Furman to Face Alabama Thursday in Exhibition Matchup in Tuscaloosa
For the third-straight season, Furman will open its hoops season with a matchup against an SEC team in an exhibition game, and it will also mark the second-straight season in which the Paladins will face off against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. EST at Coleman Coliseum Thursday evening.
Thursday's game against Alabama is the first of three exhibition games Furman will play during the month of October, facing Georgia Southern (Oct. 18) at Timmons Arena and will take on College of Charleston (Oct. 22) in Charleston at the end of the month. Both the Eagles and Cougars are former SoCon rivals.
Like most programs around the country in NCAA Division I basketball, the Paladins are navigating a unique time in college basketball, with plenty of uncertainty surrounding the availability of a couple of key players that could have a huge impact on what the Paladins look like lineup-wise in the upcoming season.
The defending Southern Conference Tournament champions are the preseason favorite to cut down the nets once again in Asheville, but like most teams, the Paladins will look much different than they did a year ago.
Furman will have at least one familiar face as a veteran leader on the floor this year that didn't think he would be returning in March, as 6-11 Charles Johnston is back after a getting a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) was issued to him by a judge in the State of California, as he is part of a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA seeking a fifth year of eligibility under the new NCAA legislation, which was decided just after the season, but excluded players from the 2022-23.
Tom House was also seeking a fifth year of eligibility, but was in the state of Ohio's case, which granted a stay by the judge presiding over the case. At the moment, House remains ineligible.
Johnston was a preseason all-conference selection it was announced earlier this week, and the 6-11 big man is coming off a season in which he posted 9.8 PPG and 9.0 RPG last season, which included posting 12 double-doubles and was a big part of the reason the Paladins ranked among the national leaders in rebounding all season.
As a team, Furman finished out the 2025-26 season ranking third in the league in total rebounding average (37.5 RPG), while ranking second in defensive rebound average (26.9 DRPG) and fourth in offensive rebounding average (10.7 ORPG). Johnston's importance to this Furman team could be extremely vital this season, as the Paladins have suffered of significant preseason injuries, with the likes of Owen Ritger having suffered a significant preseason injury that will likely keep him out the remainder of the season. Both Davis Molnar and Mason Smith are working their way back from knee injuries.
Molnar, who is now back to close to 100%, suffered a season-ending in the exhibition loss to Alabama last season, is now back to about 100%, while Smith's knee injury, which happened in early January, has taken a little more time to get back fully healthy. Molnar's knee injury would turn out to be a harbinger of things to come for the Paladins when it came to suffering injuries last season. It was a big reason why the Paladins finished just sixth in the 10-team SoCon, however, by the time the Paladins reached Asheville, they would be fully healthy and the results speak for themselves.
About Last Season...
Furman Claimed It's Eighth SoCon Tournament Title Last March
Furman did lose some significant pieces, however, with Alex Wilkins transferring out to Alabama's league rival Kentucky, while big man Cooper Bowser found his new home and will be playing at Bud Walton Arena at Arkansas next season rather Timmons Arena at Furman. Wilkins led the Paladins averaging 17.8 PPG and 4.7 APG, and was the Paladins' lone player represented on the SoCon's All-Conference team last season, claiming second-team honors.
Wilkins, who set a freshman record for points in a season with 622 points in 2025-26, which included 21 points in the 82-71 NCAA Tournament loss to No. 2 seed UConn, was named the SoCon Tournament MVP after posting 19, 34 and 12 points in wins over No. 3 Samford (W, 86-81), No. 7 UNCG (W, 81-75) and No. 1 East Tennessee State (W, 76-61) en route to garnering SoCon Tournament MVP honors and leading the Paladins to their second NCAA Tournament appearance in four years after having not having made the tournament for 43 years prior to the 2022-23 season.
Wilkins would be the first freshman point guard to start for head coach Bob Richey in his nine seasons as the head coach, and Richey would ride Wilkins, who was easily the best freshman in the SoCon and one of the best freshmen in the league since Stephen Curry (2006-07), as despite a high volume of turnovers, Wilkins could do things with the basketball that others couldn't and that equated to winning. Richey was okay with the mistakes because they were vastly outnumbered by the amount of winning plays that Wilkins made over the course of the season.
Cooper Bowser was also a significant impact player in the paint for the Paladins, finishing out the season as Furman's second-leading scorer, completing the campaign by averaging 13.8 PPG and pulling down 5.9 RPG, while shooting a blistering 76.6% (144-of-188) for the season. Bowser also led the team in blocks, as he swatted away 29 shots a year ago.
Bowser somehow was not on any of the three all-conference teams selected by the coaches at the end of the regular-season, but he did spend over a month on the shelf with a foot injury, missing the first half of conference play. It was evident, however, that Bowser was easily one of the top 15 players in the SoCon, and in the championship win over top seed ETSU, proved as much by scoring 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field, while adding eight boards, three blocks, and two assists in the win.
