Tulane Green Wave Basketball 

Season Preview

The Tulane Green Wave men's basketball team enters the 2024-2025 season with some optimism. After following a disappointing 2023-2024 campaign 14-17 and 5-13 in conference play. Head coach Ron Hunter, now in his sixth year at the helm (70-74), has gradually transformed Tulane into a team that should contend, but for some reason his teams seem to underperform. A Lot theories have been made to the underperformance of either the small ball style of play, lack of height, or the lackluster defense and rebounding on both ends of the court. No doubt Ron Hunter knows how to get his team to score quickly and effectively; it's the other end of the court that worries everyone. In his sixth year as head coach, he has a mountain of a challenge in front of him with losing 90 percent of his roster including all five starters and key bench players. But I believe there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Coach Hunter for sure knows how to recruit and hit the Transfer Portal (Fear the Wave Collective plays a big part in this remember to donate). He was able to bring in three highly touted freshmen that rank first, second, and twenty third in Tulane recruiting history and on top of that he managed to pull in another six transfers to help bolster this lineup. The player's Coach Hunter was able to pull in this year, recruiting and transfer portal, you can tell there was a massive desire on improving the defense and rebounding. It'll be very interesting to see how Coach Hunter manages a team full of youth and vets alike to gel and find their style of ball while finding the correct lineups. I believe this team will come out a little slow to begin the season with so much transition and youth but by conference play we should start to see what they got. Defense and rebounding will be key for this team in order for them to succeed. They definitely have some fire power beyond the arc but controlling the paint, boxing out, and playing solid D is where we will have to see how this team does. In my season preview of the Tulane Green Wave, I'll go over key departures, additions, 3 key players to success, projected lineups, positional breakdown scouting reports on new commits/transfers/returning players, plus we will take a look at the future of Tulane recruiting.

Coaching Staff

Head Coach

Ron Hunter  6th season 70-74 at Tulane

Associate Head Coach

Ray McCallum

Assistant Coach

Claude Pardue

Assistant Coach

Sean Mock

Assistant Coach

Gebereal Baitey

Support Staff

Director of Basketball Operations

Nate Summers

Athletic Trainer

Quinton Nease

Strength Conditioning Coach

Dan Rickaby

Student Athlete Development and Video Operations

Ben Miner

Last Years AAC Standings

Conf                     OVR

South Florida Bulls                           16-2                     25-8

Florida Atlantic Owls                        14-4                     25-9            

Charlotte 49ers                               13-5                      19-12

UAB Blazers                                     12-6                      23-12

Memphis Tigers                                11-7                       22-10

SMU Mustangs                                 11-7                       20-13

North Texas Mean Green                  10-8                      19-15

East Carolina Pirates                        7-11                       15-18

Tulsa Golden Hurricane                    7-11                       16-15

Tulane Green Wave                           5-13                      14-17

Temple Owls                                      5-13                     16-20

Wichita State Shockers                    5-13                      15-19

UTSA Roadrunners                            5-13                      11-21

Rice Owls                                           5-13                      11-21

Roster

#      Name Position             H/W      Class

0 Tyler Ringgold             F    6-8/215        R-FR

1 Kaleb Banks          F    6-8/210 JR

2 Gregg Glenn III      F    6-7/230 JR

3 Kam Williams      G/F    6-8/190 FR

4 Spencer Elliot      C            6-10/215 R-FR

5 Mari Jordan                  G/F    6-5/190 R-FR

6 Logan Stephens    G    6-1/200 R-JR

7 Rowan Brumbaugh     G   6-4/190 R-SO

8 Michael Eley        G    6-4/180 JR

9 KJ Greene            G    6-3/170 FR

11 Luke Rasmussen        G/F   6-8/210 SO

13 Joseph Teich      G     5-10/155 FR

14 Stefan Cicic        C     7-0/260 FR

22 Asher Woods      G     6-3/190 JR

23 Percy Daniels    C     6-10/220 JR

34 Jake Shapiro      G     6-1/190 R-SO

Bold- Returning

Italicized- Transfer

Underline- New Recruit

Key Departures

Sion James- 36 min,14 pts, 5.4 reb, 2.7ast, 1.6 stl, 51.4 FG%, 38.1 3pt%. Transferred to Duke, Sion was the only player last year who played defense for Tulane and one of my favorites. He was the most athletic player on the court, and it showed at times when he out muscled bigger players to the rim. Wasn't always Mr. Consistent but damn did he hustle. Is projected to be a late 2nd round pick in this year's NBA draft. 

