By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations
MOREHEAD, Ky. — With perhaps his most leadership and talent-laden squad in his three years as the full time-head coach, Preston Spradlin‘s 2019-20 Morehead State men’s basketball team will get its first taste of outside competition Tuesday when the Eagles host Kentucky Christian in an exhibition game beginning at 7 p.m. ET at Johnson Arena.
If fans can’t make it, the game will air live on WIVY-96.3 FM. Tickets are available by clicking the link above. The game is presented by Comfort Inn and Suites of Morehead.
Spradlin will reply heavily on the leadership of senior guard Jordan Walker and Djimon Henson, junior forward James Baker and junior guard Justin “Juice” Thomas. Walker is a preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference selection who led the Eagles in scoring with 15.8 points an outing last year when MSU finished fifth in the league standings. Thomas will be looked upon to run the offense as the point guard. he sat out last season after transferring from Northern Illinois. Baker led the OVC in blocked shots, and Henson provided a much-needed boost off the bench in a majority of games last year.
“This is the first time we’ve really had the opportunity to have four captains, and all of those guys are tremendous leaders, so we’re glad that we could do that for them. But, behind them we have a very talented roster too.”
Two returnees who contributed in 2018-19 are junior guard De’von Cooper and sophomore guard Malik Riddle. Cooper averaged 8.8 points and knocked down 49 triples, while Riddle made 46 percent from the floor in limited action.
Spradlin is also excited to have redshirt freshman guard Tada Stricklen available after he was forced to miss last year with an injury.
The team has a plethora of newcomers too. The man in the middle is projected to be 6-foot-9, 255-pound LJ Bryan – a transfer from State Fair (Mo.) Community College. Joining him in the paint will be freshman forward Tyzhaun Claude, whp spent an extra prep season at Moravian Prep.
Fans will also see two other forwards on the floor – freshman Julius Dixon and sophomore Jaden Stanley-Williams. Rounding out the new talent is freshman guard Ta’lon Cooper. McNeese State transfer KJ Hunt is here but will sit out due to transfer rules.
Following Tuesday’s action, the regular season will commence the following Tuesday when Samford visits for a 7 p.m. game.
“We are just excited to get out there,” said Spradlin. “We really value our fans, and I believe they will enjoy an uptempo, exciting brand of ball this season.”