Asa Thomas, who ended the season as the Paladins' third-leading scorer, averaging 11.9 PPG and 3.8 RPG, decided to transfer back closer to home and will suit up for the University of Illinois-Chicago next season. Like Bowser, he spent a significant time in January and February on the mend but would make some key shots in the tournament to help the Paladins cut down the nets, but never regained the shooting form after his foot injury that had him as one of the top perimeter threats in the SoCon.
When it came to the "glue guy" responsibilities, it was little surprise that those would fall to Ben Vander Wal. Vander Wal helped headline Furman's outstanding defense last season, which ranked second to only ETSU last season according to KenPom's final regular-season stats, while the Paladins led the league in effective field goal percentage defense () in conference only games.
Vander Wal ended the season by starting a total of 31 of the 34 games he saw action for the Paladins and finished ranked sixth in program history in all-time wins, finishing out his career with 92 career wins. He posted a career average of 5.9 PPG and 4.7 RPG, starting 78 of his 134-career games.
The only other departure from the 2025-26 SoCon Champion Paladins will be Eddrin Bronson, who opted to transfer to The Citadel following the 2025-26 season. Bronson ended up being a key defensive piece on the Paladin roster last season, and ended the season averaging 5.4 PPG, 1.6 RPG and finished with 15 steals and 12 blocks. He finished the season seeing action in 34 games, which included making seven starts.
Furman became the second No. 6 seed in SoCon Tournament history to claim the SoCon title, following the first No. 6 seed to win the SoCon Tournament, which was Wofford, as it knocked off the No. 5 Paladins, 92-85, in the 2025 championship game.
The 2026-27 'Dins
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| Sophomore guard Collin O'Neal |
Unlike many of the programs in the Southern Conference, Furman was able to retain plenty of experience and veteran leadership from a team that cut down the nets in Asheville last season. Along with Johnston, Cole Bowser (5.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 12 stls, 6 blks), Abijah Franklin (4.4 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 14 stls), Davis Molnar (Missed entire season with torn ACL), Owen Ritger (1.7 PPG, 1.1 RPG), Mason Smith (3.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG) and Collin O'Neal (2.9 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 37% from 3pt range) were all members of that championship team of a year ago for the Paladins. None of those players listed above were particularly outstanding offensively, with three of the six players having been affected by injury. Both Smith and Molnar suffered lower-body injuries, which brought an end to their respective seasons.
Bowser got in his rookie season a year earlier than expected last season, and I dare say without him, I am not sure Furman would have cut down the nets in Asheville. The 6-6 sophomore guard can also play in the post, but he was mostly a pick-and-pop guy last season, but his game will be much different offensively this season, as he has evolved offensively. It was Bowser's athleticism and ability on the defensive end of the floor that allowed the Paladins to cut down the nets last season.
Overall, Bowser logged action in 20 games for the Paladins last season, including having made six starts. In terms of versatility, it might be Bowser that is Furman's most versatile player on its entire roster heading into the 2026-27 season.
His first of six starts came in a crucial early-season test at reigning regular-season champion Chattanooga. It looked like a stroke of genius from head coach Bob Richey to remove the redshirt at that very moment, as Bowser finished off a strong performance by posting six points and a team-best 13 rebounds, as the Paladins claimed a big 78-67 road win over the Mocs to help off-set their first league loss at home against Western Carolina.
Bowser's ability to shoot the three along with his athleticism and ability on the defensive end of the floor will be two added bonuses next season. This season, he will not only be an impact player on the defensive end of the floor and on both ends on the glass, but Bowser will be much more of an added offensive weapon and potential double figures scorer. He can play either wing guard or small forward, which looks like the most adequate fit for him with the graduation of Ben Vander Wal.
While Bowser's offensive numbers are sure to improve in 2026-27, many feel the same about Franklin, who like Bowser, spent most of the time garnering minutes due to his ability on the defensive end of the floor, has over the off-season narrowed his focus on his offensive contributions, which will be something he will be asked to do more frequently this season.
If you know anything about Franklin's career as a prep, then you know he can score the basketball at a high level. His improvement in that area this season will be enough to see him compete for all league honors in my estimation. Look for Franklin's perimeter jumper to see even more improvement in the 2026-27 season, as I look for him to be one of Furman's more feared perimeter shooters and overall offensive threats. Think of the jump that Kahmare Holmes made from his first season at Wofford until his sophomore season at Wofford, and I see that similar type of transformation in Franklin for the Paladins.
With his 6-5 frame, Franklin was already one of the more athletic players on Furman's roster this past season, and with some added muscle, he can be a real presence at multiple positions and will have a sound understanding of Furman's motion offensive intricacies in year two. Franklin's maturity and added strength will also making him a force on dribble penetration. One of the things that made Alex Wilkins a force as a true freshman last season was his overall strength with the basketball. Franklin has worked on that in particular during the off-season so that he is not easily knocked off the ball.