Jaylen Forbes- 33.9 min, 14 pts, 3.8 reb, 1.8 ast, 1.4 stl, 38.2 FG%, 35.2 3PT%. Jaylen was a good ball player for the Green Wave. Jayen had one of the better shots on the team from beyond the arc and I watched him hit five straight jumpers, 3 of them for threes to bring Tulane back and almost beat ranked 23 FAU 

Kevin Cross- 36.1 min, 17.5pts, 7.3 reb, 4.6 ast, 1.3 stl, 51.3 FG%, 42.3 3PT%. Cross was Tulane's heart a sole last year leading in almost every single major category last year. Kevin could single handle take over a game when trailing and lead Tulane back to striking distance. Cross was the do it all type of player you love to see. He is currently playing overseas right now.

Collin Holloway- Transferred to Samford- 29.2 min, 12.8 pts, 4.3 reb, 1.4 ast, 50.4 FG%, 33.9 3PT% This guy was electric when he had the ball in his hand. He could drive to the rim with ease to make buckets, wasn't the best beyond the arc but had a nice mid-range jumper

Tre Williams- Graduated- 25.7 min, 8.7 pts, 3 reb, 1.5 ast, 1 stl, 43.3 FG%, 32.9 3PT%. A very reliable bench piece that later started over Kolby King but missed a hand full of games due to injury

Kolby King- Transferred to Butler- 27.4 min, 10.4 pts, 3.6 reb, 1.8 ast, 1.4 stl, 47.6 FG%, 37.9 3PT%. I was really excited when I found out Ron Hunter was able to get Kolby King last season, but for some reason as the season went on Ron wasn't starting Kolby. Not sure what happened but Coach Hunter lost a valuable piece.

Mier Panoam- Transferred to North Dakota- Only played in 9 games. Former 3-star Guard 88 composite rating and top 10 Tulane recruit history. His vertical was insane. Coach Hunter doesn't like to play freshmen, and it showed by Mier only getting in 9 games averaging 4 minutes, but when the season started to fall apart, he should've given the kid a shot off the bench more. Another piece wasted.

Key Transfer Additions

Tyler Ringgold-SF/PF- Texas A&M- Former 3-star 84 composite rating. Did not get any playing time last season. In Highschool Tyler shown the ability to score inside and outside the 3-point line. Good driving ability to the rim and has showed he can play defensively by forcing tough shots and getting blocks.

Kaleb Banks-PF- Indiana- 21 games, 10.7 min, 2.6 pts. Former 4-star 92 rating. Should be a threat from beyond the arc if he develops. Banks is a very fast/athletic slashing type of player. Should do well in the rebounding game and descent catch and shoot player but can be turnover prone.

Mari Jordan-G/SF- Georgia- ESPN Rating 4-star. 84 overall in class and 21 Small Forward. Averaged 11.5 pts, 60 FG%, 37.5 3PT% during Georgias tour of Italy. Injured most of last year allowing him to redshirt. Jordan has the prototype combination of size, length and athleticism. He’s finishes strong at the rim, has a variety moves he can use to score off the dribble, and has the ability to make it from three-point range.

Rowan Brumbaugh-PG-Georgetown- 4-star 90 rating. 31 games played 22.3 min, 8.3 pts, 2.6 ast, 0.9 stl, 40.7 FG%, 37 3PT%. Brumbaugh has a really good feel for the game with great ball skills and passing.  Thats someone you'd love to have at the PG position. Has a decent jumper, good 3pt shot, and can play average defense.

