THIBODAUX, La. — The 2026–27 basketball season is approaching, and for Nicholls, there will be plenty of changes on both sides of the program. Both the men's and women's teams enter the season with new head coaches, significant roster turnover, and several newcomers who will be counted on to contribute immediately.

Darion Brown takes over the men's program, while Jayln Johnson-Joubert steps into the head coaching role for the women following the departure of Justin Payne. Both coaches are familiar with Nicholls, but the teams they will lead this season look much different than the ones that finished last March.

With so many new faces, it may take some time for both teams to find their identity. However, there are several players worth watching as Nicholls prepares to open the season November 2.

Men's Basketball: Brown Returns to Lead the Colonels

Darion Brown returns to Thibodaux after previously serving as an assistant coach at Nicholls. Brown spent the last two seasons as the head coach at Texas A&M-Texarkana, where he led the program to consecutive 20-win seasons, including an appearance in the NAIA National Tournament.

He inherits a Nicholls program that finished 14–19 overall and 12–10 in Southland Conference play last season. The Colonels finished sixth in the conference standings, but with only two players returning, there will be very little carryover from last year's team.

Senior guard Christian Winborne and sophomore Jordan Matthews are the only returning players from last season's roster. Winborne averaged 7.9 points per game while making 54 three-pointers. He also contributed defensively, finishing among the conference leaders in steals. With so many new players joining the program, his experience in the Southland could be important, especially early in the season.

Matthews is another player who could have an opportunity to take on a larger role. The Houma native and former Vandebilt Catholic standout appeared in just three games last season before missing the remainder of the year. During his senior season at Vandebilt, Matthews averaged 26 points per game and earned Class 4A First-Team All-State honors. While those numbers came at the high school level, his scoring ability makes him an interesting player to watch if he is fully healthy.

One of the biggest additions to the roster is senior guard Doyel Cockrill III, who transfers from Chicago State. Cockrill averaged 11.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game last season while shooting 36.4 percent from three-point range and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line. He appeared in 28 games, making nine starts, and averaged just over 24 minutes per contest.

Those numbers stand out because Cockrill has already shown he can score against Division I competition. Nicholls will need players who can consistently put points on the board, and Cockrill could find himself playing a significant role in the offense. The question will be whether he can maintain that production if asked to take on more minutes and additional scoring responsibilities.

Another newcomer worth watching is AJ Dent, a 6-foot-5 forward who arrives from Tarleton State. Although Dent saw limited action last season, appearing in only two games, his numbers at Itawamba Community College during the 2024–25 season were impressive. Dent averaged 15.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting 60.7 percent from the field. He scored in double figures 22 times, recorded seven games of at least 20 points, and had a season-high 38 points against Jones College.

Dent earned First-Team All-Conference and NJCAA All-Region 23 honors during that season. The production is there, but now the challenge will be translating those numbers to the Division I level. His ability to score inside and rebound could give Nicholls another option in the frontcourt.

Sophomore guard Hunter Carter is another player who brings an interesting background to Thibodaux. Carter spent last season at Hawaii, where he appeared in 14 games but saw limited playing time. He finished the season with 14 points and nine rebounds, but his production before arriving at Hawaii tells a different story.

At Rosemary Anderson Prep in Oregon, Carter averaged 27.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 40 percent from three-point range. The 6-foot-6 guard also averaged nearly 20 points per game during his time at Accelerated Prep. While there is certainly a difference between prep basketball and Division I competition, Carter has shown the ability to score. Nicholls will now have an opportunity to see how that translates when he receives additional playing time.

Sheridan Sharp, a senior guard transferring from Southern Indiana, could also become an important piece of Brown's rotation. Sharp appeared in all 30 games last season, making seven starts, and averaged 4.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. He also led Southern Indiana with 1.1 steals per contest.

Sharp may not be a player who averages double figures in scoring, but his ability to distribute the basketball could be just as important. He recorded an 11-assist performance against Loras and scored a season-high 18 points against Lindenwood. With so many new faces, having someone who can get teammates involved and help manage the offense will be something to watch.

Nicholls also added considerable size to its roster. Arop Arop, a 6-foot-11 transfer from Memphis, joins 6-foot-10 Junior Sileu from Western Michigan, 6-foot-9 Jared Taylor from Caldwell Community College, and 6-foot-8 Mor Mboup from Frank Phillips College.

It remains to be seen how much each will contribute, but the Colonels should have several options when it comes to protecting the paint and rebounding. Nicholls allowed 74.9 points per game last season, so improving on that end of the floor will be important.

The Colonels won't have an easy start to the season, either. After opening against North American on November 2, Nicholls will face UAB, Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Ole Miss, Southern Miss, Troy, and Texas State during its nonconference schedule. That stretch should give Brown and his staff a better understanding of where the team stands before Southland Conference play begins against UTRGV on December 3.

Women's Basketball: Johnson-Joubert Takes Over a Different Looking Team

The Nicholls women's basketball program also enters the season with a new head coach, but unlike the men's team, there will be some continuity within the coaching staff. Jayln Johnson-Joubert takes over after serving as an assistant under Justin Payne, who departed following last season.

Nicholls finished 15–16 overall last year, winning 10 Southland Conference games. Despite that, the Colonels were picked to finish 11th in the conference's preseason poll released October 20. With so many players leaving the program, it's understandable why there are questions entering the season.

