Longwood:
Background and 25-26 Recap:
After posting some of the best retention in the conference last season, Longwood returned Elijah Tucker, Johan Nziemi, Emanuel Richards, and others, while adding Fats Billups and Jacoi Hutchinson. Ronnie Thomas’s first season in Farmville was a roller coaster of ups and downs throughout the season. Ronnie Thomas picked his first win against Mary Baldwin but ended non-conference play at a perfect .500, going 8-8. 8-8 would be a record that Longwood would see again later in the season, and they also went 8-8 during conference play, ending the regular season going 16-16. In Longwood fashion, after 40 minutes in Johnston, they were tied up but eventually fell to UNC Asheville in Overtime during the First Round of the Big South tournament.
This season, Ronnie Thomas doesn’t have the benefit of strong retention. However, they still return a few very good pieces in Jaylen Benard and Fats Billups, along with freshmen from a season ago in Elijah Kelly and Isaiah Kalala. Despite the adversity, Longwood put together a very solid core of HM and G5 transfer downs, along with some lateral moves and even a little international flair sprinkled into their roster.
The Returners:
G: Jaylen Benard
Jaylen Benard is one of a dying breed in college basketball, having spent 4 seasons at one university, and that has worked out for Benard. Last season at Longwood, Benard averaged 7.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 0.9 APG playing in all 32 games for the Lancers as one of the first players off the bench.
Benard became one of the best bench pieces in the Big South by the end of last season. During conference play, Benard averaged 7.9 PPG with 57.2% true shooting, a nearly 9% increase over his 48.6% True Shooting during non-conference play.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 32 Games (0 Starts) 7.3 PPG - 3.7 RPG - 0.9 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 61.7% - 31.7% - 56.3%
G: Gerald Burr III
Gerald Burr III returns to Farmville after not seeing any action in the prior season. Burr led IMG Academy in 3PT Percentage in the 24-25 season before committing to the Lancers.
Before Burr’s college career and a prep season at IMG, Burr played HS basketball at The New Community School. During the 22-23 season, Burr averaged over 22 PPG, adding a nice scoring element if the Lancers need it.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: Redshirted
G/W: Alphonzo Billups III
One of the most hyped transfers for Longwood last season, Alphonzo “Fats” Billups, returns after really hitting his stride at the end of last year. Last season, Billups averaged 8.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, and 1.3 APG. Billups excelled in conference play, even earning Big South Player of the Week once last season.
Last season, Billups found his rhythm to finish the year strong, including a 20-point performance against UNC Asheville and a 25-point performance against USC Upstate in back-to-back games. During conference play, Billups shot 42.3% from 3 and 55.6% from 2, ranking in the 80th percentile in both.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 32 Games (18 Starts) 8.1 PPG - 2.8 RPG - 1.3 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 53.8% - 33.3% - 63.9%
1x Big South Player of the Week
G/W: Elijah Kelly
One of the key freshmen for Longwood a season ago, Elijah Kelly, returns for another season in Farmville. Last season, Kelly became an integral starter, making 17 starts, including 13 of the last 14 conference games, averaging 2.3 PPG and 1.7 RPG.
Elijah Kelly has a massive chance to become a breakout star for Longwood. Last season, Elijah Kelly finished in the Top 80th percentile in the Advanced Defensive Metrics on CBB Analytics while also being a Top 50th percentile 3PT scorer and Top 80th percentile 2PT scorer.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 31 Games (17 Starts) 2.3 PPG - 1.7 RPG - 0.4 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 57.1% - 34.2% - 58.3%
F: Isaiah Kalala
Isaiah Kalala entered last season as one of the highest-ranked recruits in the Big South. Kalala only appeared in 15 games for the Lancers last season, playing a total of 53 minutes across the season.
Before entering his freshman season at Longwood, Isaiah Kalala was a 3-star recruit with offers from Mississippi State, Arkansas, Little Rock, and others. As a senior at WT White HS in Dallas, Texas, Kalala averaged 7.2 PPG and 7.9 RPG.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 15 Games (0 Starts) 0.9 PPG - 0.8 RPG - 0.1 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 75% - 0% - 58.3%
The Transfers:
G: MJ Williams - Eastern Kentucky
Coming off an amazing freshman season at Eastern Kentucky, MJ Williams hopes to build on it in Farmville. MJ Williams averaged 10 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 4.2 APG at Eastern Kentucky last season, including starting 22 of 32 games. Williams’ 4.5 APG was good enough for 6th in the entire ASun last season.
