SEASON PREVIEW: Men's Basketball set to start 2025-26 campaign

(Rochester Hills, MI) - The Rochester Christian men's basketball team is set to begin its 2025-26 season on Homecoming Saturday, October 25, against Kentucky Christian. RCU Head Coach Dr. Klint Pleasant is in his 15th season leading the program. 

2024-2025 SEASON REVIEW

Following a tight exhibition against NCAA Division 1 Oakland University to open the season, the Warriors would conclude their season with a 19-10 overall record, including a 9-4 record at the Garth Pleasant Arena, with an 11-9 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) record. RCU would finish in sixth place in the WHAC standings and face Cornerstone in the WHAC Quarterfinals, where they would fall by a score of 92-85. 

2025-2026 SCHEDULE OUTLOOK

Following the opening match against Kentucky Christian, the Warriors will open WHAC play against Michigan-Dearborn on Wednesday, October 29, before traveling down the road to Oakland University for an exhibition match on October 30. 

November will feature four non-conference games, including two in the Chick-fil-A of Auburn Hills Classic on November 7 and 8 against Bethel (IN) and Saint Francis (IN). The following weekend, November 14 and 15, the Warriors will host their second classic, taking on Rio Grande and Trinity Christian. The final two games of the month will see RCU head back into WHAC play with a home game against Northwestern Ohio (Nov. 22) and a road matchup with Lourdes (Nov. 25).

December will begin with three home conference matchups against Aquinas (Dec. 3), #21 Indiana Tech (Dec. 6), and Cornerstone (Dec. 13). The Warriors will then travel to Sault Ste. Marie for an exhibition against Lake Superior State, before heading down to Milwaukee to play William Penn at the home of the Milwaukee Bucks, the Fiserv Forum, on December 18. A road matchup against Defiance College will close out 2025 on December 30th. 

The New Year begins on January 3 with a game at Cleary. The Warriors return home after nearly a month for a pair of matchups against Siena Heights and #RV Madonna on January 7 and 10, respectively. Next, the Warriors will travel to Lawrence Tech (Jan. 14) and Northwestern Ohio (Jan. 17) before a home game against Defiance (Jan. 21). The final two road games of the month will have RCU heading to #21 Indiana Tech on Jan. 24 and Aquinas on Jan. 28. The month closes out with Michigan-Dearborn on the 31st. 

The final month of the regular season opens with a home game against Lourdes on February 4th. The Warriors will then head to the west side of the state for a game against Cornerstone on Feb. 7, before heading to Siena Heights on Feb. 11. The final two home games will be against Cleary (Feb. 14) and Lawrence Tech (Feb. 18). The regular season concludes with a trip to #RV Madonna on Feb. 21. 

Following the regular season, the top-8 teams in the WHAC qualify for the WHAC Tournament on February 26, 28, and March 3. If the Warriors qualify for the National Tournament, the Opening Rounds will be March 13-14, with the National Championship Tournament on March 19-24.

ROCHESTER CHRISTIAN PERSONNEL

The Warriors are led by Dr. Klint Pleasant and have four assistants on the coaching staff this year, including Quin Rice, Scott Samuels, Paris Pereira, and Arman Cartwright. 

The roster this season is comprised of 19 student-athletes, with a class breakdown of four seniors, seven juniors, four sophomores, and four freshmen. 

The four led by James Fisher, who averaged 13.9 points per game last season, with a 66.5% percentage. Jeremy Neal appeared in 10 games last season, averaging 1.2 points per game. The other two seniors are Vir Chowdhary and Linden Holder. 

The junior class is led by Tymias Williams, who appeared in six games last season, averaging 11.5 points per game. Cyrus Watkins and Darnell Turner Jr. each saw limited action last season as well. Tyler Allen, Will Asare, Jamil Mashhour, and Mark Williams II are new to the team this season. 

Tre Walker III, Rolan Vincze, Ashton Goul, and Dustin Farrow are the four sophomores this season. Farrow led the bunch last season, averaging 9.4 points per game, while Goul, Walker III, and Vincze averaged 4.2, 1.3, and 0.3 points. 

The four freshmen this season are Lucas Brannen, Bakir Djedovic, Mason Parker, and Ben Stojanovski.

2024-2025 TEAM STATISTICS

2025-2026 WHAC PRESEASON POLL

The Warriors come into the season with a projected third-place finish in the WHAC standings, tallying 108 points. 

Leading the pack is Indiana Tech, which is also ranked 21st in the NAIA, collecting 133 points and eight first-place votes. Coming in with 118 points is Madonna, who is receiving votes in the NAIA and also receiving one first-place vote. Right behind RCU is Cornerstone with 107 points and a pair of first-place votes. Rounding out the top-5 is Northwestern Ohio with 101 points and a single first-place vote. 

The rest of the WHAC is Lourdes at #6 with 96 points, followed by Lawrence Tech (69 points), Aquinas (66), Cleary (47), Defiance (41), Siena Heights (26), and Michigan Dearborn (24).