Men’s Basketball announces 2024-25 roster additions - East Tennessee State University (2024)

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (June 17, 2024) – The 2024-25 ETSU men's basketball roster has been completed.

On Monday, Buccaneer men's basketball head coach Brooks Savage and his staff announced additions to the ETSU roster. The five Buccaneers added to the roster include Davion Bradford, John Buggs III, Brandon Crawford, Curt Lewis and Roosevelt Wheeler.

This signing class joins a deep and talented group that reached the Southern Conference Championship last season. From last year's team, ETSU lost three players to the transfer portal in the off-season, which equated to only 8-percent of its scoring and 9-percent of its minutes played – the fewest amount among SoCon teams.

"We put a lot of focus on retaining, developing and acquiring the right people for our organization, and I'm really happy with where we are as a program heading into year two," said Savage. "We needed to add size, interior play, shot-making and play-making. The staff did a great job identifying and addressing those areas of need. We were able to add quality players to the frontcourt and backcourt of guys who are experienced, have size, athleticism, and who fit the culture we have built here over the past 14 months.We are really excited about the guys coming back and feel that the players we have added will fit in well with our returners. Our culture, relationships and chemistry internally is strong, and our guys are focused and hungry to win a championship next season. Playing for the championship in year one has given us a lot of momentum and there is a lot to be excited about moving forward with this group."

Below is a breakdown of the five newcomers.

Davion Bradford – 7'0" – Senior – Kansas State/Wake Forest

• Played two seasons at Kansas State (2020-22) and spent the 2022-23 season at Wake Forest
• Totaled 384 points, 234 rebounds and 38 blocked shots in 84 career games (42 starts)
• Played in 26 games with five starts at Wake Forest where he shot 76 percent from the field
• Ranked fifth in the Big 12 in two-point field goal percentage (.621) during the 2020-21 season … This also marked the second-highest percentage in school history and highest ever by a freshman
• One of three players to appear in all 29 games in 2020-21, while his 25 starts were second on the team
• Posted 11 double-figure scoring games for his career, including 18-point efforts against Baylor in the 2021 Big 12 Tournament and against Milwaukee earlier in the 2020-21 season
• Posted 14 points and nine rebounds against TCU on Jan. 2, 2021, while finishing with 14 points and seven boards at Texas on Jan. 16, 2021
• Grabbed five or more rebounds 17 times with a career-high 10 boards against Omaha on Dec. 29, 2020
• Shot over 60 percent from the field 40 times in his career, including perfect field goal marks in 20 contests
• Was a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor with 11 points, four rebounds and two blocks for Wake Forest in a win over Georgia on Nov. 11, 2022
• Coming out of high school, Bradford was a consensus Top 150 prospect and was ranked No. 137 via Rivals.com … Bradford was also rated one of the top 25 centers in the country, including No. 19 by Rivals.com and No. 22 by 247Sports.com … Was rated as the No. 5 prospect in the state of Missouri by 247Sports.com
• Played two seasons at Mehlville High School (2018-20) and two seasons at Christian Brothers (2016-18)
• Scored over 1,000 points in his prep career, including 924 points in his final two seasons

Bradford on signing with ETSU…
"The reason that I chose East Tennessee State University is because I know that this place will fulfill my academic and athletic aspirations. I am excited to be in Johnson City for the community and the play in front of such a passionate fan base. I can't wait to enjoy my time here at ETSU!"

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Welcome @iamdbradford to the Buccaneer Family??

?? https://t.co/jmc80osXwB#AllHandsOnDeck | #BeGreat pic.twitter.com/M7O9F7n7AS

— ETSU Men's Basketball (@ETSU_MBB) June 17, 2024

Roosevelt Wheeler – 6'11" – Senior – VCU/Louisville

• Played the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons at Louisville before transferring to VCU for the 2023-24 campaign
• Appeared in 46 games for the Cardinals and played in 15 games this past season for the Rams
• Scored eight points on 4-of-4 shooting with three rebounds against Western Kentucky on Dec. 18, 2021, while adding five points and four rebounds against Maryland on Nov. 29, 2022
• The 6-foot-11 post player was ranked No. 43 nationally via Rivals.com, No. 60 in the class of 2021 by 247Sports' composite rankings and No. 82 in the ESPN 100
• Averaged 15.8 points, 11.9 rebounds and 4.3 blocked shots during the 2019-20 season at John Marshall High School
• Led John Marshall to two Virginia 2A state titles

Wheeler on signing with ETSU…
"I chose ETSU because of the opportunity to be part of a great program. I feel I will get the support I need to be successful on and off the court, and we are going to have the chance to win a championship next year. The coaching staff has passion for the game and there is a real sense of family. I'm excited to play at ETSU in my final year."