Michael Eley-SG-Siena- 3-star 87 rating. 19 games 27 min, 13.3 pts, 1.5 ast, 5.5 reb, 0.7 stl, 38.1 FG%, 26.7 3PT%. Was a key bench player for Siena last year. Eley is an athletic shooting guard who can impact a game on both ends of the court. Solid rebounder and good defender. Great finisher at the rim. Just all-around great play.

Luke Rasmussen-G/F-Lafayette Leopards- Depth piece with potential. 24 games, 14.5 min, 2.5 pts, 1.6 reb, 32.2 FG%, 31.8 3PT%

Key Recruit Additions

Kam Williams-G/SF-3-star 87 rating 2nd on Tulane's highest recruits. Averaged a double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds to go with five assists as a junior. He’s a hometown hero with great upside as a talented scorer and can play/guard multiple positions. Ron Hunter has stated that Kam Williams has really surprised him during camp so we may see the young freshmen get some playing time as a backup early on.

KJ Greene-PG-4-star Greene ranked as the No. 105 overall prospect in the 2024 class. KJ collected 1,000 points and 500 assists in his prep career. KJ Greene is a true point guard. Greene plays with a great pace and is a good shooter with a very nice release. Greene is also a well-rounded passer with a nice pull-up, and an assortment of floaters.

Stefan Cicic-Center- 3-star 85 rating. Cicic is a true big man coming in at 7 foot and 245 pounds, it's nice to see Tulane get some help in the low post. Averaged 19 points on 66.7 percent shooting, 13 rebounds, and two blocks per game as a senior and 1,313 points in 2 years of playing high school ball. With his strong build, Cicic is a true force in the paint. He has a great ability to overpower any opponent with his size and strength. Stefan is a legitimate back to the basket scorer who not only has good touch inside but can also spot up from the perimeter to knock down shots. For a player his size, he is a very agile post.

Joseph Teich- Guard-His senior year in high school played in 29 games averaging 7.3 pts.

Returning Players

Greg Glenn III-PF/SF- Key bench piece last season looking for an increased role. Transferred from Michigan. Played in 30 games 9.7 min, 3.6 pts, 2.6 reb, 0.6 blk. Greg Glenn has the ability to catch in the high post and attacks the rim with a few decisive dribbles. He's descent finisher on the interior and a well-rounded passer. In addition to his passing, Glenn is a good positional rebounder, Tulane will need that this year from the big man. He does have the strength to hold his own defensively and is a solid athlete with a very good frame. Let's hope he can make a big leap this year from the former 4-star recruit.

Spencer Elliot-Center- Didn't see any action last year but sounds like he's making good strides into his redshirt freshman year. In high school he was a skilled low block scorer. Can make 3's and defend the perimeter. Very good passer that controls the paint with shot-blocking and rebounding.

Logan Stephens-PG- Originally a walk-on at Rutgers that eventually transferred to Tulane. Played in limited action last year 6 games and averaged 1.8 min and 1.3 pts. A streaky shooter who looks to climb into the bench and carve out a role for Tulane.

Asher Woods- Another key bench player for the Green Wave by seeing action in 20 games averaging 6.5 min and 2.4 pts. Asher transferred from VMI where he played a lot and was a key player for them his freshman year before deciding to transfer to Tulane. For VMI he played in 32 games averaging 35.2 min, 14.2 pts, 2.3 ast, 4.4 reb, 38.7 FG%, 31.6 3PT%. Look for Asher to play a key role on this team and be the first one of the bench.

Percy Daniels-PF/C- Former 3-star 84 rating. Originally committed to Seton Hall and also had an offer from LSU before landing at Tulane Percy got to play in 27 games last year but was used very sparingly by averaging 6.5 minutes. In my opinion he should've played a lot more, at times being a spark off the bench and being the only big man on the team that could play right away. He averaged 1.9 pts, 0.8 reb, 0.6 blk. Look for Percy to find a major increased role and minutes this season possibly even starting in certain matchups or in general. Percy has the ability to score down low while also being a perimeter threat from the three-point line and be a key defensive player in the post. Daniels also has descent ball handling skills.

