When the SIU men’s basketball team takes the court on Friday, Oct. 17 against Austin Peay, they’ll start their journey to improving on last season’s 14-19 record – and they’ll be doing it with over half of the roster being new players. 

Second-year head coach Scott Nagy has only six players returning to the squad from last year. That leaves him with eight newcomers; three true freshmen and five transfers.

One player that technically isn’t a newcomer but did not see the floor last year is redshirt freshman forward Jaheem Webber. Webber originally committed to Wright State, but came over with Nagy when he took the SIU job. Webber used last year to improve his body to Division I standards. When asked what Webber was able to improve on the court over the last year, Nagy cited his finishing around the basket.

The biggest fish in the freshman class is St. Louis native Luke Walsh. Walsh was a sharpshooter at Vianney High School for four years, and his shooting prowess is going to be a big part of how he can help this year’s Salukis. 

“The adjustment from high school to college for most freshmen is a big adjustment,” Nagy said. He’s also been putting in the work to make that adjustment easier, with Nagy saying he puts in more time than “probably anyone on our team.”

Daniel Pauliukonis is the tallest member of the freshman class at 6 feet 9 inches. The Chicago native will get his minutes at “small forward or power forward” despite his center size, according to Nagy. Nagy also cited Pauliukonis’ winning mindset after he led Benet Academy to an Illinois High School Association 4A state championship this past spring.

Saint Louis University transfer Max Pikaar also figures to factor heavily into the big man equation for the Salukis this season. Despite the 7-foot Dutchman having limited minutes at SLU last year, the SIU coaching staff liked what they saw. Pikaar is not just an inside player either, and Nagy said he has gotten more comfortable shooting. That versatility could come up huge for the Salukis this winter.

There’s always so much talk of the Saluki Way in Carbondale, and John A. Logan College transfer Caden Hawkins may understand that more than anyone. Not only did he grow up in Carterville and go to school just down the street from the Banterra Center, but he’s also the son of former Saluki basketball star and former assistant coach Shane Hawkins. Nagy understands Hawkins’ unique perspective, calling him “the definition of a Saluki.”

Valparaiso transfer Isaiah Stafford has experience playing in the Missouri Valley Conference. The redshirt senior averaged 16.9 points per game in the 2023-2024 season before missing all of last year due to a knee injury. Nagy expects Stafford to “be a more efficient scorer” now that he won’t be leaned on as heavily as he was at Valpo.

Rolyns Aligbe impressed in his freshman year last year and will now be joined on the squad by his older brother Prince. The senior started 29 games for Seton Hall University, a member of the Big East Conference, in the 2023-2024 season. That power conference experience, plus a brotherly connection with Rolyns, could prove to be huge this year.  

Quel’Ron House comes to SIU from Jacksonville State as a proven winner. House helped lead the Gamecocks to 23 wins last season, including a win over Georgia Tech in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament. House also landed on the Conference USA All-Freshman team. 

When asked what House’s role will be, Nagy said “What we need him to do, really, is be our point guard and lead this team.” Nagy went on to praise House’s ballhandling abilities, saying “He gives us a ballhandler we didn’t have at all last year. We were missing that once Elijah [Elliott] went down with a knee injury.”

Jalen Haynes will be looking to break into the guard rotation as a true freshman. The Lewisville, Texas native was praised by Nagy as “one of the most athletic kids on our team.” 

Saluki fans will have a chance to see all the newcomers and all the returners take the court against a different team for the first time this season Friday, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. as the Salukis take on the Austin Peay Governors in a preseason exhibition matchup at the Banterra Center.

Sports reporter Eli Hoover can be reached at ehoover@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram at @hoovermakesart

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