What to expect this season from Kennesaw State basketball.
Kennesaw State’s basketball teams will look to overcome significant coaching and personnel changes ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Following their thrilling 2022-23 ASUN championship run and a first-ever NCAA Tournament bid, Owls’ Men’s Basketball will introduce many new faces while bringing back a few familiar ones. Women’s Hoops will look to build on its upward trajectory as a program while replacing a few key pieces on the fly.
First-year Head Coach Antionne Pettway was immediately tasked with finding replacements for not only leading scorer Chris Youngblood but also the team’s best two defenders Brandon Stroud and Kasen Jennings. Youngblood, Stroud and Jennings departed with former Head Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim to South Florida following last season’s conclusion leading to Pettway’s hiring.
Coach Pettway got to work immediately in the off-season by landing a transfer commitment from forward Jamel King, before even taking the stand at his introductory press conference.
Shortly after King’s commitment came the transfers of Georgia’s Jusuan Holt and Alabama-Birmingham’s Rongie Gordon. All three transfers are expected to play major roles in the Owls’ ASUN title defense.
Blending experience with youth and potential, Pettway put together an impressive first-freshman signing class. The Owls signed three guards, local prospect Chase Clemmons, Alabama’s top-ranked RJ Johnson and Marcus Whitlock. Rounding out the class, three-star forward Franquon Sherman will add front-court depth and incredible athleticism.
In their final year as ASUN conference members, the Owls will have their work cut out for them in their title defense. Although the pieces appear to be there, championship teams aren’t put together overnight. The new Owls will need to be given patience from fans and students alike, as they take the necessary time to gel and build chemistry.
Under the leadership of returning fifth-year seniors Terrell Burden and Demond Robinson, KSU Men’s Basketball still has the potential to make plenty of noise in the upcoming season.
On the women’s side, Head Coach Octavia Blue looks to continue the turnaround of her program. In 2022-23, the Lady Owls compiled their best overall record since the 2014-15 season and their first winning record in conference play since 2008-09. In 2023-24 however, Blue will face the challenge of replacing leading scorers Jah’che Whitfield and Amani Johnson who combined to average over 24 points per game last season.
Blue introduced new Associate Head Coach Keisha McClinic and Assistant Morgan Stroman to her staff along with roster changes.
“We’ve embraced the new coaches very well,” junior Lee’Aira Willis said. “They came in and have shown us nothing but love and I can see that they’re pouring into us.”
Senior Carly Hooks will be expected to take the next step for Blue’s group both as a leader and producer. The guard returns after a season in which she finished third on the team in scoring at 9.0 points per game.
With the loss of last year’s leaders comes a new opportunity for the players that Blue herself signed out of high school. Although there may be regression early, the women’s program is still heading in the right direction.
