The Kentucky Wesleyan College men’s basketball team is making additions to the 2021-22 roster, as announced by Head Coach Drew Cooper on Saturday.
“I love the group we have coming back,” commented an enthusiastic Head Coach Drew Cooper. “I know they will set the tone regarding what commitment and positive personality within a championship program should look like. Each year, I have been very grateful to our senior classes because they’ve done their job to advance our program so that we’re better when they depart than we were when they arrived. We’re working hard to weaponize next year’s senior class to make sure that trend continues. Although we’re not done yet, we’ve made a significant dent in that mission.”
Antonio Thomas is 6’2 point guard junior transfer from Bradley University. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Thomas attended Memphis East High School.
“Tonio is extremely well-rounded as a player, student, and young man,” commented Coach Cooper. “He’s coming to a place that his commitment to all facets of how he lives his life is so appreciated. He’s a perfect fit here! He can run a team. He’s great in the open floor. He just really knows how to play on both sides. He’s a great decision-maker, passer, uses ball screens well… he’ll make everyone around him better.”
While at Bradley, Thomas played in 55 games, including all but one for the 2020 Missouri Valley Conference Champion Braves. In his career he averaged over 10 minutes a game, producing sound passing fundamentals with limited turnovers. He scored over 100 points for the Braves and recorded 55 assists.
“I decided to commit to Kentucky Wesleyan because the program is one of a kind and I’m ready to continue on the winning tradition with the Owensboro community,” commented Thomas.
Thomas is the son of Antonio and Markisha Thomas. He plans to study criminal justice.
Jordan Roland is a 6’1 combo guard transfer from Notre Dame College (OH). Roland is originally from Flint, Michigan where he attended Beecher High School.
“Jordan can really score the ball in a variety of ways,” said Head Coach Drew Cooper. “He’s explosive and assertive offensively and has proven during his time at Notre Dame that he’s an impact player at this level. He’s also tremendous defensively.”
An honor roll student out of high school, Roland helped Beecher to three State Championships. Prior to his arrival to Notre Dame Roland was First Team All-Conference at Mott Community College and Defensive Player of the Year in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association in 2018. For the NCAA Division 2 Notre Dame Falcons, Roland led the team in scoring with 18.2 points per game as well as in assists and steals. He was also named Second Team All-Mountain East Conference.
“I chose Kentucky Wesleyan because I could feel the family environment,” said Roland. “I could not pass up playing for a great historical program that has a winning mentality and focuses on their player development. It was the perfect fit for me.”
Jordan is the son of Jor’Dae Roland and Shantel Shackelford. He plans to study Sports Management.
JoMel Boyd is 6’6 forward/center transfer from Montana State University Northern Lights. He is originally from Anderson, Indiana where he attended Anderson High School.
“JoMel does great work in the classroom and on the floor is very effective in the interior,” continued Coach Cooper. “He’s an athletic, active player. He has had a bigtime scoring and rebounding impact at good levels of college basketball and is primed to do well here. We’re excited to add him into our interior fold.
Prior to Montana State Northern Lights, Boyd averaged over 20 points per game for Glen Oaks Community College. While at Glen Oaks he earned All-Region and First Team All-Conference honors. In his junior college career he scored over 1,000 points and grabbed over 500 rebounds. While at Northern Lights he led the league with 56% field goal shooting percentage. He averaged over 12 points and six rebounds last season.
“KWC is a great school, closer to home, and has a family feel,” said Boyd. “I can’t wait to get started!”
While Roland and Boyd each come in with 3 years of college experience under their belt, each are expected to receive extended eligibility and remain Panthers through the 2022-23 season.
Additionally, local product Cameron Frantz (Apollo High School/ Owensboro, KY) and Josiah Bibb (Brown High School/ Louisville, KY), will join the Panthers in a preferred walk-on roll for the 2021-22 season. All will join Eddie Jones Jr. and Scotty Draud who announced their commitment to Wesleyan in mid-March.