Coach Savage on Bradford and Wheeler…
"Rose and DB give us real size and experience up front. They can score around the basket and with their back to the basket. Both are guys we can throw the ball to inside. Both can play in and guard pick and roll. They can defend and rebound their spot 1-on-1 and provide rim protection. There will definitely be times when they will play together because they complement each other so well."

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Welcome @z4rose to the Buccaneer Family??

?? https://t.co/jmc80osXwB#AllHandsOnDeck | #BeGreat pic.twitter.com/GjmLZbkTfB

— ETSU Men's Basketball (@ETSU_MBB) June 17, 2024

Curt Lewis – 6'5" – Graduate – Missouri/John A. Logan/Eastern Kentucky

• Played the 2023-24 season at Missouri … Prior to Missouri, Lewis spent the 2022-23 season playing with current Buccaneer guard Quimari Peterson at John A. Logan where they won the National Championship and Lewis was named NJCAA Division I Player of the Year … The Louisville native started his career at Eastern Kentucky where he was member of the Colonels from 2019-20 – 2021-22
• Lewis has played in 79 games (45 starts) at the NCAA Division I level where he has totaled 627 points, 322 rebounds, 101 assists and 83 steals
• The guard played in 56 games (43 starts) at Eastern Kentucky and 23 games (two starts) this past season at Missouri
• In his one season at John A. Logan, Lewis started all 35 games and registered 502 points, 214 rebounds, 132 assists, 81 steals and 37 blocks … Lewis shot 52 percent from the field and 48 percent from beyond the arc during that historic season with the Vols
• At Missouri, Lewis got starts against Texas A&M and Mississippi State where he played 27 and 24 minutes, respectively …
• Against Texas A&M, Lewis had five points, two assists and one steal, while adding four points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal
• Earlier in the season, Lewis had eight points on 3-of-6 shooting against Big Ten Tournament Champion Illinois and six points versus Arkansas
• In his two seasons at Eastern Kentucky, Lewis scored in double figures 33 times and totaled four double-doubles
• Lewis had a 21 points (8-of-15 shooting), four rebounds and three assists against Liberty on Feb. 5, 2022, while netting 20 points (7-of-14 shooting), four rebounds, three assists and three steals at Big East foe Xavier on Nov. 30, 2020. Lewis' double-doubles came against Eastern Illinois (18 points/10 rebounds), Northern Kentucky (13 points/13 rebounds), Tennessee State (12 points/11 rebounds) and Central Arkansas (12 points/10 rebounds)
• Played at Louisville-based prep school Aspire Academy and averaged 32 points and 17 rebounds per game in 2018-19. Lewis scored a career-high 51 points and grabbed 27 rebounds in a game against Athens Prep … Prior to attending Aspire Academy, Lewis played at Valley High School in Louisville where was a Mr. Basketball finalist in 2017-18 … Lewis was named 6th Region Player of the Year after averaging 25 points per game during his senior season at Valley High School

Lewis on signing with ETSU…
"ETSU has a great coaching staff with similar background to me as far as coming from the JUCO route. I am excited to bring winning back to this town and get it back to how it is supposed to be here."

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Welcome @curtlewis10_ to the Buccaneer Family??

