RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Henderson State's men's basketball team was selected sixth in the 2025-26 GAC Preseason Poll on Thursday.The Reddies earned their ranking by receiving 65 points.
Southern Nazarene was picked to win the league, receiving 119 points and nine first-place votes. Oklahoma Baptist, Harding, and Arkansas Tech received the other three first-place votes and finished second, third, and fourth, respectively. Southwestern Oklahoma State was the other team ranked ahead of the Reddies, with Ouachita, Northwestern Oklahoma State, Southeastern Oklahoma State, and Southern Arkansas rounding out the top-ten.
Jimmy Elgas enters his eleventh season as head coach of HSU; assistant coach
Maurice Heade returns for his third season on the Henderson bench, and newcomer Kai Morgan and character coach
Greg Lathem round out the staff.
The 2025-26 roster consists of four returners:
Jameel Wesley II,
Deazhon Perkins,
Xavier Owens, and
AJ Howard. Thirteen newcomers are set to make their Henderson debuts this season, including three Division 1 transfers and two transfers from Division 2 schools, as well as five true freshman and four players coming from junior college or overseas.
The Reddies kick off the 2025-26 season gets underway on November 14 at the Central Region Challenge in Pittsburg, Kansas. Henderson will play perennial Division 2 powers Bemidji State and Minnesota State. HSU's home opener is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19th against Champion Christian.
2025-26 GAC PRESEASON POLL
| Team |
Total Votes |
First-Place Votes |
| 1. Southern Nazarene |
119 |
9 |
| 2. Oklahoma Baptist |
103 |
1 |
| 3. Harding |
95 |
1 |
| 4. Arkansas Tech |
81 |
1 |
| 5. Southwestern Oklahoma |
79 |
- |
| 6. Henderson State |
65 |
- |
| 7. Ouachita Baptist |
64 |
- |
| 8. Northwestern Oklahoma |
56 |
- |
| 9. Southwestern Oklahoma |
49 |
- |
| 10. Southeastern Oklahoma |
30 |
- |
| 11. Arkansas-Monticello |
27 |
- |
| 12. East Central |
24 |
-
|
