BIRMINGHAM, Ala — The Gulf South Conference men’s basketball preseason all-conference team and Newcomers to Watch were announced, as determined by the GSC’s 11 head coaches, prior to the start of the 2026-27 season.
Receiving preseason All-GSC honors was UAH sophomore forward Jordan Mabe, Lee senior forward Zach Gray, Trevecca Nazarene sophomore point guard Fred Bailey, Valdosta State senior forward Blaise Wallace, and West Alabama junior point guard BJ Brown Jr.
Bailey was the GSC Freshman of the Year last season after averaging 13.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game for the Trojans. Fellow Third Team All-GSC selections, included Gray who averaged 12.8 points and 3.8 rebounds as well as Brown Jr., who finished last season ranked among GSC top-five leaders in assists (5.8) and steals (1.9 per game), while averaging 11.5 points.
Wallace was second among Blazer scorers in 2025-26, averaging 13.9 points per game, but was fourth among conference leaders in rebounds with 9.3 boards per game, while contributing totaling 32 steals in 29 appearances. In his rookie season, Mabe averaged 8.6 points per game, finishing fourth among UAH scoring leaders, shooting 64 percent (101-of-157) from the field to go along with 1.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game.
This year’s Newcomers to Watch represented all 11 programs and featured 29 names. The student-athletes included range from freshman to fifth-year with regards to athletic eligibility and are in their first season of competition with their team.
2026-27 SEASON SCHEDULE
The 2026-27 campaign begins Friday, Nov. 13 with all 11 programs in action. Conference play begins Thursday, Dec. 3 and runs until the regular season finale slated for Friday, Feb. 26. The season will pause December 21-27 as part of the NCAA Division II winter break.
The 2027 GSC Men’s Basketball Championships will open with quarterfinals on March 1, followed by semifinals (March 4) and championship (March 7) round matchups.
Preseason All-GSC Team
Jordan Mabe, UAH, So., F
Zach Gray, Lee, Sr., F
Fred Bailey, Trevecca Nazarene, So., PG
Blaise Wallace, Valdosta State, Sr., F
BJ Brown Jr., West Alabama, Jr., PG
Listed in alphabetical order by school
Newcomers to Watch
Jax Abernathy, UAH, So., G
Xavier Martinez, UAH, Sr., G
Justin Holloway, AUM, So., F
Parker Robison, AUM, Jr., G
RJ Williams, AUM, So., G
Bryson Holmes, Christian Brothers, Jr., F
Caleb Kawela, Christian Brothers, So., F
Moustapha Salekh, Christian Brothers, Jr., F
Grant Guess, Delta State, Fr., F
Ahmed Ibrahim, Delta State, Jr., F
Matthew Curprew Elsy, Lee, Jr., F
Jonathan Woodlee, Lee, Fr., G
London Fields, Mississippi Christian, Sr., G
Sawyer Griffin, Mississippi Christian, Jr., G
Jaden Webb, Mississippi Christian, 5th, F
Xzayvion Childress, Montevallo, Sr., G
Dominic Commisso, Montevallo, Jr., F
Jett Montgomery, Trevecca Nazarene, So., G
Tylan Lewis, Trevecca Nazarene, So., G
D’Shay Knights Wright, Trevecca Nazarene, Jr., F
PD McCraney, Union, Gr., G
JP Ricks, Union, Gr., G
Donaven Younger, Union, Jr., F
Keshawn Evans, Valdosta State, Sr., F
DJ Hamlett, Valdosta State, Jr., F
Jack Voth, Valdosta State, Jr., F
Tyler Byrd, West Alabama, Sr., G
Michael Cooper, West Alabama, Jr., F
Michael Nwoye, West Alabama, So., F