Missouri State’s new-look, men’s basketball roster is ready to make its debut. The Bears will feature 12 new players from overseas, junior college and Division II ranks.
Trey Williams Jr., Melakih Cunningham and Cameron Boone are the only three returning players from last year’s roster.
The Bears host Division II Lincoln University for the season opener at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
Here’s who will represent Missouri State this season, with comments from head coach Cuonzo Martin on each player.
No. 1 Trey Williams Jr.
- Position: Guard
- Height: 6-3
- Year: Sophomore
- Hometown: Centralia, Illinois
- Former school: Vashon
- Last year’s stats: 9.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists
- Martin’s comments: “Trey has done a really good job leading. He’s a point guard that can score the ball and also facilitate.”
No. 2 Kuol Kuol
- Position: Forward
- Height: 6-11
- Year: Freshman
- Hometown: Abyei, South Sudan
- Former school: Oak Hill Academy
- Martin’s comments: “Energy, run, spread the floor and is very active. High level motor.”
No. 3 Kevin Stubblefield Jr.
- Position: Guard
- Height: 6-5
- Year: Junior
- Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
- Former school: Westside High School, Connors State (Oklahoma junior college)
- Last year’s stats: 19.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists with Connors State
- Martin’s comments: “Good all-around basketball player. Reads the game and sees the game. He has a great feel for the game.”
No. 4 Amare Oba
- Position: Forward
- Height: 6-7
- Year: Freshman
- Hometown: Henderson, Nevada
- Former school: Coronado High School
- Martin’s comments: “Amare has really improved his ability to shoot the ball, active on defense, aggressive, physical on defender, improves every day.”
No. 5 Melakih Cunningham
- Position: Guard
- Height: 6-7
- Year: Sophomore
- Hometown: Gary, Indiana
- Former school: Moravian Prep
- Last year’s stats: 3.1 points, 2.0 rebounds
- Martin’s comments: “Melakih is an aggressive score and a physical low post wing player.”
No. 6 Dylan Rowe
- Position: Guard
- Height: 6-4
- Year: Sophomore
- Hometown: Madison, Mississippi
- Former school: Madison Central High School, Jones College (Mississippi junior college)
- Last year’s stats: 16.8 points, 4.6 rebounds with Jones College
- Martin’s comments: “Dylan is a fast point guard, gets in the paint, makes great plays and really good athlete at that position.”
No. 7 Isaiah Medina
- Position: Forward
- Height: 7-0
- Year: Sophomore
- Hometown: St. Petersburg, Florida
- Former school: Gibbs High School, DePaul
- Last year’s stats: Did not appear in a game for the Blue Demons
- Martin’s comments: “Physical, big guy with a high level 3-point shot.”
No. 8 Matt Gray
- Position: Forward
- Height: 6-8
- Year: Senior
- Hometown: Ashburn, Virginia
- Former school: Flint High School, Davis & Elkins College
- Last year’s stats: 16.6 points, 4.4 rebounds with Davis & Elkins
- Martin’s comments: “Strong, physical driver, attacks very aggressively in transition.”
No. 11 Ngundeng Ruey
- Position: Forward
- Height: 6-9
- Year: Junior
- Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Former school: St. Patrick’s High School, Mineral Area Community College
- Last year’s stats: 6.6 points, 4.8 rebounds with Mineral Area
- Martin’s comments: “Really good inside, outside player, who can shoot the 3-ball. Long, athletic, one of those guys you got to watch yourself on the tip dunks.”
No. 15 Andrej Acimovic
- Position: Center
- Height: 6-11
- Year: Sophomore
- Hometown: Bijeljina, Bosnia
- Former school: Indiana
- Last year’s stats: Did not appear in a game with the Hoosiers
- Martin’s comments: “Talented, low post player, who can shoot the 3-ball and is a really good passer. He’s one of those guys that can pass it, score in the post, does a lot of good things.”
No. 20 Cameron Boone
- Position: Forward
- Height: 6-10
- Year: Senior
- Hometown: East St. Louis, Illinois
- Former school: East St. Louis High School, John A. Logan College
- Last year’s stats: 3.1 points, 2.0 rebounds
- Martin’s comments: “Has really improve his ability to protect the rim, block shots and get dunks, put backs around the basket.”
No. 21 Leano Rolle
- Position: Forward
- Height: 6-7
- Year: Junior
- Hometown: Bimini, Bahamas
- Former school: SW Mississippi Community College
- Last year’s stats: 14.4 points, 7.0 rebounds with SW Mississippi CC
- Martin’s comments: “High level athlete, slasher, runner, jumper.”
No. 23 Christian Thompson
- Position: Forward
- Height: 6-9
- Year: Senior
- Hometown: Homewood, Alabama
- Former school: Homewood High School, West Alabama
- Last year’s stats: 9.3 points, 10.1 rebounds with West Alabama
- Martin’s comments: “The college version of Dennis Rodman, in my opinion. He’s active, aggressive, rebounds the ball, runs the floor and has a great feel for the game.”
No. 25 Dimitar Zetov
- Position: Guard
- Height: 6-2
- Year: Freshman
- Hometown: Strumica, North Macedonia
- Former school: SOU Jane Sandanski
- Martin’s comments: “Facilitator, but he can shoot the 3-ball. He directs traffic and leads his team.”
No. 35 Jordan Blair
- Position: Guard/Forward
- Height: 6-6
- Year: Junior
- Hometown: Keller, Texas
- Former school: Keller Central High School, Colorado State-Pueblo
- Last year’s stats: 13.4 points, 6.4 rebounds with Colorado State-Pueblo
- Martin’s comments: “Physical scoring guard, gets downhill, puts pressure on the defense with his physical presence and uses his shoulders very well.”
Liam Keating covers high school sports and Missouri State athletics for The Springfield News-Leader. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Meet the revamped Missouri State men’s basketball roster
