ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State, fresh off of its best season since 2006, looks to take the next step in 2019-20 as a strong returning core and several key newcomers have the Reddies firmly in contention for their first Great American Conference title in school history.
After being picked 11th in the GAC Preseason Poll last season, Henderson put together a terrific campaign and compiled a 19-11 record on its way to the semifinals of the conference tournament in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
The Reddies, who were picked fourth in this year's poll, return their three All-GAC honorees in senior guard Rel Johnson, senior forward Mike Fofana and junior guard Chris Parker. Johnson and Parker each averaged 12 points per game for a balanced offensive team last season, while Fofana chipped in 9.5 points and a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game in his first year on campus. Between them, Henderson has a combined 104 career starts back in uniform in 2019-20.
Joining the three all-conference selections is a collection of familiar faces: junior forward Raekwon Rogers, senior guard Anthony Lupardus, senior forward Tanner Hamilton, junior forward Jeremiah Toney and senior guard Chris Owens all return and have played significant minutes for Henderson over the last two years.
Entering the picture this season are several impact newcomers who figure to work their way into the rotation for HSU. Headlining the group is Little Rock native and former Mills University Studies stand-out guard Quawn Marshall, who joins the program after two seasons at Coffeyville Community College, where he helped lead the Red Ravens to a 60-9 record in two seasons and was named the 2018-19 KJCCC Defensive Player of the Year. Also joining a loaded backcourt is junior guard Xavier Davenport from Brooklyn, New York, who averaged 10.8 points per game last season for Navarro College and led the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 25-4 record.
In the front court, Henderson grabbed its potential big man of the future in Serbian native and Southwest Christian Academy alum Tomislav Miholjcic. The true freshman Miholjcic, who stands 6'11 and weighs 260 pounds, will look to earn his way onto the court early for the Reddies after signing in April and impressing in offseason workouts.
The new season gets underway this weekend for the Reddies in Lancaster, Texas, as they take on Newman on Friday at 5 p.m. before turning around to face Rogers State at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Henderson's first home game comes on Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. when it welcomes Mississippi College to the Duke Wells Center.
