By: Mark Wasik
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State men's basketball's rise as a contender under third-year head coach
Antoine Pettway has not gone unnoticed, as the Blue Ribbon College Yearbook for 2025-26 has picked the Owls to finish in second place in Conference USA. Senior guard
Simeon Cottle, one of the top returning scorers in the nation, was named the publication's CUSA Preseason Player of the Year, and he was also named preseason All-CUSA along with sophomore forward
Braedan Lue.
Cottle, a native of College Park, Ga., was a second-team All-CUSA selection last year while averaging a career-high 18.0 points per game. Lue started 32 games while claiming CUSA All-Freshman team honors in 2024-25, and posted 10.0 ppg, third best on the squad, while adding 5.5 rpg, which was second-highest among the Owls.
The Owls surpassed all expectations last year, going 19-14 after being picked to finish in last place in the preseason conference polls. KSU will return three starters from that squad that posted a fourth-place regular season finish as well as an appearance in the CUSA semifinals.
Season tickets for 2025-26 are now available
HERE.
BLUE RIBBON FORECAST
1. Liberty
2. Kennesaw State
3. New Mexico State
4. Middle Tennessee
5. Jacksonville State
6. FIU
7. Louisiana Tech
8. Sam Houston
9. Western Kentucky
10. Missouri State
11. UTEP
12. Delaware
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
F-Zach Cleveland, SR, Liberty
F-Braedan Lue, SO, Kennesaw State
G-Simeon Cottle, SR, Kennesaw State
G-Kaden Metheny, GR, Liberty
G-Jemel Jones, SR, New Mexico State
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Simeon Cottle, SR, Kennesaw State
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Jemel Jones, SR, New Mexico State
The Owls Fund
The Owls Fund is the primary fundraising arm of Kennesaw State Athletics with the goal of supporting our student-athletes, coaches and each of our 18 NCAA Division I programs. Through initiatives such as Legacy Lockers, the Dot Martin Scholarship Golf Classic, sport-specific giving opportunities, general donations and season tickets, The Owls Fund connects fans with KSU's programs and student-athletes. Members receive exclusive benefits such as hospitality seating areas and events at Kennesaw State home games, and more. Joining The Owls Fund here and discover more opportunities on how you can support Kennesaw State Athletics.
