LAWTON, Okla. - A reshaped roster will give Cameron University's Men's basketball team opportunities to establish a new identity in 2026–27 as Nathan Kennedy begins his second season leading the Aggies. Three returning players join a group that includes experienced college transfers and six freshmen. For Cameron, the early challenge will be turning that mix into a connected team capable of more consistent performances in the Lone Star Conference. Kennedy arrived at Cameron in April 2025 after five seasons at Arkansas Tech, where he served as associate head coach and helped the Wonder Boys win the 2024 Great American Conference regular-season and tournament championships. His Division II coaching background also includes Northeastern State, Montevallo, West Alabama and Charleston. Graduate assistants Cam Anderson and Brad Davis complete Cameron's coaching staff. Kennedy previewed the season by saying, "This group is made up of hard-playing guys who come to practice every day with a chip on their shoulder and a willingness to compete. I'm excited to see how these young men continue to develop their chemistry and grow together on the court. Our identity has to start with our work ethic, toughness, and commitment to playing harder than and outworking every opponent we face this season." When talking about their home opener against Oklahoma City University, he explained, "Oklahoma City is coming off an NAIA conference championship and has several high-level players on its roster. This will be a great early season test for our guys and will have the feel of a lone star conference game."
Junior guard Jake Lohman, junior wing Jonathan Mercera and sophomore forward Sergej Jakovljevic return with familiarity with Kennedy's program. Mercera appeared in 20 games with two starts last season, averaging 10.3 minutes. Lohman played in seven games and Jakovljevic in eight. Their experience within the program gives the newcomers teammates who understand its day-to-day expectations. Senior guard Xavier Harris brings Division II experience from West Liberty. In 2025–26, he appeared in 23 games, made seven starts and averaged 4.4 points and 1.8 rebounds while shooting 79.5 percent at the free-throw line. Harris is Cameron's representative on the LSC Preseason Players to Watch list, which is made up of institutional nominees. The backcourt also adds junior Jordan Peel, a 6-foot-3 guard from Tasmania, Australia, whose previous stop was Central Wyoming College, and junior Keisean Shields, a 5-foot-9 guard from Atoka who comes from Western Oklahoma State. Sophomore forward Hannibal Smith, listed at 6-foot-9, joins Cameron from Lawson State. Those additions give Kennedy college experience at both guard and forward. Brennen Byrd brings a different kind of college background. The freshman spent 2025–26 as a redshirt at Houston Christian and earned a place on the Southland Commissioner's Honor Roll. Before college, Byrd was a two-time all-state selection at Grapevine Faith Christian, averaging 14.9 points and 10.5 rebounds as a senior. The remaining freshmen include Dominic Fulton of Plainview, Texas, and Lawton High product Champierre Brewer. Noah Sampson, a 6-foot-5 guard from Adelaide, and Aaron Gashaw, a 6-foot-8 forward from Perth, add to Cameron's Australian connections. Kalle Kuhalampi, a 6-foot-7 forward from Tampere, Finland, rounds out the newcomers.
Cameron finished 7–21 overall and 4–16 in conference play last season. The Aggies averaged 75.4 points, but opponents scored 84.8 and held a rebounding advantage of 36.9 to 30.8 per game. Those figures point to defense and rebounding as areas where improvement could help Cameron turn competitive stretches into more complete performances. The Aggies were picked 16th in the 17-team LSC preseason poll. With so many new players, the first weeks of the season will offer a clearer picture of the group's strengths and how its pieces fit together. Fans will get their first regular season look at the Aggies at home Nov. 10, when Cameron hosts Oklahoma City at 6 p.m. The November schedule also includes trips to University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Colorado State Pueblo on Nov. 13–14, followed by home games against Southern Nazarene on Nov. 24 and Southeastern Oklahoma State on Nov. 28. Cameron opens conference play at Aggie Gym against West Texas A&M on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m., then hosts Eastern New Mexico on Dec. 5. The home schedule concludes with Oklahoma Christian on Feb. 20. Season tickets are $130 and include all 29 Cameron men's and women's home games. Single-game tickets are $10 online or $12 at the door. Tickets are available at CameronAggies.com/tickets, with complete schedules and team information at CameronAggies.com.
