Copyright Arkansas Online
Entering its final season as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference before transitioning to the United Athletic Conference, the Arkansas-Little Rock men's basketball team was picked to win the league after bringing in a talent-rich recruiting class in the offseason. The newcomers will blend with a solid group of returners that features Johnathan Lawson and Tuongthach Gatkek. Lawson earned All-OVC first-team honors following the 2024-25 campaign, while Gatkek was tabbed as the OVC Defensive Player of the Year. "We're definitely trying to win the OVC championship," Gatkek said. "We got pretty close last year, but I feel like this is our year and we're going to make it happen. It's going to take everyone buying into the system and just executing what we do everyday." Travonne Jackson, Caleb Pennyfeather and Christian Hughes round out the group of returners from last season's team. Jackson, Pennyfeather and Hughes were all reserves last year, but each of them played critical minutes at times when injuries caused a lack of depth. "They can help the new guys with what we're doing offensively and defensively with the terminology and where to be at," UALR Coach Darrell Walker said of the returners. "They have been coaches on the floor, which has been good for me." The Trojans open the 2025-26 season Tuesday against Arkansas Baptist at the Jack Stephens Center, and the injury bug has already hit the team hard before any meaningful basketball has been played. Starting point guard Khalen "KK" Robinson and his younger brother Kellen Robinson have been ruled out for the year with significant knee injuries. Khalen Robinson also missed all of last season with a knee injury. Kellen Robinson was one of the highest-ranked high school recruits in program history and was expected to be a key contributor as a freshman. "I like our (guards). I'd like it better if the Robinson boys were healthy," Walker said. "But they're not healthy, that's water under the bridge right now, so it's going to be by committee." Fortunately for the Trojans, they have a third Robinson brother available in Khasen. He transferred to UALR from Pratt Community College in Kansas and is one of the leading candidates to fill the void at point guard. Hughes is also expected to log minutes at point guard, along with Gulf Coast Community College transfer Truman Claytor IV. Lawson is slated to start at shooting guard, but may see spot duty at point guard when necessary. "Khasen's going to be there," Walker said. "Christian Hughes (has) earned some minutes and then you have Johnathan Lawson. This is when Truman comes in. A (junior college) player, talented player, but he has to figure out what we're doing offensively and defensively." Western Kentucky transfer Braxton Bayless, Xavier (La.) transfer Tracy Steele Jr., Jackson and returning reshirt freshman Joseph Thomas are several other options Walker can utilize for depth in the backcourt. In the frontcourt, Pennyfeather, Penn State transfer Kachi Nzeh, Holmes Community College transfer Cameron Wallace and freshman Terrion Burgess will compete for minutes. Burgess, like Kellen Robinson, elected to sign with UALR despite holding several high-major offers. Robinson graduated from Bryant High School and had offers from Auburn, Arkansas State and several others. Standing at 6-9, Burgess had at least a dozen offers coming out of Benton High School, with Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn and Texas A&M among that group. "I'm very honored to play for my home, stay here and just put a smile on people's faces," Burgess said. "I've picked up a lot in the weight room (and) gained a lot of weight. ... Just learning how fast (the college game) is. It's a very different, quick pace. College is very fast." Following Tuesday's home matchup against Arkansas Baptist, UALR will be on the road for seven straight games. The difficult nonconference slate includes road contests at Marquette and West Virginia. The Trojans will also travel to Central Arkansas on Dec. 3. Outside of Tuesday's game, matchups with Arkansas State on Dec. 6 and Williams Baptist on Dec. 22 are the only other scheduled nonconference games at the Jack Stephens Center. "You go on the road, but you go on the road early," Walker said of the schedule. "You can catch teams early on the road for road wins. Late in the season, it's tough to go to somebody's house and get a win. But early, if we play well, make free throws and rebound and defend the way we are capable, we'll win our share on the road."
