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Change was promised for the UNO men’s basketball program when Percy “Master P” Miller became President of Basketball Operations.
Miller is best known for his success in the music industry but has an extensive basketball background as both a player and a coach. The New Orleans native Miller stated his plans for UNO at an introductory news conference in February, and there have been significant changes this summer at Lakefront Arena.
UNO has a renovated basketball locker room that includes a freshly painted multicolored floor and bright lights. The roster includes 13 new players as the team looks to improve after a 4-27 record last season.
“We’re just getting better every day,” Miller said. “Are we coming out and saying we’re the best team in the world? No, but we’re working hard. We know that the community is behind us, and the players are excited. It’s going to be a special year.”
UNO’s revamped roster features multiple Division I transfers and a pair of centers over seven feet. Coach Stacy Hollowell is entering his second season at UNO and has worked alongside Miller to assemble the new-look lineup.
“Immediately (Miller’s) impact was felt,” Hollowell said. “I think we’ve put together a nice mix of transfers and young talent that we feel like can help us make an impact that we weren’t able to make in Year 1. One year can really transform what you look like.”
The two returning players from are sophomore MJ Thomas and senior Grant Kemp. Thomas averaged 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game for UNO as a freshman and is expected to play an important role again this season as the only returning starter.
“MJ has done a great job putting himself in a situation where he can take a jump in his college career,” Hollowell said. “Last year he was our big man. This year we’ve got 10 guys that are between 6-foot-7 and 7-4, so he now looks more like a wing than a five.”
“We’ve got a nice squad,” Thomas said. “I feel like I’ve matured a lot.”
he centers brought in via the transfer portal include 6-10 Churchill Abass from Wake Forest, 7-3 Mathok Majok from Oral Roberts and 7-2 William Patterson of Syracuse. UNO alum Ervin Johnson has spent time working with UNO’s post players this summer.
Johnson was a star center for UNO during the 1990s. He went on to play 13 seasons in the NBA and is currently a community ambassador for the Denver Nuggets.
“I’m just trying to help out,” Johnson said. “Using my knowledge, my wisdom and my experience to try and give (the players) everything I have to make them a better player, better student, better human being. Whatever I can do to help them, that’s what I’m here for.”
Abass and Majok are among six international transfers on UNO’s roster, with Abass hailing from Nigeria and Majok from South Sudan. Vancouver native Irish Coquia transferred from Division II Simon Fraser in British Columbia, Canada, and is expected to play a key role at guard.
Coquia is joined by a pair of Division I guard transfers in seniors Jakevion Buckley from Southeastern Louisiana and Coleton Benson from Texas State. Buckley averaged 14.5 points per game last season, with Benson averaging 2.2 3-pointers.
UNO’s season opener is scheduled for Nov. 3 at TCU. The Privateers’ home opener will follow on Nov. 8 at Lakefront Arena against neighboring NAIA program Southern University of New Orleans.
“That’s going to be good to have two teams from the city compete over here,” Miller said. “It’s going to be a great atmosphere.”
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