2023-09-28 18:22:01
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ATLANTA — “It’s starting to feel very real,” Georgia State head coach Jonas Hayes said as his Panthers officially opened team practice Wednesday morning at the GSU Convocation.
Hayes, entering his second season at the helm, and the Panthers open the 2023-24 season Nov. 6 at Belmont. Georgia State will host an exhibition game against Morehouse on Oct. 29, and the home opener is set for Friday, Nov. 17 vs. Northern Illinois.
“We’ve got a brand new team, and today was our first time back in this building,” Hayes continued. “We’ve got a group of guys who are committed to getting better.”
With just four lettermen returning, Hayes and his staff rebuilt the Georgia State roster with the addition of six transfers and two freshmen.
“I feel the energy in this group. It was like Christmas morning practicing in this building for the first time with this team, and we’re chomping at the bit to get better.”
We’re building a new team, building new responsibilities and new roles. Everything is new again. We have eight new guys, but with the exception of DK (Manyiel) and Malik (Ferguson), they’re all mature, they’re older, and they’ve been in college before.”
Georgia State’s returns three starters who averaged in double figures last season in junior Dwon Odom (13.1 ppg), senior Brenden Tucker (12.9) and junior Jamaine Mann (10.3). Sophomore big man Edward Nnamoko looks to take a step forward after averaging 1.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in limited duty.
The six-pack of transfers include two experienced graduate transfers in 6-8 forward Leslie Nkereuwem, who averaged 7.1 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting nearly 60 percent from the field in four seasons and Longwood, and 6-5 forward Jay’Den Turner from Queens, who led the Atantic Sun Conference in rebounding last season with 7.5 per game while averaging 7.4 points and 6.0 rebounds in his four season.
Toneari Lane is a 6-5 guard who averaged 10.3 points last season at Winthrop, and Ricky Bradley Jr. averaged 9.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals at VMI. Lucas Taylor is a 6-5 guards who spent the last seasons at Wake Forest.
Four of the six transfers and both freshmen are from Georgia.
“The first goal, the second goal, the third goal and the fourth goal was to try find some shooting,” Hayes said. “We think we’ve covered that. And we wanted to bring in guys who are obsessed with trying to find success and winning.”
Season tickets for the 2023-24 season are on sale now at GeorgiaStateSports.com/TIX.
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