According to Richey, Franklin is a player set to make a notable jump this season, as has become a hallmark of the Furman program, which is the development that takes place from the freshman to sophomore seasons in players who have come through the program in the nine previous seasons with Bob Richey at the helm. Franklin is a player that could very well find himself on one of the postseason all-conference teams at the end of the 2026-27, as he's been Furman's most efficient offensive options over the course of the off-season.
Collin O'Neal was easily the strongest of Furman's freshmen last season, and according to head coach Bob Richey, if it hadn't have been for his own teammate Wilkins, it would have been O'Neal that was the top freshman player in the SoCon last season and not Wilkins. However, an early December knee injury would change the trajectory of the Nashville, TN., native's season and he would never truly find the form he had earlier in the campaign.
O'Neal ultimately had his breakout performance for the Paladins in the ESPNEvents Tournament in Orlando during Feast Week last year, as he posted 12 points in Furman's championship, 72-65, loss to Illinois State. O'Neal connected on all four his threes in the loss. It could be argued that other than Wilkins, it was O'Neal that looked like the most polished of the freshmen players that saw action against Alabama last season, especially on the defensive end of the floor.
With his confidence starting to really blossom, O'Neal posted nine points the next time out in a road win at Elon before having posted seven points in the opening half in the early December game against Harvard. It would be the game taht would ultimately change O'Neal's season, as he suffered a knee injury that would keep him out until late January. He finished the season averaging 5.1 PPG and 5.5 RPG, while shooting 36% (14-of-39) from three-point range.
After his injury, there was a notable difference in his tentativeness on the offensive end, and he ended up playing in a few games before shutting it down the remainder of the season in order to make a full recovery during the off-season. Big things are expected from O'Neal in his sophomore season, and a return to and improvement upon even his pre-injury form is expected.
Mason Smith had a unique story in that he came to Furman as a true freshman prior to the 2024-25 season, but had trouble finding his confidence and fell way down the rotation. Hard work and dedication allowed him to get his opportunity again in 2025-26, and things started to waver a bit early in the season, slowly but surely Smith found his confidence again and started seeing some minutes here and there. Though not much, it was a start.
Then came conference play and with injuries beginning to mount, Smith took on a much more important role and he started to shape into the type of player that head coach Bob Richey had envisioned him being when he recruited him.
Coach Richey has certainly not forgotten what Smith was able to do over a small sample size last season. In games against Wofford and Samford combined last season, Smith snagged 14 rebounds and was 4-for-8 from three-point range before the injury against Wofford cut his season short. Smith's 11 rebounds in Furman's 77-73 win at Samford were every bit as important as Alex Wilkins' 28 points.
Smith has seen action in 24 games through his first two seasons with the Paladins. He undoubtedly would have played a key role last season down the stretch in conference play had his season not been cut short due to the knee injury.
With his lanky frame, Smith is deceptively athletic. He's tough to keep off the offensive glass for that reason, and his sneaky athleticism is something that stood out for me about his game last season in limited floor time. In some ways, Smith has similar elements to his game to that of former Furman standout wing guard/forward Clay Mounce (2016-21).
After suffering a bit of a setback due to another injury, Smith's availability at the start of the season might be limited, however, he's expected to play a key role this season off the bench for the Paladins. His ability to rebound the basketball and his improvement on the defensive end, especially without fouling, will allow him to see the floor plenty this season as reserve when fully healthy.
The one player that might already have to miss the season as a result of injury is Owen Ritger, which is a tough setback for a player that was still very much learning Furman's offense and rotations as a big man last season. With the injury setting him back, it's fair to ask how he might fit in the equation this season should he return, or even if at all.
Molnar has been a part of a pair of Furman teams that have won a ring, while having not actually played in either the 2022-23 or 2025-26 seasons. If he can successfully help the Paladins to another title this season, it would mark the first time since the early-mid 1970s that a Paladin has been a part of three championship teams.
It was an unfortunate blow for Molnar, who had worked his way into being an expected significant role player as a part of Furman's 8-9 man rotation heading into the season. Known as one of the hardest workers in Furman's entire lineup, the Fayetteville, N.C., product was coming off a 2024-25 season that saw him start to become a regular energy-type "glue guy" off the bench for the Paladins.
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| Graduate transfer forward Marcus Kell |
Furman's portal haul during the off-season was impressive and it's arguably the best the Paladins have brought in overall in terms of overall talent and production.
It all starts with one player that the Paladins struggled to stop over the past two seasons, in former Western Carolina forward Marcus Kell (13.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG at Western Carolina in '25-26). Kell's type of consistency in the paint at the power forward spot will be a key factor for the Paladins this season, especially during the rigors of Southern Conference play.
