SAN ANTONIO – Winter rarely brings a white Christmas to San Antonio. What Texas fails to produce in snowflakes, however, it makes up for in the arrival of a new season of Trinity men's basketball. And, like a fresh coat of snow, this will be somewhat of a fresh start for the Tigers. They enter their first season in the SAA with a new head coach, four new starters and seven new faces on the court.

FRESH FACES ON THE BENCH
Head Coach Marwan Elrakabawy takes over the reins from Jimmy Smith, who resigned after last season to take the head coaching job at Stephen F. Austin State University. Elrakabaway enjoyed a stellar six-year run at Schreiner University, in which he set school records for all-time wins and winning percentage and was named the 2022 SCAC Coach of the Year. He also won a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship in which the #5 Mountaineers became the highest-seeded team to ever win the title, doing so for only the second time in school history.

With him, Elrakabaway brings Assistant Coach Mark Jablonski, who spent four years with the Mountaineers. Coach 'Jabo' boasts an elite player development resume, having coached multiple All-SCAC players and a Second Team All-American. Among his accolades, he was consistently voted one of the Top 10 Basketball Coaches in New York state and served as an assistant coach on the Canadian National Team in 2018. 

He joins the staff alongside fellow player development specialist, Assistant Coach Sterling Holmes. Holmes, who enters his sixth season with the Tigers, has already accumulated extensive coaching experience in his young career, including as a player development intern for the Dallas Mavericks.

NEW PLAYERS, NEW OPPORTUNITIES
After earning a bid to the SCAC Championship game last season, the Tigers will be looking to make another deep postseason run. This time, it'll be with almost a whole new starting five as the Tigers lost four starters to graduation or the transfer portal.
Braxton Barry, Jacob Harvey and Jacob Millhouse left the team as graduating seniors, each after spending multiple years as starters for the Tigers. Christian Green, a sophomore last year, transferred alongside Coach Smith to Stephen F. Austin. Green and Harvey led the scoring attack last year, averaging 16.4 and 14.4 points, respectively. Barry was second on the team in rebounds with 5.6 per game, and Millhouse led the team in assists with 2.4 per game.
To replace the departing foursome, the Tigers bring in four freshmen and three transfers, alongside the 13 returning players.
 
TRANSFERS
Senior guard Ben Estis arrives on campus after three years at Division I Ohio University.  Estis returns to Texas, where he attended high school at Southlake Carroll in Southlake, TX. While suiting up for the Dragons, he scored over 1,000 points, was named first team all district as both a junior and senior, and was also recognized as Academic All State. Estis joins fellow Southlake alums Carter Ruck and Jackson Lawson.

Junior guard Dylan Walker joins the Tigers after two years at Division II Lubbock Christian University. After redshirting his freshman year, Walker appeared in eight games for a team that held a record 25-9 and made the NCAA Tournament. Walker was a standout at Highland Park High School, capturing 1st team All-District honors twice and All-Region honors. He was tabbed 3rd team All-Area by the Dallas Morning News and holds the all-time career record for three-point field goal percentage in the history of the Scots.

Sophomore guard Luke Bledsoe follows Coach Elrakabaway from Schreiner University. He registered a medical redshirt and did not play in his lone season with the Mountaineers. Bledsoe returns to San Antonio, where he was a standout at O'Connor. He led the Panthers to a regional final for the first time in school history during his senior season. During that season, he was recognized as 1st team all district, all region, and tabbed a SAABC All-Star.
 
FRESHMEN
Guard Landon Harlin joins the Tigers after a standout career at Grapevine Faith Christian in Grapevine, TX. In his senior year for the Lions, he averaged 15.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game. An efficient scorer, he shot 46% from the field and 37% from three-point range. Harlin helped lead the Lions to a 28-9 record, a program-best, and was tabbed Second Team All-District for TAPPS 2-5A. He ranks in the school's top 10 for career points, three-pointers, steals and wins.

Forward Benjamin Wagner is staying close to home after graduating from Cornerstone Christian in San Antonio, TX. In his senior year, Wagner was dominant for the Warriors, leading them to a program-best 26-9 record. He averaged 19.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists to go along with 1.3 steals and 1 block per game. He was named to the San Antonio-Express All-Area Team and earned the outlet's Player of the Week honors once.

Forward Elias DeMent will suit up for the Tigers after graduating from Lake Highlands in Dallas, TX. In his senior year, he led the Wildcats to a 27-9 record, averaging 10.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. A talented post player with impressive shooting range, he was named to the All-District Team for UIL 7-6A. His career also includes a UIL 6A State Championship, which he won as a sophomore in 2023.

Guard Sean Tisdall will be staying in the 210, having graduated from Brandeis in San Antonio, TX. A threat to score from anywhere, he averaged 19.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in his senior year. Tisdall shot 50% from the field and 42% from beyond the arc, leading the Broncos to a 19-14 record. He was tabbed to the All-District Team for UIL 28-6A for the second straight year. 

ON THE COURT
Trinity will open the season with an exhibition game at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi on Monday, November 3, at 7:30 p.m. The official season opener will be Sunday, November 9, at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (TX) at 3:00 p.m.