SAVANNAH, Ga. – With a strong returning nucleus, three preseason all-conference selections and several talented newcomers, the Savannah State University men's basketball team enters the 2026-27 season looking to build on last year's success and make another run at the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championship.

Under the direction of head coach Clevan Thompson, who will begin his second full season in charge of the program, the Tigers return a combination of experience, leadership and offensive firepower after finishing the 2025-26 campaign with a 16-12 overall record and a 15-9 mark in conference play.

Now, with a full year of experience under Thompson's leadership and a roster featuring several key contributors from last season, Savannah State will look to establish itself among the SIAC's top contenders.

Three Tigers Earn Preseason All-Conference Recognition
Leading the charge for Savannah State are senior guard Zyere Edwards, graduate forward Zion Davis and senior forward James Leach, each of whom earned a spot on the 2026-27 Preseason All-SIAC Third Team.

Edwards, a Savannah native, returns as one of the Tigers' top offensive weapons after averaging 10.5 points per game last season. The 5-foot-10 guard appeared in all 28 contests, scoring 295 points while leading Savannah State with 57 steals. Edwards also averaged 1.9 assists per game and delivered one of the team's most impressive individual performances with a 31-point outing against Kentucky State.

Davis, a 6-foot-4 graduate student from Dublin, Georgia, provides another experienced scoring option for Thompson's squad. He averaged 9.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest during the 2025-26 campaign, appearing in 26 games with 19 starts. Davis finished the season with 235 points, connected on 35.2 percent of his three-point attempts and collected 29 steals.

Leach, a 6-foot-6 senior from Savannah, anchors the Tigers' frontcourt after establishing himself as one of the team's most productive interior players. He averaged 7.0 points and a team-leading 6.5 rebounds per game last season, finishing with 181 rebounds, including 74 offensive boards. Leach also shot an impressive 65.1 percent from the floor and led Savannah State with 40 blocked shots.

The trio combined for 726 points, 295 rebounds and 126 steals last season, giving Thompson an established foundation heading into the new campaign.

Experienced Returners Provide Depth and Leadership
Beyond its three preseason all-conference selections, Savannah State returns several experienced players who will be counted on to contribute throughout the season.

Senior guard Michael Swift returns after averaging 7.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 17 appearances last season. The Jacksonville, Florida, native shot 51.9 percent from the field and 83.8 percent from the free-throw line, giving the Tigers an experienced ball handler and another scoring option in the backcourt.

Senior forward Jordan Mikell, also from Jacksonville, adds versatility to the frontcourt. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward provides size, athleticism and experience around the basket.

Senior forward Kelvin Cochran Jr. returns after appearing in 27 contests last season. The Bainbridge, Georgia, native connected on 55 percent of his field-goal attempts while contributing 63 points and 41 rebounds. His experience will be valuable as Savannah State looks to establish a physical presence inside.

Junior guard Braylon Jackson also returns after appearing in 26 games last season, averaging 3.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per contest. Jackson gives the Tigers additional depth and experience in the backcourt.

Other returning players include senior guards Khalil Grace and Micah Johnson, senior forward Juan Gordon, along with sophomore forward Isaiah Isichei, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound product of Berlin, Germany.

With several players returning from last season's rotation, Thompson will have an opportunity to build on the chemistry developed during his first full season while incorporating additional talent into the lineup.

Newcomers Bring Scoring, Size and Versatility
One of the biggest storylines entering the 2026-27 season is the addition of several newcomers who could make an immediate impact for the Tigers.

Graduate guard Antonio Sisk II, a Dallas, Texas, native, arrives after spending time at Mississippi Valley State University. The 6-foot guard previously starred at Dallas College Cedar Valley, where he earned First Team All-Conference and All-Region V recognition after averaging 18.6 points per game during the 2023-24 season.

At Mississippi Valley State, Sisk appeared in 28 games with 15 starts during the 2024-25 campaign, averaging 6.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists while connecting on 40 percent of his three-point attempts. His scoring ability and Division I experience could provide a boost to Savannah State's perimeter attack.
Sisk also has a family connection to the university. His father, Antonio Sisk, played quarterback for Savannah State in the late 1990s and later served as the athletic department's equipment manager.

Junior guard Hugh McFarland, a Memphis, Tennessee, native, joins the Tigers after a productive career at Arkansas State Mid-South. The 5-foot-10 playmaker averaged 13.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game while earning Second Team All-Region honors. His 256 assists ranked second nationally among junior college players, giving Savannah State another talented facilitator in the backcourt.

