CONWAY, S.C. – Excitement is building in Conway as the Coastal Carolina men's basketball team gears up for the 2025-26 season. Head coach
Justin Gray and select student-athletes met with the media Monday, Oct. 13, at the HTC Center to talk about offseason progress, new faces, and the energy surrounding a program eager to take the next step.
Gray enters his second season leading the Chanticleers with a roster that mixes veteran experience and a surge of new talent. The team welcomes nine newcomers, including seven transfers led by former Clemson and Boston College guard
Joshua Beadle.
Sophomore A.J. Dancler, an All-Northeast Conference performer last season at Le Moyne, and
Nadjrick Peat, a two-time PacWest Conference Defensive Player of the Year at Hawaii Hilo, headline a deep group of additions.
DaJohn Craig (Oregon State),
Derrick Green (Brunswick Community College),
Reggie Hill (Midwestern State), and
Jerry Ngopot (ULM) also joined the Chants after last season, while freshmen
Devin Brown and
Tristan Thompson add promising youth to the roster.
Coastal will also lean on its returning leaders, including junior
Rasheed Jones and redshirt sophomore
Braeden MacVicar, who sat out last season. The duo brings experience and leadership to a group that's already showing strong chemistry in preseason workouts.
The Chanticleers open the season on the road at Western Michigan on Nov. 3, then return home to host Virginia University of Lynchburg in their home opener on Nov. 7 at the HTC Center.
Season and single-game tickets for the 2025-26 men's basketball season are on sale through the Chanticleer Athletics Ticket Office. Fans can purchase tickets online at
GoCCUSports.com/tickets or by calling 843-347-TIXX (8499).
Quotes from Coach Gray's Monday press conference can be found below. Click
here for additional quotes from student-athletes and
here to watch the full press conference online.
HEAD COACH JUSTIN GRAY
Q: What's been the main focus for your team this offseason?
A:
Our guys have been working hard since June. The focus has been on getting stronger, faster, and more athletic — and my strength coach, Coach Spain, has done an awesome job. We plan to play at a faster pace this year, so that physical development is key.
The biggest thing is discipline and energy every day. We've got gritty guys who compete and push each other. I like this group — we have good guards, solid wings and bigs — and now it's about putting it all together.
I also want to thank Teal Nation for their support. We're building something special here, and that energy means a lot to our program.
Q: You added more size to the roster. How much of that came from what you learned in the Sun Belt last season?
A: A lot. The Sun Belt is a physical league — some teams play four guards, others three bigs. We needed to be able to match that toughness and impose our own. We've got bigger, stronger guys who can rebound, defend, and communicate. Our bigs are like the captains of the ball screens — they see everything. We talk about "Wi-Fi" a lot: everyone's got to be on the same network. When we're connected, we play at a high level. We've got multiple bigs who can score inside and step out to shoot. It'll be a different brand of basketball for us, but still tough, physical and relentless.
Q: Every team is different year to year. What makes this group unique?
A: It starts with who they are — good kids, great teammates, and they genuinely like each other. They hang out off the court, and that chemistry shows when we play. We've got real basketball guys — players who live in the gym and study film. And we've got talent. AJ can flat-out score; Nadrick protects the rim and communicates; and having returners like Braden and Rasheed gives us leadership and experience. If we can stay connected and consistent, we can have a special year.
Q: What do you expect guard Josh Beadle to bring with his ACC experience?
A: Poise. He's a guy who can create for himself and for others, and he understands how to compete at a high level. He'll help elevate the standard for our entire backcourt.
Q: Will Rasheed Jones play off the ball more this season?
A: Yes, a bit. Last year he had to handle the ball a lot, and that wore him down. Now we've added more guards who can help create, which lets him focus more on scoring and defending. That depth will make us more efficient overall.
Q: What does success look like for you in Year Two?
A: Everyone wants championships-including coaches- but success for us is progress. Last year we had nine games decided by two possessions. If we execute a little better, we win a few more of those, and that changes everything. Our goal is to keep moving forward — to be better than we were last year and keep growing as a program. If we stay connected and handle adversity the right way, the results will come. I believe in this team, in our staff, and in Teal Nation. We're excited about what's ahead.