Kell will be a player that will play the four position for Furman this season. Kell will provide both offensive rebounding in the paint for the Paladins, as well as be a guy to pop out and shoot the ball from either wing. It will be harder to double the Paladins in the post this season, with both Kell and Johnston possessing the ability to step out and shoot the three.
Kell, a transfer from Western Carolina, had some of his best performances against Furman during his career wearing the other purple. He totaled 29 points against Furman on Feb. 4, 2025, in a game the Paladins would hold on to win in overtime in Greenville. He shot the ball a tad better from three-point range two years ago than he did last season, as he connected on 38% from three-point range two years ago, as he connected on 44-of-116 from long-range.
Last season, Kell shot at a 29.7% (43-of-145) from long-range. Look for him to return to the form that he enjoyed more two years ago than what he did this past season. Kell is too good of a shooter to live around the percentages he was at last season as a perimeter shooter.
The Fort Mill, S.C., product enjoyed his two best performances of the 2025-26 season against both in the Gate City of Greensboro at High Point and at UNC Greensboro, posting 27 points in each of those two contests. In the 93-73 loss to eventual NCAA Tournament qualifier High Point, Kell poured in his 27-point effort on a solid 11-of-19 shooting performance from the field, which included a 2-for-6 effort from three-point range.
In the 81-78 loss at UNCG, Kell posted 27 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the field and 3-for-10 from three-point range. He also posted a 4-for-7 effort from the charity stripe in that game. Kell's career-high of 31 points came two years ago in a road loss at Chattanooga. Kell found himself in double figures 40 times in 61 games played over the past two seasons, logging 47 starts over his final two seasons in Cullowhee. Earlier this week, Kell was selected to the preseason All-SoCon team.
One of the players the Paladins got from the portal that could end up being a real force off the bench that came from the transfer portal is Jordan Butler (2.0 PPG, 1.9 RPG at South Carolina in '25-26), who comes to Furman from South Carolina with one year of eligibility remaining. Butler, a 7-0, 237-lb product out of Greenville, S.C., spent his first two years at Missouri before transferring into Furman's program. In his most recent season with the Gamecocks, he logged action in 25 games, which included four starts. Butler connected on 44.7% (21-of-44) from the field last season and was a solid 77.4% (24-of-31) from the charity stripe.
Like both Kell and Johnston, Butler offers the kind of versatility that could make this Furman team dangerous in March Madness should the Paladins be fortunate enough to cut down the nets in Asheville once again, and that is Butler is a seven-footer that can step out and shoot the three.
During his freshman season at Missouri, Butler saw action in 31 games, including having made 14 starts, averaging 2.3 PPG and 2.0 RPG during his freshman campaign back in 2023-24. Butler is a guy that, with the new five-year eligibility rule, will have two years of eligibility remaining.
In recent seasons, we've seen some big men transfer down from higher levels and into the SoCon to go on to put together successful turnaround stories, with the most recent of those being a guy like Armani Mighty from Mercer. After averaging 0.8 PPG and 1.2 RPG in 5.1 MPG over 51-career games at Boston College, and spending a season injured at Central Michigan, Mighty decided it was time for a change of scenery and he transferred to a place and into a league where he could have almost an immediate impact on the hardwood.
During his one season at Mercer, Mighty garnered All-SoCon second-team honors and finished out the season with an impressive 16 double-doubles. Mighty's 16 double-doubles also ranked second in the league, with 10 of those coming in SoCon play, which also ranked second. Replacing a player like Mighty underneath will be a tough undertaking for Ridder and staff, and it's arguably tougher than even having to replace Okojie at point guard.
Few will forget the performance delivered by Mighty in Mercer's 77-67 win at VMI in mid-January. The 6-10 native of Toronto, Ontario finished with 18 points and 25 rebounds. That was a monstrous performance by Mighty ranked as the top rebounding performance by any player in the league all season, and it set a new Cameron Hall record for most rebounds ever, surpassing former Bears forward Calvin Henry's record mark of 22 boards inside the same facility, which was set on Dec. 9, 2006.
Mighty isn't the only one that has had that type of effect in the Southern Conference in the recent past, with guys like former ETSU transfer Jalen Haynes (transferred in from Virginia Tech prior to the 2022-23 season), The Citadel's Quentin-Millora Brown (transferred in from Vanderbilt prior to the 2023-24 season) and Wofford's BJ Mack (transferred in from South Florida prior to the 2020-21 season) all making notable impacts at their respective destinations.
Furman could be the beneficiary of getting a player that is ready to come to full development in his game now that he has stopped growing. It will be interesting to see just how head coach Bob Richey uses a player like Butler in the lineup, with the ability to play him with Johnston, which would give the Paladins a similar dynamic to what they had last season with Johnston on the floor at the same time with the 6-11 Cooper Bowser.
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| Junior guard Luka Toews |
Another key addition from the transfer portal is point guard Luka Toews, who comes to Furman from Boston College and will add a resume' adds some significant ACC experience over the past two seasons.
