Pilots Men's Basketball Garners Top Spot in RRAC Preseason Poll

Waco, Texas—As the basketball season rapidly approaches the coaches of the RRAC came together for the preseason polls and the Pilots found themselves sitting at the top. The Pilots received 140 points and took the number one seed in the preseason poll, collecting 8 of 12 first-place votes. The Pilots were not only voted the top in the league by the head coaches but were named to win the RRAC by the NAIA Hoops Report. LSUS will be seeking their fourth consecutive regular season title after winning the league in each of the previous three seasons.
The Pilots maintain the depth of their team as they return seven players and pick up six new faces. CJ Carpenter, a second team All-RRAC selection for the Pilots returns to the court as not only a key piece to the Pilot game play, but as an NAIA Hoops Report Top Returner in the RRAC. Carpenter socred 361 points for the Pilots in the 2022-2023 season shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 72.2 percent from the line. Joining him is Jordan DeCuir the RRAC Freshman of the Year. DeCuir averaged double figures in points last season at 10 per game, while leading the Pilots in three-point shooting at 48 percent from beyond the arc.
The Pilots picked up three of NAIA Hoops Report top transfers in the RRAC in the form of Paul King (Oklahoma Baptist), Josh LeBlanc (Nicholls State), and Melvion Flanagan (Wichita State). LeBlanc and King were listed by the NAIA Hoops Report as Player of the Year candidates for the NAIA. Jalen King and James Ellis will also be joining the Pilot program by way of transfer. King comes from Division II University of Texas Permian Basin where he was featured in 31 games averaging 12.8 points and 5.1 rebounds. Ellis, a 6'11 forward, played in 19 games for the Langston Lions averaging 7.6 points 5.2 rebounds. The final newest face for the Pilots comes in the form of home-grown freshman Tahj Roots. Roots comes to LSUS fresh off a 4A State Championship where he was the Louisiana 4A Player of the Year. He helped lead the Bossier Bearkats to two State Championships in 2020 and 2023 before signing with the Pilots.
The Pilots look forward to a packed schedule as they open their season November 1st against Shreveport Rival Centenary College. Tipoff is set for 7:30pm CT from the Gold Dome in Shreveport, Lousiana.
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