Jake Shapiro-PG- Jake didn't see any action last year which allowed him to redshirt but in the 2022-2023 campaign he played in 8 games totaling 8 minutes and made a bucket.

Key Players This Season

1. Mari Jordan- The offensive fire power should flow through Mari Jordan with his ability to attack the rim and shoot the ball from beyond the arc. He has been making tremendous strides this offseason and is poised to have a big year with the Green Wave.

    2. Rowan Brumbaugh- How well the offense produces this year is all going to come down to Rowan. He did a great job at               Georgetown last year being the Quarterback of the team. His ability to lead the offense should come easy to him with his             ball handling skills, great passing and command of the court.

    3. Michael Eley- Micheal will be pivotal in how much the green wave will be successful this year, truly their best defensive              player. He was the first one off the bench last year for Siena and a major spark, so Eley making a leap will be vital for                    Tulane. He's super athletic and a great finisher I can't wait to watch him work.

    4. The development of the Young Freshman-Kam Williams has been surprising Coach Hunter all offseason and that's all              you can ask for from a true freshman. Coach Hunter doesn't need to start him, but he defiantly needs to play the young                man. Tulane may have something special in the local product so hopefully he doesn't get wasted on the bench. His                        development will be pivotal for the team and years to come. Same thing for KJ Greene, he is the highest rated recruit ever            in Tulane basketball history. Greene has so much potential, and Tulane needs to play their freshman and start getting                    them developed now. Sure, there will be some growing pains, but you will live and learn and move on.

                                                Break Out Player

1. Percy Daniels- You could see a spark last year whenever he was on the court providing an energy when the team was down. Look for a massive jump in productivity for the big man this year.  Percy could end up being one of Tulane's key players this season.
   
                                                                  

 Projected Lineups

Ron Hunter loves to implement the small ball fast paced shoot at will style of game

Small Ball Lineup

1. Rowen Brumbaugh
2. Micheal Eley
3. Mari Jordan
4. Kaleb Banks/Gregg Glenn
5. Gregg Glenn/Percy Daniels

Backups

1. KJ Greene
2. Asher Woods
3. Kam Williams
4. Tyler Ringgold
5. Percy Daniels/Spencer Elliot

Big ball/Defensive Lineup

1. Rowen Brumbaugh or Micheal Eley
2. Micheal Eley or Mari Jordan
3. Mari Jordan or Gregg Glenn
4. Percy Daniels
5. Spencer Elliot

Backups

1. KJ Greene
2. Asher Woods
3. Kam Williams
4. Tyler Ringgold
5. Spencer Elliot/Stefan Cicic

Perimeter Shooting Lineup

1. Rowen Brumbaugh
2. Kam Williams/Mari Jordan
3. Mari Jordan/Kam Williams
4. Tyler Ringgold
5. Percy Daniels

Backups

1. Micheal Eley/KJ Greene
2. Asher Woods/Micheal Eley
3. Kam Williams
4. Gregg Glenn
5. Spencer Elliot

Recruiting

Class of 2025

1. Offered-Byrson Tiller- 4-star 97 rating Power Foward 6-9 230lbs
2. Offered-Tylis Jordan- 4-star 94 rating Power Forward 6-9 210lbs committed to Ole Miss
3. Offered-Braylon Mullins-4-star 94 rating Shooting Guard 6-5 180lbs
4. Offered-Demarris Winters- 3-star 84 rating Shooting Guard 6-3 165lbs
5. Offered-Eric Chatfield-No rating Point Guard 5-11 160lbs
6. Offered-Zac Foster- 4-star 92 rating 6-3 165lbs Combo Guard Committed to Clemson
7. Offered-Arness Lawson-Point Guard
8. Offered-Zach Bleshoy-6-4 Point Guard
9. Offered-Deke Cooper-6-6 Wing
10. Offered-Kruz McClure- 4-star 90 rating 6-5 Shooting Guard Committed to DePaul
11. Offered-Calvin Russel- 6-5 2 sport Athlete
12. Interested-Dylan Rowe-No rating Point Guard 6-3 160lbs
    