Junior guard Bryce Scurlark brings additional size and versatility to the perimeter. The 6-foot-6 Atlanta native previously competed at Southeastern Community College and Dyersburg State Community College, averaging 13 points per game. His combination of length, athleticism and scoring ability should give Thompson additional options on both ends of the floor.

Perhaps the most intriguing addition is Fortune Anslem-Ibe, a 7-foot junior center from Lagos, Nigeria. The Independence Community College transfer brings a significant interior presence after leading his previous team in field-goal percentage and blocked shots during the 2025-26 campaign.

Anslem-Ibe ranked among the top five players in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference in several shot-blocking and field-goal percentage categories. His arrival gives Savannah State additional rim protection, rebounding potential and a new dimension in the paint. He is also set to become the tallest player in
Savannah State basketball history.

The Tigers have also added Cheikh Fall, a 6-foot-8 freshman center from Thies, Senegal, who will provide additional size and depth in the front court.

Defense, Rebounding and Efficiency Remain Keys
Savannah State's success last season was built in part on its ability to defend, rebound and create additional possessions.

The Tigers held opponents to 39.5 percent shooting from the field while averaging 9.4 steals and 4.4 blocked shots per contest. Savannah State also maintained a positive rebounding margin, collecting 37.0 rebounds per game compared to 35.1 for its opponents.

Offensively, Savannah State averaged 67.1 points per contest while shooting 40.6 percent from the field and 71.4 percent from the free-throw line.

With Edwards returning as one of the conference's most disruptive perimeter defenders and Leach anchoring the interior, the Tigers have the personnel to continue emphasizing defense.

The addition of Anslem-Ibe, Fall and Gordon could further strengthen the team's interior presence, while newcomers Sisk, McFarland and Scurlark provide additional offensive options.

Improving perimeter shooting and limiting turnovers will also be important for the Tigers. Savannah State shot 30.1 percent from three-point range and averaged 16.6 turnovers per game last season. Greater consistency in those areas could help Thompson's squad take another step forward.

Tigers Picked Sixth in SIAC Preseason Poll
Despite returning three preseason all-conference selections, Savannah State enters the season with something to prove after being selected sixth in the SIAC's predicted order of finish.

Morehouse was picked to win the conference, followed by Clark Atlanta, Tuskegee, Miles and Edward Waters.

The Tigers will look to exceed those expectations as they navigate a competitive conference schedule featuring several programs with postseason aspirations.

Savannah State will also look to capitalize on its home-court advantage at Tiger Arena, where the Tigers have established themselves as a difficult opponent under Thompson.

Challenging Schedule Awaits the Tigers
Savannah State will officially tip off the 2026-27 campaign on November 13 against Auburn University at Montgomery at the Lynn Cottrell Arena at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega, Georgia.

The Tigers will remain in Dahlonega for a November 14 matchup against Emmanuel University before returning to Savannah for their home opener against LeMoyne-Owen College on Thursday, November 19, at 7:30 p.m. inside Tiger Arena.

Savannah State will also host Lane College on November 21 before traveling to USC Beaufort on November 24.

December will feature a challenging stretch of conference contests, including road trips to Central State, Kentucky State, Tuskegee and Miles. The Tigers will also host Albany State on December 10 and Spring Hill on December 12.

Following the holiday break, Savannah State will open the new year at home against Morehouse on January 2 before embarking on a demanding road stretch that includes Fort Valley State, Clark Atlanta, Benedict, Edward Waters, Allen, LeMoyne-Owen and Lane.

The Tigers will return to Tiger Arena for late-January contests against Central State and Kentucky State before closing out the regular season with a series of key conference matchups.

Savannah State's final four regular-season games will all be played at home, beginning February 13 against Edward Waters. The Tigers will then host Allen on February 15, Tuskegee on February 18 and Miles on February 20.

The 2027 SIAC Basketball Tournament is scheduled to begin February 27.

Building Toward Another Postseason Run
For Thompson and the Tigers, the expectations surrounding the 2026-27 campaign are clear.

Savannah State has the experience of three preseason all-conference performers, an established group of returning contributors and a collection of newcomers capable of strengthening the roster at multiple positions.

With Edwards and Davis providing offensive production, Leach leading the frontcourt and newcomers bringing additional scoring and size, the Tigers have an opportunity to build a balanced team capable of competing throughout the conference season.

The challenge will be blending those pieces into a cohesive unit while maintaining the defensive intensity and competitive identity established during Thompson's first full season.

As the Tigers prepare to take the floor in November, Savannah State will look to turn its returning experience and added talent into another successful season, with its sights set on competing for an SIAC championship and returning to the NCAA Division II postseason.

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