By: Mark Wasik
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KENNESAW, Ga. – As it looks to defend its Conference USA title next season, Kennesaw State Men's Basketball has strengthened its roster with the addition of eight newcomers this spring to join the Black and Gold for the 2026-27 campaign, third-year head coach Antoine Pettway announced Monday.
First, the Owls will be bringing in five players from the transfer portal, including three who played on CUSA teams this past season: Jacoby Hill (Jacksonville State), CJ Beaumont (Sam Houston State) and Avery Thomas II (Louisiana Tech). They are joined by Kris Parker out of UCF, and Anthony Enoh from Georgia State.
Rounding out the class is a trio of very talented high school seniors in Keriawn Berry (Louisville, Ky.), Antwane Daniels (Auburn, Ala.) and Tobiaz Tolbert (Columbus, Ga.).
With the signing of Tolbert, the Owls have now signed 12 players from the state of Georgia out of high school under Pettway since the spring of 2023, easily the most among all in-state Division I programs.
"I'm super excited to welcome this group of young men into our program," said Pettway. "I believe they each have the character and work ethic that will add to our culture and standard from the first day they arrive on campus.
"Retaining Amir (Taylor), Trey (Simpson) and Kaden (Rickard) was a major priority for us this spring and then being able to use some of the positive momentum in our program to find guys that affect winning at a high level is a great sign of the growth and momentum of Kennesaw State basketball. Each of these young men value winning and I can't wait to take this journey with them this season."
Hill, a 6-4 guard out of Phenix City, Ala., was one of the top freshmen in Conference USA this past season. He averaged 10.0 points per game, third-best on the team, while shooting 51.4% from the floor, and claimed one CUSA Freshman of the Week honor during the season after recording a pair of 20+ point performances. Hill played his prep career at Central Phenix City, where as a three-star guard he claimed three all-state honors. He was a finalist for Mr. Basketball his senior season while leading the Red Devils to the 2025 7A state semifinals, and an appearance in the 2023 7A state championship game. He will have three years of eligibility with the Owls.
Beaumont, a native of West Palm Beach, Fla., is a 6-8 guard that spent three years with the Bearkats but will be a redshirt junior for the Owls after redshirting the 2024-25 season. He appeared in 15 games as a freshman in 2023-24 and played in 30 games this past season for Sam Houston. He averaged 3.3 points per game in 2025-26 while playing behind a veteran-heavy lineup but had a breakout game in his final appearance for the Bearkats, scoring a career-high 22 points while knocking down four treys in a first-round NIT contest at New Mexico. He came to Sam Houston from Palm Beach Prep, where he averaged 11 ppg his senior season.
Thomas will also have two years of eligibility for the Owls after spending the 2025-26 season with the LA Tech Bulldogs. The 6-8 forward was fifth on the team in scoring at 9.1 points per game and paced the squad while ranking 10th in CUSA in rebounding at 7.2 per contest. Thomas started 26 games his sophomore season while helping the Bulldogs to a CUSA championship game appearance and was named to the CUSA All-Tournament Team after averaging a double-double of 10.7 ppg and 10.3 rpg. Prior to his time in Ruston, he spent his freshman season at Jones College, helping them to a school-record 30-4 mark and an appearance in the NJCAA Round of 16. He claimed Second Team All-MACCC honors after posting 14.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for the Bobcats and earned a No. 17 ranking as the best junior college player in the nation by Rivals. A native of Jackson, Miss., he played for Terry High School and led them to a 23-8 record, a district championship and an appearance in the MHSAA Class 6A state semifinals his senior year in 2023-24. Ranked as the No. 2 prep player in the state of Mississippi his senior year, he averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds and was named to The Clarion-Ledger's Dandy Dozen.
A native of Tallahassee, Fla., Parker redshirted his first year of college at Alabama before transferring to Villanova where he appeared in 27 games, and averaged 2.6 points and 1.4 rebounds per game for the Wildcats in 2024-25. He notched two double-figure scoring games including 11 in a win over DePaul. Parker was a member of UCF this past season, made 22 total appearances, and scored a season-high nine points in the road win at Texas A&M. A 6-9 guard, he was a four-star recruit and top-10 prospect in the state of Florida for Crossroad Academy. He averaged 24.8 ppg, 14.2 rpg and 7.1 apg his senior season and was named Florida Class 2A Player of the Year while leading the Scorpions to a district title.
The final new addition from the transfer portal also has the shortest distance to travel to his new squad, as Enoh makes the move from in-state rival Georgia State. A 6-8 forward, he will have one year of eligibility as an Owl after playing his junior season for the Panthers where he played in all 30 games and made 17 starts. Enoh's first two years at the college level was at Jessup University in Rocklin, Calif., for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. There he played in 54 career games, and started 24 of 25 contests his sophomore season, where he posted 11.0 ppg and 6.5 rpg while shooting 50.5% for his career, and 36.5% from three-point range. A native of Uyo, Nigeria, Enoh played his high school career for Meitoku Gijuku High School in Japan, and averaged 25 points and 14 rebounds per game his final season.
The first of the prep recruits is Berry, a 6-7 small forward who played for North Hardin High his senior season. Ranked as the top prospect in the state of Kentucky, the four-star small forward previously played for Avon High in Avon, Indiana, where he averaged 13.9 points and 5.6 rebounds as a junior in 2024-25.
The first of the prep recruits is Berry, a 6-7 small forward who played for North Hardin High School his senior season. Ranked as the top prospect in the state of Kentucky, the four-star small forward previously played for Avon High in Avon, Indiana, where he averaged 13.9 points and 5.6 rebounds as a junior in 2024-25.
Daniels is a 6-6 guard, was named the Large Schools Boys Player of the Year this past month, thanks to recording 19.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game for Auburn High School. The 6-6 guard also picked up First-Team All-State and All-Area accolades. He also excelled on the diamond the past two years as an outfielder for the. Daniels is the son of former NBA star Marquis Daniels, who played for four different teams in his 10 years in the league.
Tolbert is the second in-state signee for next year's team as he played four years for Carver High School. The 6-7 forward was named Regional Player of the Year and GHSA Class 2A First-Team All-State after posting 18.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.8 blocks per game his senior season, while leading the Tigers to the second round of the state playoffs.
The spring signees join three from the fall recruiting class: Levi Ball (West Columbia, S.C.), Zyree Brown (Austell, Ga.) and Kyler Theophile (Coral Springs, Fla.).
The Champions Fund
The Champions Fund is a newly created, 100% tax deductible, philanthropic opportunity to contribute strategic revenue to Kennesaw State Athletics, with the goal of strengthening our ability to recruit and retain top-tier talent in this new era of collegiate athletics. Contributions to the Champions Fund will help aid in funding student-athlete recruitment and retention, as well as helping the Owls provide competitive excellence through investments in coaching, travel and facilities. The fund will also give an elevated student-athlete experience, including enhanced academic, nutrition, wellness and leadership programs. Donate to the Champions Fund here and help us support our Kennesaw State Owls.
