Coming off a difficult season that saw the team miss the AUS playoffs for the first time in 38 years, the X-Men enter the 2015-16 season with something to prove.
Leading the way will be the team's Co-MVP's, Julius Antoine (17 ppg), a 6'3" junior guard, and Cameron Walker (14 ppg and 8.5 rpg), a 6'7" junior forward, along with 6'7" junior forward Kevin Bercy, an AUS tournament All-Star in 2013-14, who returns after missing most of last season with a back injury.
Also returning from the recruiting class that brought in Antoine, Walker and Bercy is 6'0 junior point guard Davonte Provo (6 ppg and 3 apg), a part-time starter last year, and 6'5" physical forward Tayo Shittu.
Second year X-Men Alastair Cole (6 ppg), a 6'3" guard with two years of eligibility remaining, 6'0 combo guard Cameron Crieghtney, 6'3" guard Jason Hatch and 6'10" and Cassio Rodrigues are expected to step up and provide depth to this year's squad.
Highlighting Coach K's 41st recruiting class are 6'5" swingman Tyrel Edwards and speedy 6'0 point guard Akil Charles. Edwards, a native of Hamilton, Ont., played three years of high level basketball in the US, including a year at the D-1 level. He brings a combination of athleticism and shooting ability to the team. Charles, a native of Washington, DC, was a second team ACAA All-Star at Crandall University (Moncton, NB) averaging 20 ppg. Both players have two years of eligibility remaining.
Another transfer student from the University of Guelph, 6'5", 220, Daniel Passley, has four years of eligibility remaining and is a physical player who can also face up to the basket.
Bringing some youth to the team are two freshman guards who had outstanding high school careers. Six foot two shooting guard Tristen Ross, a Truro, NS, native, was first-team all-state athlete at Vermont's St. Johnsbury Academy where he averaged 23 ppg, while 6'2" point guard Brandon Velocci averaged 18 ppg and 8 apg at Eagle Academy in Brooklyn, NY.
Two-sport athlete Josh Millar, a 6'6" forward from Ottawa who is a back-up quarterback with the X-Men football team, will join the squad once the pigskin season is over. Millar was a red-shirt with the national champion Carleton Ravens two years ago.
Despite the playoff disappointment of last season, this X-Men team feels they have re-focused and are setting their sights on cutting down the nets at the AUS championships in Halifax in March. AUS regular season play begins on Friday, November 6th when StFX visits the UPEI Panthers. The X-Men's first home game is Friday, November 13th when they will host Acadia at 8:00 pm.