Men’s Basketball Forwards to Play Key Role, Log Many Minutes for Upcoming Season

The Georgia Gwinnett College men’s basketball team’s forwards and post players have all the qualities – size, speed, passing ability, and pure athleticism – to pave the way for success during the program’s inaugural season.

GGCAthletics.com concludes its preseason position preview series by highlighting the frontline players for the inaugural campaign opening Thursday, October 23 against Spartanburg Methodist College (South Carolina) inside The Convocation Center, starting at 7:30 p.m.

“All four of our forwards and post players are super different and are probably going to play because of what each one brings to the team,” said Head Coach Chase Teichmann, who won 100 games over four seasons in leading Florida College before coming to Lawrenceville to lay the foundation of the Grizzlies’ new program.

Junior Devontre Chaney joins seniors Ezzy Dawson Jr. and Stephon Martin and freshman Patrick Johnson in the rotation seeking to protect the paint near the GGC hoop this winter.

Chaney is an athletic and versatile player who can play all five positions on the floor. The 6-foot-5 player averaged 15.6 points and nine rebounds, along with 5.1 assists per game, in earning National Junior College Athletic Association regional accolades while starring at Palm Beach State College (Florida) during the 2023-24 season.

“If we go with Devontre in the front court, it gives us a small-ball look. He can be like what (NBA standout) Draymond Green is for the (championship) Golden State Warriors because he’s that versatile and that good,” said Teichmann.

Dawson Jr. and Martin are traditional post players with multiple years of collegiate experience. Dawson Jr. averaged 10 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in 2023-24 for Pearl River Community College (Mississippi). He then spent last season playing at NCAA Division II New Mexico Highlands University.

Meanwhile, Martin is familiar with Teichmann’s style of play after playing three seasons at Florida College. The 6-foot-6 forward made 60 percent of his field goals for the Falcons and was a member of two conference-winning squads.

“Depending on how well the forwards play might be how frequent we use that small-ball lineup,” said Teichmann. “Stephon has played a lot of college basketball, with four years of experience, and knows what we’re trying to do after playing three years for me. He can score it down in the block and is a really good passer.”

The coach added, “Ezzy is athletic and is getting to understand our style and system. I think he is going to come along really well for us and bring that defensive intensity and rebounding presence we need.”

Johnson earned Player of the Year honors after leading Florida’s Gateway Charter High School to a district championship in 2024. At 6-foot-8, he is the tallest player on the GGC roster for this season.