Class of 2026

1. Offered-Joseph Hartman-3-star 88 rating 6-5 175lbs Point Guard
2. Offered- Collin Ross- 6-10 Forward
3. Interested-Julian Washington- No rating 6-4 Combo Guard from Margaretta High School (My former High School) Castalia, Ohio

Key Matchups

1. UNO-Home- Nov 22-The Battle of NOLA!
2. George Mason-Away- Dec 7- Big first test
3. Southern Miss-Home- Dec 10- Rivals
4. Florida State-Neutral- Dec 14- Can they hang
5. Charlotte-Away- Dec 23- Finished 3rd AAC
6. UAB-Away- Jan 7 -Won conference Tourney last year
7. USF-Home- Jan 11 -Went 25-8 last year
8. FAU-Home- Jan 15- Revenge Game from last year's 1 point loss
9. Temple-Away- Jan 19- Surprised everyone and finished runner up in conference tourney
10. Memphis-Home- Jan 30- Alot of transition this year
11. Charlotte-Home- Feb 26- 2nd matchup of the season but at home
12. UAB-Home -Mar 9- Finish Strong leading into tourney time
13. AAC Tourney- Fort Worth, Texas (Dickies Areana) Mar 12- March Madness Begins!

Schedule

Oct 25 (Fri)   6:30 p.m.   Home      Spring Hill College (Ala.)                           

Nov 4 (Mon)    6:30 p.m.   Home      Louisiana Christian University                       

Nov 8 (Fri)    6:30 p.m.   Home      ULM                                             

Nov 11 (Mon)   6:30 p.m.   Home      Alcorn State                                         

Nov 15 (Fri)   6 p.m.      Away      Furman                       

Nov 19 (Tue)   6:30 p.m.   Home      Bethune-Cookman                                   

Nov 22 (Fri)   6:30 p.m.   Home      UNO                                         

Nov 26 (Tue)   5 p.m.      Neutral   Wyoming                          Cancun, Mexico                                                                     

Nov 27 (Wed)   TBD         Neutral   Belmont or LMU                   Cancun, Mexico                                                                     

Dec 2 (Mon)    6:30 p.m.   Home      Southeastern Louisiana                               

Dec 7 (Sat)    1 p.m.      Away      George Mason                                                                           

Dec 10 (Tue)   TBD         Home      Southern Miss                                       

Dec 14 (Sat)   TBD         Neutral   Florida State                Sunrise, FL (Amerant Bank Arena)                                                   

Dec 20 (Fri)   TBD         Home      Dillard University (La.)       

Dec 31 (Tue)   TBD         Away      Charlotte                                                                               

Jan 4 (Sat)    TBD         Home      UTSA                                           

Jan 7 (Tue)    TBD         Away      UAB                                                                                   

Jan 11 (Sat)   TBD         Home      South Florida                   

Jan 15 (Wed)   TBD         Home      Florida Atlantic               

Jan 19 (Sun)   TBD         Away      Temple                           

Jan 25 (Sat)   TBD         Away      Rice                                                                               

Jan 30 (Thu)   TBD         Home      Memphis                         

Feb 2 (Sun)    TBD         Home      Tulsa                             

Feb 5 (Wed)    TBD         Away      UTSA                           

Feb 8 (Sat)    TBD         Away      North Texas                                                                             

Feb 15 (Sat)   TBD         Home      Rice University               

Feb 19 (Wed)   TBD         Home      East Carolina                   

Feb 23 (Sun)   TBD         Away      Wichita State                 

Feb 26 (Wed)   TBD         Home      Charlotte                       

Mar 1 (Sat)    TBD         Away      Tulsa                           

Mar 6 (Thu)    TBD         Away      East Carolina                 

Mar 9 (Sun)    TBD         Home      UAB                               

Mar 12 (Wed)   TBD         Neutral   American Athletic Conference     Fort Worth, TX (Dickies Arena)

Roll Wave!!

This is Patrick Harkness and you can follow me on X @RollDatWave, Facebook, Instagram, and @BeInTheKneaux everywhere.