Toews spent his first two season with the Eagles and averaged 4.3 PPG and 1.8 APG in 53 games played over the course of the past two seasons in Chestnut Hill. Another significant strength he will bring to Furman is his ability to shoot the three-ball, finishing the 2025-26 season as a 36.8% shooter from three-point land over the course of two seasons and was 39.2% from three-point range in 2025-26.
Interestingly, Toews spent his first two seasons of his collegiate career as a point guard at Boston College, and he comes out of the same AAU program as Alex Wilkins, which is the Middlesex Magic.
While coming from the same program as Wilkins, that's where the comparisons stop with his predecessor in Wilkins, which is a player that would go in that "special" category, which is precisely why he's currently at Kentucky with the potential to an NBA Lottery pick by the end of the season if things go well in Lexington. What Toews will give Furman is better care with the basketball, and he's a player that will come in as a better shooter than Wilkins did when he arrived at Furman last season.
The 6-1, 190-lb guard originally hails from Tokyo, Japan, and he will be given the reins of Furman's unique motion offense, as he is what coach Bob Richey calls a "natural fit" for the point guard role, with his feel for the game and his ability to shoot the three-ball.
The final player that the Furman staff made from the transfer portal is Jaxson Bell (12.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG at Army in 2025-26), who gives the Paladins scoring on the offensive end of the floor, and is an excellent defender on the perimeter. Bell also has some versatility as a combo guard, with the 6-2 junior guard from Army having the ability to play both the point guard position, as well as off the ball. Bell is a player that really came into his own last season at Army where he ranked second on the team in scoring average, at 12.2 PPG and 5.0 RPG, as he finished the season with 20 games in double figures.
Thanks to new assistant coach hire and former prolific three-point shooter Jordan Lyons, who was recently hired as an assistant by head coach Bob Richey off Navy's staff where he was each of the past two seasons, the Paladins were able to secure the services of Bell for the 2026-27 season. Bell posted 17 points in a late-season game against the Midshipmen.
The 2024-25 season wasn't bad, as Bell helped the Black Knights to a 17-16 mark, however, saw action in only three games in his freshman season in West Point, averaging 1.0 PPG and 0.7 RPG. Though Army wasn't very good during his sophomore season, finishing just 11-21 overall and just 5-13 in Patriot League play, it would be Bell that would see his individual flourish.
One of the stats that likely stuck out to both Lyons and head coach Bob Richey was the fact that Bell was Army's most accomplished three-point threat this past season, connecting on 35.9% of his shots from downtown.
All told, Bell finished the 2025-26 season knocking down 52-of-145 shots from long-range, and was also an especially impressive free throw shooter, having finished the season shooting 81.0% (93-of-115) from the charity stripe.
Bell was at his best over the latter portion of the season for the Black Knights, as he averaged 14.9 PPG and 5.3 RPG over the final seven games of the campaign. The cherry on top of that strong finish to the end of the season for Indianapolis, IN., product was a 22-point effort against Lafayette in an 82-77 loss to end the regular-season.
Freshman Additions
Dating back to his time as a young assistant at Charleston Southern, Furman's Bob Richey has been able to find some top scoring talent. From guys like Saah Nimley and Jamarrio Warren at CSU to guys like Stephen Croone, Devin Sibley, Jordan Lyons and Alex Wilkins as both an assistant and head coach at Furman, Richey's eye for guard talent and shooting ability is unmatched.
It would be hard to imagine the Paladins finding a player that could match the one that had the opportunity to move on to Kentucky after just one season in the program, in Alex Wilkins, and yet here we are where that could potentially be the case with the two incoming signees, in both 6-5 combo guard Jerrin Samuel and 6-2 point guard Cam Elwer slated to suit up for the Paladins next season.
Samuel is a scorer that can play multiple guard spots on the floor and is rated as the top shooting guard in the state of Georgia. The all-state performer is coming off a senior campaign which saw him average 27.3 PPG, 12.4 PPG, 2.6 APG and he chose to continue his basketball career at Furman among his 25 offers, while also receiving interest from power five programs like Tennessee and Virginia Tech among several others. Samuel chose Furman over the likes of mid-major power programs like Bradley, Ohio, Northern Iowa, Tulane, Yale, Liberty and Chattanooga to name just a few.
Samuel scored 1,963 points in his career at Winder-Barrow High School, which ranks second in program history, and he will factor into the rotation immediately, likely as a backup behind either Cole Bowser or Abijah Franklin, with Army transfer Jaxson Bell expected to be the backup at the other wing guard/small forward spot. He was a first-team Class 5A All-State selection in the Peach State as a senior, as well as being a finalist for "Mr. Basketball" in the state of Georgia.
