (6'1" G, 14.5 PPG, 2.7 APG, 3.6 RPG)

The thread is updated frequently so head on over to stay apprised.  Only Avaliani is on nescac1's "many will end up on D2/D1 scholarship" list.

[Ron Boerger]

If you ever wanted to know how Marwan Elrakabawy went from being a lawyer to a D3 basketball coach, this story from his alma mater (U Texas School of Law) is highly educational.  Fun fact: his first D3 position was as an AC at Gallaudet.

[Ron Boerger]

Very exciting news that the NABC will be sponsoring two eight-team tournaments around New Year's, one in Las Vegas before the end of the year, the second in San Antonio at Trinity.  Much more at d3hoops.com, who broke the news today.

Unfortunately, this also means the D3Hoops.com Classic, which was held at this time of year in LV for over a decade, is no longer a thing.  It also means that, at least for the time being, there is no equivalent women's invitational.  Edit: D3Hoops.com will remain as a sponsor of the NABC - Las Vegas event!

[Ron Boerger]

Trinity has posted their returning roster for the upcoming season and there are a few changes.

First, all rising seniors return - led by Dylan Walker:  Walker, Dean Balo, Gabe Parr, Carter Ruck, Ben Estes.
Of last year's eight sophomores, three will not return:  Trent Medearis, Julian Dupertuis, and Javon Tolliver.  Returnees are Luke Bledsoe, Jackson Lawson, Max Sprott, Jake Miller, and most significantly, Will Bronson.
The rising sophomore class is complete:  Harlin, Wagner, DeMent, and Tisdall.

The three non-returnees combined for less than 5 points and 5 boards per game with most of the damage coming from Medearis and Tolliver.  A quick internet search did not reveal a transfer destination for any of the three. 

In other offseason news, the Tigers have hired Kalvin "Skoot" Lewis to replace the departed Thomas Orr as assistant coach.  Lewis was an assistant at Schreiner and Southern Arkansas before his most recent gig as HC at Fort Bend Austin HS in the Houston area.