Not only was MJ Williams an amazing playmaker for EKU, but the was also a complete game-changer on both ends of the floor. Along with a 98th-percentile assist percentage, he also had an 83rd-percentile assist-to-turnover ratio. Williams’ impact wasn’t limited to the offensive end, though, Williams also had a 92nd-percentile steal percentage.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 32 Games (22 Starts) 10 PPG - 3.5 RPG - 4.2 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 46.3% - 33.7% - 75.4%
2025-26 ASun Conference Honor Roll
G: TJ Robinson - St. Peters
Another guard coming off a stellar freshman season is TJ Robinson of St. Peters University. Robinson is coming off a freshman season in which he averaged 9.6 PPG, 1.9 RPG, and 2.7 APG in 27 games, making 8 starts for the Peacocks.
TJ Robinson, like MJ Williams, the other PG transfer for the Lancers, creates havoc on the ball on both ends. TJ Robinson had a 95th-percentile assist percentage at St. Peter’s last season. Robinson also had a 70th percentile steal percentage.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 27 Games (8 Starts) 9.6 PPG - 1.9 RPG - 2.7 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 41.5% - 21.7% - 73.9%
G: Ben Wesson - Vermont
After two seasons at Vermont with little success, Ben Wesson returns to his home state of Virginia, hoping for a new beginning. Last season, Ben Wesson played in 7 games for Vermont, averaging 1.9 PPG, bolstered by Wesson’s 13-point performance against Plattsburgh State.
Wesson played high school basketball at Albemarle High School, where he became a 1,000-point scorer. Wesson also set two single-season records in HS: 527 points and 93 3-pointers.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 7 Games (0 Starts) 1.9 PPG - 0.3 RPG - 0.1 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 75% - 66.7% - 50%
G/W: Abu Yarmah - South Carolina
Last offseason, Abu Yarmah flipped his commitment from High Point to South Carolina. This offseason, Yarmah enters the portal and commits to Longwood after redshirting in his freshman season at South Carolina.
Yarmah was a massive part of the YNG Dreamerz title during the 2024-25 OTE season. Yarmah averaged 13.5 PPG and 7.8 RPG alongside the Ellis twins and eventual South Carolina teammate Hayden Assemian.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: Redshirted
365th-ranked player out of HS according to 247Sports
F: Kany Tchanda - Boston College
Another elite prep transfer from a major program, this time former Boston College big man Kany Tchanda. During Kany Tchanda’s two seasons at Boston College, he appeared in 15 games, averaging 0.3 PPG, 0.6 RPG, and 0.7 APG in 5.3 MPG. Tchanda played at elite prep school, Sunrise Christian Academy, in the 23-24 EYBL Scholastic Season.
During that 23-24 EYBL Scholastic Season, Tchanda finished in the Top 20 in both Rebounds Per Game (5.1) and Blocks Per Game (0.9). Tchanda finished above established CBB big men like Donnie Freeman in Blocks Per Game and Augustine Ekwe in Rebounds Per Game.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 4 Games (0 Starts) 0 PPG - 1 RPG - 0 APG
Played alongside fellow Lancer, Isaiah Kalala, at Sunrise Christian Academy.
F: Domas Kauzonas - UNC Greensboro
Following his one of UNCG’s assistant coaches, Domas Kauzonas is originally from Lithuania. Last season, Domas averaged 2.9 PPG and 1.6 RPG in 10 MPG, playing in all but 1 game. Domas also spent two prior seasons at UNCG, seeing limited playing time across 36 games.
Last season Kauzonas looked really good in his limited playing time. In the first two games of the season, Kauzonas had 10 points and 6 rebounds against Kansas State and 12 points and 6 rebounds vs. Elon. Kauzonas entered double figures again against Queens, scoring 11 points in 16 minutes.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 33 Games (6 Starts) 2.9 PPG - 1.6 RPG - 0.3 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 57.5% - 0% - 42.3%
F: Lazar Milosevic - Duquesne
The final of the Longwood transfer additions is Lazar Milosevic from Duquesne. Last season at Duquesne, Milosevic averaged 1.8 PPG and 1.4 RPG in just 13 games. Before Duquesne, Milosevic averaged 11.8 PPG and 4.5 RPG in Bosnia’s 1st Division.
Despite coming in with limited experience at the D1 level, Milosevic could be an immediate impact player. During Milosevic’s lone season in the Bosnian 1st Division, he shot over 39% from beyond the arc on over 100 attempts.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 13 Games (0 Starts) 1.8 PPG - 1.4 RPG - 0.4 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 75% - 20% - 62.5%
The Freshmen
G: Jorke Aav - VET Concept Gladiators Trier
Estonia’s Jorke Aav enters his freshman season after playing multiple seasons overseas. Aav most recently played for VET Concept Gladiators of the BBL and Saarlouis of the Bundesliga Regionalliga. For VET, Aav appeared in only 2 games, but in the Regionalliga, Aav averaged 15.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 5.4 APG.
Jorke Aav also has international experience, having played for Estonia during the U20 EuroBasket B in 2025. During U20 EuroBasket, Aav averaged 12 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 4.5 APG, leading Estonia in PPG and APG.