Samuel will be one of the more athletic players on Furman's roster upon his arrival to play for the Paladins next season, as he was a multi-sport athlete during his time at Winder-Barrow, where he was also an outstanding performer in track and field, as well as being a scholar in the classroom, as noted by offers by both Harvard and Yale during his recruitment.
What Samuel is on the basketball floor is an elite level three level scorer that could very well have the same trajectory as that of Alex Wilkins.
While he won't be playing the point guard spot, Samuel should be in line to play a major role for the Paladins next season, and is a combination of being an extremely accurate perimeter and mid-range shooter, a creator off the dribble, with the athleticism to humble a defender on the way to or at the rim, however, his biggest strength as a player may actually be his elite rebounding ability.
He shot better than 40% from three-point range in his career, and is on par with some of the most accurate three-point threats in recent memory, including PJay Smith Jr., Nick Anderson, and Alex Hunter.
Samuel is one of the most underrated mid-major recruits heading into the 2026-27 season, which is why he could see his star rise as soon as his rookie season in Greenville. Unlike Wilkins, however, I don't think he will start immediately, but it might be only a matter of time before he starts seeing major minutes.
While Samuel is a big-time commitment, Elwer's addition to the fold for Furman will only add to the already well-established narrative of shooters that want to play for head coach Bob Richey.
The 6-2 point guard out of St. John High School in Delphos, OH., is a three-star recruit and like Samuel, will have a chance to contribute right away. He played a smaller level than what Samuel did during his prep career, however, Furman has had plenty of success finding guards that could shoot it and score it out of this part of Ohio, with Mike Bothwell, Geoff Beans and Jon Davis III being the most notable that come to mind almost immediately.
To give you an idea of just how prolific a scorer Elwer was during his time at Delphos, he finished his career ranked sixth all-time in state history in points scored, surpassing some guy named LeBron James out of Akron along the way with (2,768) career points at season's end.
He ended the 2025-26 season averaging 29.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG and 4.4 APG. His 29.3 PPG scoring average was ranked 57th in the nation according to MaxPreps, and was also ranked 36th among seniors around the country in scoring average.
Also according to MaxPreps, Elwer was fourth nationally per 32 minutes in points per game and was ranked as the fifth-best player in the state of Ohio.
Elwer's ability to score points and score them in a hurry were evident throughout his prep career at Delphos, dropping a school record 53 points in a game as a senior, and comprehensively, was a three-time All-State selection in Ohio, helping his prep program St. John to a four-year mark of an incredible 91-14, including a 29-0 mark as a senior. He was the runner-up for Mr. Basketball in the state of Ohio in his junior and senior campaigns.
The third and final addition--Nikos Koulisianis--will give the Paladins a bit of an international influence, as the 6-9 forward from the Czech Republic is a player that has good ball-handling ability along with the ability to step out and shoot the three. Koulsianis is an interesting addition and he signed with Furman in early May, completing an impressive freshman signing class.
Koulsianis committed to Furman in early May out of the famed Montverde Academy in Florida. The 6-9 forward comes to Furman with a highly-skilled overall game, with perimeter shooting ability combined with good ball-handling ability, as well as being a good distributor for all positions on the floor. What will give him the potential to see the floor right away though?
Khoulisianis' ability as a rim protector on the defensive end, as well as his ability to shoot the three are two areas that will get him on the floor sooner rather than later. With his skill level being what it is, his progression and understanding of Furman's complex offensive scheme is the biggest obstacle for the young U18 Czechia National Team member to overcome because it's definitely not an issue of talent or lack thereof.
Looking Back To Last Year's Exhibition...
Alabama 96, Furman 71 (Oct. 26, 2025/Timmons Arena/Att: 2,750)
When Bob Richey arrived at Furman in 2011 as an assistant coach, the Paladin basketball program and the building it plays its home games in looked and felt a lot different.
Now 14 years later as the head coach, that vision he once entertained if he was ever one day fortunate enough to be the Furman head coach came to be a reality, as 2,750 fans piled inside the newly refurbished Timmons Arena.
However, Alabama's depth and sheer talent eventually wore down Furman, and the Crimson Tide went on to a 96-71 win inside the newly renovated Timmons Arena before the sellout crowd in attendance.
After scoring 109 points in its exhibition win over Florida State, Alabama's 96 points were part of a well-oiled offensive showcase inside Timmons Arena, as the Crimson Tide finished the evening with four players in double figures, with 12 of the 13 players that entered the game registering a field goal in the contest.
Leading the way for the Crimson Tide was guard Aden Holloway, as he dropped in 20 points on 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field, including connecting on 4-of-9 from three-point land. Holloway also dished out four assists, grabbed two rebounds and posted one steal in 30 minutes of work in the Crimson Tide's second exhibition of the season. The 18-point effort from Holloway follows an impressive 20-point effort against the Seminoles a week-and-a-half ago.