?? https://t.co/jmc80osXwB#AllHandsOnDeck | #BeGreat pic.twitter.com/4IocJOqfRA

— ETSU Men's Basketball (@ETSU_MBB) June 17, 2024

John Buggs III – 6'3" – Graduate – North Texas

• Played in 65 career games with 56 starts at the NCAA Division I level
• Spent the 2019-20 season at UMass, played at UTSA in 2022-23 and spent the 2023-24 season at North Texas
• Played the 2021-22 season at Hill College where he was a NJCAA DI Honorable Mention after averaging 15.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game … Also shot 47.3 percent from three-point range, which ranked 12th-best in the country
• Totaled 562 points and made 140 three-pointers during his time at UMass, UTSA and North Texas … Shot 42 percent from beyond the arc in his last two seasons and is an 84 percent career free throw shooter
• Made four or more threes in 18 games over the last two seasons and made multiple threes in 40 of the 61 games played since the start of the 2022-23 season
• Was the top three-point shooter in the American Athletic Conference as he hit at a 45.1 percent clip, which was nearly five percent better than the second-place finisher
• The 45.1 3-point field goal percentage was the fourth-best single-season mark in North Texas history
• Netted four or more three-pointers in nine games
• Averaged 11.0 points and netted 80 triples in 32 games (30 starts at UTSA)
• The 80 made threes ranked fourth in Conference USA, while he hit at a 40 percent clip from long distance, marking the second-best field goal percentage in the conference
• Made six threes on eight attempts at Louisiana Tech on Dec. 29, 2022 and scored a season-high 23 points at Rice on Feb. 6, 2023
• Shot 80 percent at the free throw line (36-45) at UTSA
• Played in four games before suffering a season-ending injury at UMass
• Played at Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut in 2018-19 and spent the remaining three seasons at Summerfield High School
• Led Summerfield to three state titles
• Averaged 23.2 points per game his senior season at Summerfield

Buggs on signing with ETSU…
"I chose ETSU because of the relationships I've developed with the staff. Coach Berg (Arkenberg) has known me since high school and has a great reputation in the realm of people who I know. Coach Savage also took time to genuinely get to know me and my family convincing me that he was the guy that made the most sense to play for my last year. Their consistency throughout my process and very detailed analysis of myself gave me a level of certainty and confidence in ETSU. I love the vision that the staff has for this program and know it will equate to a lot of winning."

Coach Savage on Lewis and Buggs…
"CLew and Buggs give us two more dynamic guards who can make plays and hit shots from all areas on the court. Both guys are high-level defenders who bring toughness, passing and shooting to our backcourt. Curt is a proven producer in college who made 50+ three-pointers at both Eastern Kentucky and John A. Logan. He is a big, physical guard who can lead the break and get downhill to the basket. John Buggs is an elite shot maker. He is one of the best in the country. He led the AAC in three-point percentage and is proven at every stop. Our style of play will allow him to show more of his ballhandling and playmaking ability. Both players will fit in well with the other perimeter players returning."

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Welcome @Ice_Buggs1 to the Buccaneer Family??

?? https://t.co/jmc80osXwB#AllHandsOnDeck | #BeGreat pic.twitter.com/NtR1BsPLda

— ETSU Men's Basketball (@ETSU_MBB) June 17, 2024

Brandon Crawford – 6'9" – Freshman – Irmo High School/Overtime Elite League

• Led Irmo High School to a 2023 state championship
• Named Class 4A Player of the Year in 2023
• Averaged 15.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.2 blocks per game in 2022-23
• Totaled 124 blocked shots in 2022-23
• Spent the 2023-24 season at Overtime Elite in Atlanta
• Played in 13 games this past season for Overtime Elite before suffering a season-ending injury
• Averaged 11.1 minutes per game, along with 2.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per contest
• The 1.3 blocks per game ranked ninth in the league

Crawford on signing with ETSU…
"I chose ETSU because of its prestigious basketball program and the opportunity to be a part of a winning tradition. What I love about ETSU, is the supportive community, top-notch facilities and the chance to grow both as an athlete and a student. I'm excited to make a mark at ETSU!"

Coach Savage on Crawford…
"Brandon has a super high ceiling. He is an incredible above the rim athlete both finishing and blocking shots.He is as good of a high school shot blocker that I've ever seen. He will likely redshirt this season coming off a February knee injury, but being around older guys for a year, practicing, working out, and adding strength will be beneficial to his overall development. We are really excited about his future!"

After winning the Player of the Year award, below is what Irmo head coach Tim Whipple had to say about Crawford. Whipple, who coached for 43 years and totaled 848 wins along with six state titles, also coached Brooks Savage at Irmo.

"I have never coached a player who has had a greater impact on the defensive end of the floor than Brandon," said Whipple. "He literally changes the offensive approach of our opponents. He has been the centerpiece to our success this year and is most deserving as the choice for 4A Player of the Year."

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Welcome @B31crawford to the Buccaneer Family??

?? https://t.co/jmc80otvm9#AllHandsOnDeck | #BeGreat pic.twitter.com/o5W0Ks6349

— ETSU Men's Basketball (@ETSU_MBB) June 17, 2024

For more information on Buccaneer men's basketball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's basketball tab.