Exhibition provides 1st look at GCU newcomers

Tuesday, October 29

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Eastern New Mexico

Buy Tickets

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

10/28/2024 6:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

Lopes make debut Tuesday night at Global Credit Union Arena

By: Paul Coro

Tuesday, Oct. 29 \| 7 p.m. \| Global Credit Union Arena \| Phoenix, Ariz.

	EASTERN NEW MEXICO GREYHOUNDS	at	GRAND CANYON LOPES

WATCH: FOX10 Xtra (Ch. 45, Cable 9), ESPN+ \| LISTEN: 1580 The Fanatic \| STATS: View

When Grand Canyon takes the Global Credit Union Arena court for the first time Tuesday night, much of the excitement in celebrating last season's accomplishments and anticipating this season's potential will be about the returnees.

What has the GCU prospects at another level this season is the group of players that Lope Nation will see play for the first time in the 7 p.m. exhibition game against Eastern New Mexico.

Many programs would be optimistic to return a pair of double-digit scorers. GCU added a double-digit scoring duo with senior JaKobe Coles, a 6-foot-8 forward, transferring from TCU and sophomore Makaih Williams, a 6-2 guard, transferring from UT Arlington.

The Lopes return five of their top six players from a 30-5 team but still will look different at first sight with more reinforcements coming from sophomore guard Caleb Shaw and a heralded freshman trio of center Austin Maurer, point guard Styles Phipps and forward Sammie Yeanay.

JaKobe Coles

Coles brings the most experience with 106 career games and three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances at TCU, where he averaged 10.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game last season.

The Denton, Texas, natives slides into the power forward starting spot left by Gabe McGlothan, now with the Denver Nuggets' G League affiliate. He brings a new twist on the position with a mid-range shooting specialty and playmaking skills at a spot frequently involved in the GCU offensive system.

"When people first get a good glimpse of me, they're going to see I'm a pretty skilled individual and versatile to play different positions," Coles said. "I feel like they'll enjoy the way I play and hopefully see I bring a winning mentality to the team."

Coles ranked 12th in the Big 12 for player efficiency rating and shot a TCU-best 42.2% from 3-point range last season. Williams provides GCU with another long-distance threat after ranking 18th nationally last season with 45.4% 3-point shooting as a UT Arlington starter.

Last season's WAC Freshman of the Year passed through Global Credit Union Arena last season as a conference foe but is anxious to have the Havocs on his side this time. The fervent student fan base camped out on the Quad for the exhibition game, which will include the delivery of WAC championship rings and unveiling of banners.

Phoenix, AZ June 5, 2024 : GCU basketball players were back on the floor Wednesday for summer practice. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Phoenix, AZ June 5, 2024 : GCU basketball players were back on the floor Wednesday for summer practice. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Williams will show GCU he is more than a shooter after averaging 10.8 points in 24.4 minutes per game for UT Arlington. He switches to a sixth man role, which will feature his speed, playmaking and defense as an energizer.

"If we start slow, the second unit always has to come in and bring the energy and uplift the team," Williams said. "I just have another role, like I'm a second starter really."

His catch-and-shooting ability will open driving lanes for teammates, but Williams said his ability to see passing lanes and advance the ball in transition has been underrated.

"His style of play gives us a bit of speed and outside shooting that we needed," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said.

Lopes 6-foot-6 sophomore guard Caleb Shaw is a familiar face after redshirting last season. He will play his first season for Drew, his uncle, and assistant coach Casey Shaw, his father, after spending the 2022-23 season averaging 5.2 points for Northern Colorado.

Shaw gives GCU nine players who have at least a season of rotation experience, along with 6-foot-6 senior forward Traivar Jackson, a Tarleton State transfer who plans to redshirt this season.

The next layer of newfound impact comes from the freshman trio. Yeanay was ranked as a top-100 recruit and plays with a physical, agile 6-foot-8, 240-pound body that belies his 18 years of age.

"Sammie is very instinctive as a player," Drew said. "He does a tremendous job when you get to live action. The jump we're seeing is picking up plays we're running and the focus on defensive position. When he can add all that to his great instincts and great ability, then he's going to be the special player we all want him to be."

From the time Phipps finished playing at St. Mary's High School in downtown Phoenix, Arizona preps' top-rated point guard strengthened his 6-2 frame to show he could impact the program immediately as a pass-first point guard.

While 7-foot-1 newcomer Dennis Evans has been out injured, Maurer picked up repetitions to be a 7-foot presence after winning Gatorade Player of the Year in Oregon, where starting center Duke Brennan also was born before his family moved to the Valley.

"Austin's a hard player and a bouncy dude," Brennan said. "We've been going head to head. That was good for me when I was a freshman when I went up against Warren Washington, who played last year at Texas Tech. I learned so much to get to where I am now."

The Lopes also revamped the staff with the addition of assistant coach Jermaine Kimbrough, who enters his 24th college coaching season after serving most recently as the Arizona State associate head coach.

"He's brought a level of intensity and energy that we try to match every day," GCU senior guard Ray Harrison said of Kimbrough.