HS Accolades/Recruiting Info:
Led Estonia in PPG in U20 EuroBasket B in 2025
Led Estonia in APG in U18 EuroBasket B in 2023 and U20 EuroBasket B in 2025
G: Elijah Thomas - Winston-Salem Christian Academy (NC)
One of the most exciting freshman additions for the Lancers is Winston-Salem Christian Academy guard Elijah Thomas. Last season at Winston-Salem Christian, Thomas averaged 15 PPG, 5 APG, and 3 SPG. Thomas played at Uchenna Academy in Canada before transferring to Winston-Salem Christian; at Uchenna, Thomas was the program’s career leading scorer.
Elijah Thomas gained online notoriety for his dunking and athletic ability. Elijah Thomas was featured on BallIsLife for a poster off the glass done during AAU season.
HS Accolades/Recruiting Info:
Uchenna Academy All-Time Leading Scorer
Other Offers: Arizona State, LIU and Jacksonville
F: Will Dopfer - Lambert HS (GA)
You rarely get a freshman with both elite HS experience and elite national team experience; Will Dopfer provides both for the Lancers. At Lambert last season, Dopfer helped lead the Lancers to a 22-7 record, including 13-1 in league play. Dopfer also played for Germany’s U18 team in the Albert Schweitzer Tournament, winning Gold.
Dopfer ended his career with a myriad of records, including being the winningest starter in Lambert history. Dopfer also set Career, single-season, and single-game block and Points Records.
HS Accolades/Recruiting Info:
17th-ranked player in the State of Georgia; 4th-ranked forward in the State of Georgia.
Other Offers: Georgia Southern, Chattanooga, Stetson, Kent State, Fairfield, Kennesaw State
Overall Thoughts:
The Lancers are coming off a truly average season, going 16-16 overall and 8-8 in conference play. Despite losing three key returners from last season, along with others, Longwood still had the 4th-best retention in the Big South, largely because they kept their elite wing Alphonzo Billups and guard Jaylen Benard. The Lancers also returned most of their freshman pieces from a year ago: Isaiah Kalala, Elijah Kelly, and Gerald Burr III. For the Lancers to keep two of their better pieces down the stretch a year ago, along with two of their top freshmen, gives them a leg up on most of the other programs.
Two big themes stood out for Longwood with their portal class: experienced underclassmen talent at the guards and high-level transfers down in the frontcourt. That front court includes two key freshman guards from last season along with an Estonian guard with serious European experience. The frontcourt, despite limited D1 experience, came from HM programs or elite MM programs.
In Longwood’s guard room, the PG group stands out as a clear strength for the Lancers. Longwood basically has 3 carbon-copy guards with slight differences as their 3 PGs this season. Robinson, Aav, and Williams all have 20%+ Assist Percentages with Positive Ast/TOV Ratios. Aav and Williams are more able to shoot, while Robinson plays almost exclusively downhill but does it at an elite level. The SG group is where they took a few stabs at elite talent, partly because their reliable SG, Jaylen Benard, returns for his 4th season. Ben Wesson comes from Vermont, hasn’t played much, but showed flashes as an elite HS talent, and then there’s freshman Elijah Thomas, an uber-athletic SG.
Looking at the forwards, their elite talent really stands out, beginning with their returning group of Alphonzo Billups, Elijah Kelly, and Isaiah Kalala. Billups ended last season playing the best basketball of his career and now has a chance to be the #1 piece for the Lancers. Kelly and Kalala both had limited experience, but both were elite talents out of HS, with Kalala playing at Sunrise Christian as a 3-star and Kelly earning multiple D1 offers out of HS. Joining those returners are two other elite talents, Abu Yarmah and Will Dopfer. Yarmah comes in after being a 3-star at South Carolina, redshirting his freshman season. Dopfer comes off an offseason in which he won gold with his national team and received a series of D1 offers.
Longwood’s center room is where they need to find some production most, and their leading transfer averaged under 3 PPG last season. Leading the bigs in experience is UNCG transfer Domas Kauzonas, who played 33 games last season. Kauzonas is joined by UNCG assistant Brett Gilbert, who has developed many elite talents before in the Big South. Joining Kauzonas are Lazar Milosevic from Duquesne and Kany Tchanda from Boston College, both with limited D1 experience; Milosevic brings professional experience, and Tchanda played at Sunrise Christian as one of the best big men in the EYBL.
Overall, I really like Longwood’s roster. They have solid guard play with high-potential players like Jorke Aav, Ben Wesson, and Elijah Thomas. Their forwards have elite talent that has proven it at this level, with other pieces that could be nice additions. The frontcourt has a high enough floor not to scare me and decent upside based on other leagues. At season’s end, I think Longwood finished in the top half of the league, but near the bottom of it.