Joining his backcourt mate in double figures was Labaron Philon, as the preseason first-team All-SEC guard finished with 16 points, connecting on 6-of-10 from the field, including 1-of-3 from three-point range. He was also 3-for-4 from the charity stripe. Philon also dished out a team-leading five assists and snagged three rebounds.
Rounding out the Crimson Tide's double-figure scorers on the day were Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Amari Allen, who added 12 and 11 points, respectively, off the bench for Alabama.
Furman also finished the afternoon with four players scratching out double-figure scoring efforts, with Charles Johnston charting an impressive double-double, finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds in 30 minutes of work. The junior forward finished 5-of-11 from the field and was 2-for-6 from three-point land, while also going 2-for-6 from the line to equal his total. In addition to his 14 and 12, Johnston added two assists and a steal.
Cooper Bowser equaled Johnston for team-high scoring honors for the Paladins, finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds, dished out six assists, blocked two shots and netted a pair of steals in what was an impressive night across the board for the junior forward. Bowser was 6-for-7 from the field and 2-for-4 at the line.
Rounding out the Paladins in double figures in the game were senior guard Tom House and freshman point guard Alex Wilkins, who finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively. House came off the bench to connect on 4-of-9 from the field and went 2-for-6 from the line. He was also 1-of-2 at the line and added three rebounds and an assist.
Wilkins scored 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting, including a 2-for-7 effort from three, in just 14-and-a-half minutes of action, fouling out with 12-and-a-half minutes remaining in the game. The freshman from Boston also finished the night as one of two Paladins in the positive when it came to the +/- category, as despite his foul troubles, which plagued him the entire night after a tight whistle saddled him with three in the first half, finished at +5 for the game.
Ben Vander Wal recorded five of the team's of the team's nine total steals, while adding seven points, six rebounds, and two assists, in 30 minutes of court time.
Clemson transfer Asa Thomas ended the night on the cusp of double figures, finishing with nine points, as he scored all nine in the first half on shots from beyond the arc. He finished 3-of-14 from the field and 3-for-10 from long range.
Another notable freshman performance came from Collin O'Neal off the bench. The Nashville product looked good in his debut for the Paladins, as he was especially strong on the defensive end of the floor, with an unusual combo of power, strength and athleticism for a true freshman guard. Those attributes made it tough for talented Crimson Tide guards to get downhill easily against him. He finished with four points, two assists, and a steal in 12-and-a-half minutes of work, joining Wilkins as the only other player for the Paladins to end the night in the positive in the +/- category, as the rookie finished +2 to cap a solid debut.
Alabama finished the night shooting the ball at a 54.0% (34-of-63) clip, including a 34.6% (9-of-26) effort from three-point range.
Furman connected on just 35.1% from the field in the first game back in its newly refurbished facility since March 1, 2024. The Paladins also struggled from both three-point range, connecting on just 25.0% (9-of-36), and after making their first three perimeter shots of the game, went just 6-of-33 from long-range the remainder of the afternoon. The more alarming stat, however, is the Paladins went just 10-of-25 from the free throw line, finishing the night at just 40.0% from the charity stripe.
The Crimson Tide held substantial advantages in points in the paint (50-32) and bench scoring (43-17), while also finishing the contest with advantages in total rebounds (50-38), second-chance points (20-10), fast-break points (14-7) and points off of turnovers (17-13). Alabama also outscored the Paladins from the line (19-10) on just one more free throw attempt (26-25). The Crimson Tide finished the game connecting on 73.1% (19-of-26) from the charity stripe, including going 17-of-18 from the line in the second half.
How It Happened:
Furman connected on its first three three-pointers to take a 9-0 lead right of the gates in its newly re-imagined venue, however, once the game got settled in, so did the Crimson Tide and by the time the first half reached the midway point, a 9-0 run by Alabama allowed the 2025 Elite Eight qualifier to eventually erase Furman's early flurry and take a 28-20 lead before heading the half with a 48-36 advantage.
Alabama threatened to further its advantage in the early stages of the second half, taking an 18-point following a pair of made free throws from Latrell Wrightsell Jr., taking a 61-43 lead with just under 15 minutes remaining. Furman charged back quickly with an 8-2 run in a little over a two-minute span, as Charles Johnston's triple with 12:35 remaining got Furman back to within 63-51.
Twelve seconds later, however, Furman's talented freshman point guard Alex Wilkins was whistled for his fifth personal foul, changing the momentum. Coincidentally enough Alabama went on an 11-0 run after that and were never seriously threatened the rest of the night, as a pair of Labaron Philon free throws extended Alabama's lead to 22 (73-51) with 9:07 remaining.
A Look at The Crimson Tide In 2026-27 Most folks in Tuscaloosa have their attention trained on the upcoming gridiron battle between their No. 6 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and No. 2 Georgia, which is coming up Saturday night as college football's featured matchup Saturday night.