The Colonels return four players from last year's roster in Anyra Wilson, Jasmine Matthews, Laryn Scott, and Makayla Charles. Britiya Curtis also returns to the program after spending last season away from the team.

Wilson could be one of the more important returning players. The sophomore guard averaged 6.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game last season. While she wasn't among the team's leading scorers, Wilson contributed in several different areas and could see an increased role with so much production gone from last year's team.

Curtis is another name worth watching. She previously earned Southland Conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2024 and averaged 10.5 points per game as a sophomore. If she can return to that level of production, she could provide some much-needed scoring and experience for Johnson-Joubert.

However, much like the men's team, several newcomers will have an opportunity to contribute.

One of the more interesting additions is freshman forward Kaliyah Samuels from Lafayette Christian Academy. Samuels was one of the top high school players in Louisiana, averaging 19.2 points per game during the 2024–25 season while earning First-Team All-State recognition.

Samuels played an important role in Lafayette Christian's continued success, including another state championship in 2025. In the championship game against Sacred Heart of New Orleans, she scored 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting while pulling down seven rebounds.

There is certainly plenty of potential with Samuels, but there is also an important question surrounding her availability. She suffered a torn ACL during her senior season, and her status for the beginning of the Nicholls season has not been confirmed. If healthy, Samuels could become an important part of the Colonels' future, but expectations should be realistic as she makes the transition to college basketball.

Another freshman who will be familiar to local basketball fans is Tyanna Stewart from Vandebilt Catholic. Stewart put together an impressive senior season, averaging 17.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 3.6 steals per game. She earned Class 4A First-Team All-State honors and helped Vandebilt Catholic win the Division II select state championship in 2025.

What stands out about Stewart is that she contributed in more areas than just scoring. At 5-foot-9, averaging nearly eight rebounds per game is impressive, and her defensive production shows she was able to impact games on both ends of the floor.

Stewart will have to adjust to the speed and physicality of Division I basketball, but she has the background to develop into a contributor. She also joins former Vandebilt Catholic teammate Makayla Charles, giving local fans another reason to follow the Colonels this season.

Nicholls also went into the junior college ranks to add experience, including forward Charnelle Hoof from McLennan Community College in Texas. Hoof is listed at 5-foot-11 and showed the ability to score and rebound during her time at McLennan.

In a November matchup against LSU Eunice last season, Hoof scored 23 points on 10-of-19 shooting while adding nine rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block in just 22 minutes. While one game doesn't tell the entire story of a player, it's an example of the kind of production she has shown against college competition.

Mattea Henry is another junior college transfer who could help Nicholls inside. The 6-foot-2 forward comes from Labette Community College in Kansas, where she put together several strong performances last season. Henry recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds against Seminole State, followed by a 16-point performance against Coffeyville in which she connected on seven of her 11 field goal attempts. She also scored 12 points against nationally ranked Johnson County.

Henry's size and ability to contribute around the basket could become important for a Nicholls team looking to replace several players. Rebounding and interior defense will be areas worth watching, and she should have an opportunity to compete for playing time.

Junior guard Shelcie LeBlanc, who transfers from Baton Rouge Community College, gives the Colonels another option in the backcourt. LeBlanc scored 14 points against LSU Eunice in February, connecting on two three-pointers and all four of her free throws while adding three steals.

Nicholls also added guards Kira Johnson from Kilgore College and Danielle Bennett from Southwestern Christian College. Both bring junior college experience to a backcourt that will look considerably different from last season.

The biggest challenge for Johnson-Joubert will be finding the right combination of players, particularly early in the season. With so many newcomers, it may take time to establish a consistent rotation and determine who will be counted on in important situations.

What Should We Expect from Nicholls This Season?

There are plenty of reasons to be interested in both Nicholls basketball programs this season, but there are also several unanswered questions.

For the men, Brown brings experience and familiarity with the program, but he will have to bring together a roster with only two returning players. Cockrill has already shown he can score at the Division I level, Dent has an impressive junior college résumé, and Carter could be a player who benefits from a larger opportunity. How those players fit together will be important, especially with a challenging nonconference schedule.

Defensively, Nicholls needs to improve from last season. Adding size should help, but rebounding and protecting the basket will require more than simply having taller players on the roster. The Colonels will also need to find consistency offensively rather than relying on one or two players to carry the scoring.

For the women, there may be even more uncertainty. Johnson-Joubert knows the program, and having Wilson, Matthews, Scott, Charles, and Curtis gives her some players who understand what it takes to compete in the Southland. However, the newcomers will need to make significant contributions if Nicholls hopes to finish better than its preseason projection.

Samuels and Stewart arrive with impressive high school résumés, while Hoof, Henry, and the other junior college transfers bring experience playing at the college level. The talent is there to develop, but the question is how quickly it can translate into production against Southland competition.

It's also important to remember that success for either program shouldn't be measured entirely by what happens in November. With this much roster turnover, there will likely be some growing pains. What matters is whether both teams improve as the season progresses and are playing their best basketball when conference games become more important.



The Southland Conference continues to become more competitive, and neither Nicholls program will have the luxury of an easy conference schedule.

For now, there is reason to be interested in what both programs could become, but it's too early to know exactly where either team will finish.

Both coaches have work to do, and both rosters have something to prove. We'll begin getting those answers when the Colonels take the court November 2.