Preseason MVP: Lenell Henry’s production waned after a solid start last season. He will be counted on for more than his averages of 4.8 points and 4.9 rebounds a year ago.

The Ceiling: A third straight regular-season SWAC championship is possible if many of the experienced newcomers produce, and Lenell Henry emerges in the post as a capable replacement for Devonte Patterson with an extra year to grow into the program. The Panthers are built to run and have brought in athletic players with size. 

The Floor: If relying too heavily on first-year players to replace a solid senior class doesn’t pan out, a chance to even compete for another SWAC title likely eludes the Panthers. But the Panthers should be one of the teams battling for the league’s top spot.

Projected Starting Five

Faite Williams
G | 6-2 | Jr. | Dickinson, Texas

Jeremiah Gambrell
G | 6-3 | So. | Houston, Texas

Eric Hester
G | 6-3 | Sr. | Clearwater, Fla.

Lenell Henry
F | 6-8 | Sr. | Chicago, Ill.

Jerroda Briscoe
F | 6-9 | Jr. | St. Petersburg, Fla.

Byron Smith
Head Coach

Impact First-Year Player: Jeremiah Gambrell

Season Preview

For most programs, having to replace the conference player of the year as well as another all-league performer, in addition to its top five scorers, would represent a rebuild and planning for the future. 

Prairie View A&M coach Byron Smith had to overhaul his roster following last season’s SWAC regular-season championship, and there may not be a drop off in production.

Eight newcomers are onboard, many with NCAA Division I experience. They join an experienced core of Faite Williams, Lenell Henry and DeWayne Cox in an attempt for a third straight SWAC regular-season title.

“We feel good about the direction which we’re going and what we’ve accomplished, but we’re motivated to do more,” Smith said. “Every couple of years you turn over your roster and bring in a new group. I like the depth that we have.”

Matching or surpassing what last year’s team accomplished would be a tremendously successful season for the Panthers, who went 19-13 in 2019-20, 14-4 in league play.

The Panthers have upgraded in size, and all of the newcomers can run the court, which is Prairie View’s style.

Jerroda Briscoe and Jeremiah Gambrell are two of the newcomers expected to shine for the Panthers, who have gone 31-5 over the past two years in SWAC competition. But those squads had Devonte Patterson, last season’s SWAC Player of the Year, and all-conference Gerard Andrus, as well as Darius Williams, Antione Lister and Chancellor Ellis.

It may take a committee to replace Patterson’s numbers in the post, 15.8 points and 6.4 rebounds, but the 6-8 Briscoe is a good start. Briscoe, who Smith calls an athletic freak, arrives from Central Wyoming College, where he is the program’s all-time leader in blocks. Gambrell is a combo guard who transferred from Western Kentucky. He has deep range and adds value to the perimeter.

Boe Nguidjol, 6-foot-8, is a transfer from Detroit-Mercy and 6-3 point guard Damari Parris a grad transfer from Eastern Michigan. Eric Hester started his college career at Florida, scoring 16 points on 5-of-5 on 3-pointers against LSU, and 6-6 swingman Dajour Joseph began at LaSalle. D’Rell Roberts is a sharpshooter, and at 6-foot-6 can play multiple positions, and Myles Washington is a strong 6-foot-5.

“We normally play a lot of small ball, and we’ll still do that a lot, but I like the length we have on the wings and the inside,” Smith said. “Bringing those eight newcomers, we feel really good about our recruiting class and we have a chance to compete (for the SWAC title).”

Henry played spot minutes down the stretch last season after starting the season strong. Versatile and athletic, Henry could develop into one of the better big players in the conference. A natural off-guard, Williams was moved to the point by Smith and has flourished. The junior was given a scholarship this past spring.

“I think it’s our deepest team with depth, two at every position that can play,” Smith said. “These guys all have really good size, especially out on the wings and the perimeter. We can match up with most teams in our league in terms of stature. The starting lineup can go in a lot of different directions.”