Texas State Men’s Basketball Season Preview: Small Forwards

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State men’s basketball team is coming off a 15-win season and making its second straight appearance in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. Returning six players, including Preseason All-SBC Third Team selection Kavin Gilder-Tilbury, from last year, the Bobcats look to defy expectations with eight new players on the rosters.

In the third of a five-part series previewing the 2016-17 team, TXStateBobcats.com takes a look at the players competing for time at the small forward position.

Two newcomers, Deris Duncan and Nijal Pearson, are battling for playing time at small forward for the Bobcats.

Pearson is a freshman from Beaumont, Texas. He was named to the TABC Class 5A All-State team, All-Region 3-5A team and was the Co-District 22-5A MVP his senior year after averaging 18.5 points, 9.0 assists and 7.0 rebounds per game. Last year he also helped lead Beaumont Central High School to a 28-7 record on the season and co-district championship with a 13-1 mark.

“Nijal is one of the two best freshmen to make an impact on the team since I have been here and there is a chance that he will start for us,” said head coach Danny Kaspar. “I like his competitiveness, leadership, work ethic and energy along with the way he handles the ball and sees the floor. I think Nijal is going to have a great career here at Texas State.”

Duncan arrived in San Marcos after playing the past two years at Weatherford College. The junior was a Second-Team All-North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference selection after leading the Coyotes in scoring at 15.8 ppg. He also made 48.5 percent of his shots, grabbed 6.6 rpg and finished with 56 assists and 40 steals his sophomore campaign.

The Fishers, Indiana native increased his output to 18.3 ppg with a 50.3 shooting percentage and 7.7 rpg during conference play. He also recorded two 30-point games that included a career-high 35-point effort against Temple College.

“Deris is a 6-foot, 4-inch, 190-pound player that rebounds and shoots the ball well,” Kaspar said. “He works very hard and will get quality minutes this season.”

Texas State takes on Southeastern Oklahoma State at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday in an exhibition game at Strahan Coliseum. Six days later the Bobcats open the regular season against Florida Atlantic in the opening game of the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Season tickets are currently on sale for the 2016-17 basketball season. They can be purchased online at www.txstatebobcats.com/tickets, over the phone at 512-245-2272 or by visiting the Mark and Linda Smith Ticket Office at Bobcat Stadium between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Individual game tickets will go on sale to the general public on November 1.

For the latest on Texas State men’s basketball, visit the official website of Texas State athletics at www.txstatebobcats.com, follow the team on Twitter at @TxStateMBB and like on Facebook at /TexasStateMensBasketball.

Point Guards Preview: http://txstatebobcats.com/news/2016/10/30/mens-basketball-season-preview-point-guards.aspx

Shooting Guards Preview: http://txstatebobcats.com/news/2016/11/1/mens-basketball-season-preview-shooting-guards.aspx