Guards to Set the Pace for Men’s Basketball this Season

The Georgia Gwinnett College men’s basketball team was one of the nation’s most offensive prolific NAIA teams during its inaugural 2025-26 campaign, averaging 90.3 points per game and making nearly 37.6 percent of its 3-point field goals.

More firepower is expected this winter as the Grizzlies return three key backcourt pieces and are blessed with talented newcomers after successful junior college seasons.

“I feel really comfortable with the returners, which give our team a nice backbone,” said Head Coach Chase Teichmann in a preseason interview. “I know our program’s strengths and weaknesses from the first year, and where we needed to get better from last season (resulting in a 25-7 record and NAIA postseason appearance). We have been working during our preseason to develop those areas where we want this year’s team to be a little different.”

GGC’s first test of the regular season is scheduled to come inside the Convocation Center on Thursday, October 22, when facing Columbia International University (South Carolina). The team plays its first four games at home, participates in the Dalton State (Georgia) Classic and The Show NAIA Basketball Showcase in Kingsport, Tennessee, while hosting the Grizzly Classic in a busy 2026 portion of the upcoming season.

GGCAthletics.com continues previewing the Grizzlies’ winter teams by examining the men’s basketball team’s guards – a position of strength for a squad that returns eight players for the program’s second year.

Senior Jahiem Berry collected second all-Continental Athletic Conference team honors last winter after averaging 12.7 points per game and making 41.6 percent of his 3-point field goals. The guard made 106 3-pointers and started 21 of his 32 games. Berry had four games with 20 of more points, with a season-high 31-point effort against Haskell Indian Nations University (Kansas) and 28 points against the College of Coastal Georgia in consecutive mid-January games.

Sophomore Mario Hill Jr. emerged as a key reserve throughout the season for the 2025-26 Grizzlies, averaging 18.7 minutes per contest while appearing in all 32 games. The guard was another strong outside shooter for the team, making 44.9 percent of his shots. He also had 32 steals.

“Mario really understands our offense and is one of our best defenders,” the veteran coach assessed. “He is quick and athletic, with quick hands to get deflections and steals, and has a tremendous work ethic. He’s also super coachable.”

Senior Brasen James made 17 starts among his 28 appearances last winter, averaging 7.9 points per contest and having 17 steals. The Evans, Georgia, native shot nearly 41 percent from the floor.

“Brasen played key minutes for us last year. He defends at a super high level and we have tasked him with rebounding more this year,” Teichmann said. “He is a tremendous athlete, and I want him to use those athletic abilities to help us win games by being a better offensive and defensive rebounder. Also, his shooting should bump up naturally to where it has been in the past (when he averaged 14.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest at Reinhardt University (Georgia) in 2024-25.)”

Freshmen Marc Chavenet and Kolton Kurek redshirted last season after each appeared in six games in reserve roles. They bring experience with the Grizzlies’ offensive and defensive systems and understand the program’s expectations.

Newcomers hoping to break into the rotation are juniors Ray Rolley and Deshawn Clark, a duo that were double-figure scorers as junior college players last season.

Tahai Morgan is a junior newcomer who brings collegiate experience to the backcourt after being a contributor at NCAA Division II Clayton State University (Georgia).