However, 48 hours prior to that classic SEC battle between two blueblood programs of the sport, Crimson Tide fans can get a glimpse of what Alabama head coach Nate Oats has assembled for the upcoming 2026-27 season on the college basketball hardwood, as Alabama battles Furman for a second-straight season in an exhibition game.
Over the past four seasons, Alabama has established itself as one of college basketball's elite programs under the direction of Nate Oats, as the Crimson Tide have made four-consecutive Sweet 16 appearances for the first time in program history. The Crimson Tide would see their season come to an end at the hands of the eventual national champion Michigan Wolverines, who defeated Alabama, 90-77, in a Sweet Sixteen matchup in late March.
The 2025-26 season would see the Crimson Tide finish the campaign with a 25-10 record, which marked the 12th time in program history and fifth time under Oats that Alabama has won 25 games in a season. Alabama's 13-5 record in SEC play would see the Crimson Tide finish second in the league standings behind only defending national champion Florida, which finished off the 2025-26 season with a somewhat remarkable 16-2 league mark.
A staple of Alabama's program is its three-point shooting, and the 2025-26 edition did it better than any other in the rich history of Crimson Tide basketball, as Alabama was able to knock down 450 three-pointers last season, which is a new school record and the third-most three-pointers knocked down in a single season in NCAA Division I history.
The Crimson Tide will look vastly different than the one that traveled to Furman last season, but will be just as talented, but maybe a bit younger. Gone are 80 of those points from a year ago, and while Aden Holloway was recently added back, he likely wont play tonight against Furman.
Holloway, who was arguably Alabama's top player last year before some off the court issues, has been added back to the roster by coach Oats last week. Holloway averaged 16.8 PPG and 3.6 APG.
The biggest losses from a year ago are both guards Labarron Philon and Latrell Wrightsell Jr., who combined for 28 points in the 96-71 win over the Paladins last season. Philon posted 16 points, while Wrightsell Jr. added 12 points.
Outside of Holloway, the Crimson Tide will look to sophomore forward Amari Allen (11.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.1 APG), who turned in an excellent rookie season for the Crimson Tide, averaging 11.4 PPG and 6.9 RPG last season. Allen was named to the All-SEC Freshman team last season. The biggest thing that sticks out with Allen is his passing ability. He nearly posted a double-double in Bama's exhibition against Furman last season, as he posted 11 points and nine rebounds off the bench for the Crimson Tide.
Forwards London Jemison (6.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG) and Keitenn Bristow (3.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG) look to take on more active roles in their second years with the program. Jemison made 13 starts last season, including nine in SEC play. Both Jemison and Bristow saw some time off the bench against the Paladins last season.
The Crimson Tide welcomed in some quality transfers, as you might figure for a program with the level of success the Crimson Tide has been able to establish under Nate Oats. The one that sticks out perhaps more than any of those is Boise State transfer Drew Fielder (14.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG). He made 63 starts during his time with the Broncos and at Georgetown over the course of his three seasons, and the 6-11 senior forward is the definition of versatility. He shot 41% from beyond the arc during his junior season. Has scored 857 points and 449 rebounds in his three previous seasons.
The Crimson Tide also brought in sophomore forward Jamarion Davis-Fleming (3.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG), who transferred in from Mississippi State. The 6-9 forward played in 32 games as a freshman, including having made six starts. He finished the season averaging 3.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 1.3 BPG and scored in double figures three times during his freshman campaign in Starkville.
Brandon Garrison (4.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG) is a 6-10 forward that transferred in from Kentucky during the off-season and is a player that has a high ceiling and could find his niche enough in Tuscaloosa to find his way to the next level and elevate his overall game. Garrison is athletic and will provide rim protection in the SEC, while his offensive game should take quite a jump in Nate Oats' offense.
North Carolina State transfer Cole Cloer is another player that could be an impact player for the Crimson Tide this season. The 6-8 power forward redshirted last season in Raleigh and came to NC State as a four-star recruit. He will likely find his way into Oats' rotation underneath this season.
Cloer was a teammate with highlight touted 6-6 guard Jaxson Richardson (Southeastern Prep Academy) on the U19 USA National Team. Richardson is a McDonald's All-American and is part of an especially talented freshman signing class that also includes four-star recruit and 6-1 point guard Anderson Diaz (Overtime Elite) and 6-6 fellow four-star recruit Tarris Bouie (SPIRE Academy). Richardson posted 11 points and two rebounds in the McDonald's All-American game, while also winning the McDonald's All-America game dunk contest.
Projected Starting Five For Furman:
G-Luka Toews
G-Abijah Franklin
G-Cole Bowser
F-Marcus Kell
C-Charles Johnston
Off The Bench
6. G-Jaxson Bell
7. G-Collin O'Neal
8. C-Jordan Butler
9. F-Davis Molnar
10. G-Cam Elwer
11. G-Jerrin Samuel
12. F-Nikos Koulisianis
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