Navigating the ups and downs of a college basketball offseason can be a rollercoaster ride, especially at the mid-major level. Unlike the Green Bay women’s program, which hasn’t had a transfer out in three consecutive offseasons, the men’s program has been much more typical to the current state of college hoops. After a much improved 18-15 record, including a 12-8 mark in Horizon League play, coach Doug Gottlieb looked to build on the upward trend of the program.
It wouldn’t be easy. Green Bay graduated two of its top players from the 2025-26 campaign, Justin Allen and Preston Ruedinger. Additionally, the program had its fair share of outgoing transfers. The Phoenix did retain a cornerstone piece, though: the HoriZone Roundtable preseason Player of the Year, Marcus Hall. Then came the incoming transfers. Following a similar pattern, the Phoenix coaching staff dove into the D3 and JUCO ranks, landing several players, but perhaps most notably Division III First Team All-American Jalen Overway. Then the hits came.
Overway was lost for the year with a lower body injury, but in time to apply for a waiver with the NCAA. Then Matthew Kloskey decided to re-classify. Just days later, Jaxon Edwards, another top addition, got injured as well, losing the season. Fortunately though, the pendulum eventually swings the other way. The Phoenix landed a trio of late commitments, headlined by First Team All-League selection Orlando Lovejoy, who for now has been granted a graduate year as part of an eligibility lawsuit. All in all, the pieces are falling into place, and Green Bay seems on pace to contend atop the Horizon League.
Before league play starts, though, Green Bay has a much more balanced schedule. A year ago, the Phoenix opened the season with a gauntlet, going to then #19 Kansas to kick off the year, followed by Buffalo, a non-D1 home game, then back on the road for St. Thomas and Minnesota. That was followed by a trip to the Paradise Jam MTE in the US Virgin Islands. This year, the buy games are still there, but as head coach Doug Gottlieb states, more intentionally scheduled:
“As much as Kansas and Ohio State looks good on the schedule, they beat you so bad, that when you have guys that are just assimilating to Division I, it can really hurt your confidence, and you come out of that game saying I don’t even know what we have.”
For example, the Phoenix will open the regular season hosting D3 Lawrence at the the Kress Center before going to Cincinnati, followed by St. Thomas and Northern Iowa. The team will come home for another non-D1 matchup before a game at West Florida on November 17th, and stay on the road for a matchup against Florida State. Additionally, Green Bay gets a D1 nonconference home game this year against North Dakota just before the early December stretch of Horizon League play, part of multiple home and home agreements. Gottlieb says this and the exhibition games against Wisconsin, Marquette, and Illinois State, led by a Green Bay area native, should get fans excited for the program:
“I cannot emphasize enough how important those exhibition games are, we want the place to be full… just come see us play and some of those people will come see us in our regular games, so I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to have a full arena for Wisconsin, Marquette, and Illinois State, for the current and future of the Phoenix program. And just remember, if you actually really like us, think about this, if you’re on the opposing team, and you walk in and this place is full, and they (we) play a style you like, you’re like, I can play there. That’s legitimately how it works. Orlando Lovejoy told me ‘I can’t wait to play for you guys, you guys have fans that just yell at me the whole game. I’m excited to see them yell at somebody else’. It resonates with kids.”
Returning Players
Marcus Hall, Senior, 6-6, F, Schofield, WI/ DC Everest High School
There’s not much more you can say about Hall that hasn’t already been said. Gottlieb calls him “one of one”. We think so too. Hall, as mentioned, is our preseason pick for Player of the Year. He is starting for his “hometown team”, a four-year player who has spent his entire career in one place, so far. He has a natural ability to score and is a great defender.
Mac Wrecke, Hartland, WI, 6-5, G, Hartland, WI/ Arrowhead High School
Wrecke earned minutes in 23 of Green Bay’s games a season ago, but recorded just five starts. A season later, he is fully healthy and seems poised to reclaim his role on the team. Gottlieb says Wrecke’s confidence has grown immensely, he has been serving as one of the leaders of the team, and has gotten more comfortable in the offense. As a bigger guard, Wrecke can create mismatches regardless of who is guarding him, and he figures to be a big part of the squad this year.
LeBron Thomas, Senior, 6-3, G, Bishopville, SC, Vincennes University
Thomas appeared in 32 games for Green Bay as a junior, mostly off the bench. While the offensive numbers weren’t necessarily as expected, he played valuable minutes to provide energy to the Phoenix squad. He averaged 4.0 points per game, but shot 48% from the floor, with a season-high 20 points against IU-Indy. After entering the portal, Thomas decided to return to Green Bay, and Gottlieb says that the senior guard put a lot of work in offensively and has regained confidence in his shooting ability.
Keegan Van Kauwenberg, Sophomore, 6-3, G, Kaukauna, WI, Kaukauna High School
Van Kauwenberg was initially going to redshirt last season but instead was called upon to give Green Bay some perimeter shooting. As a true freshman, Van Kauwenberg was an efficient deep threat, finishing fifth on the team behind the arc with 34.6% shooting. This year, as a sophomore, the Wisconsin native has embraced the Larry Bird look, growing a mustache and mullet, and has found even higher confidence in his shooting stroke. Gottlieb says that he’s also put a lot of work into the defensive end, and is one of the core future pieces of the program.
Incoming Players
Orlando Lovejoy, Graduate, 6-3, G, Detroit, MI, Detroit Mercy
Arguably one of the biggest transfers to any Horizon League squad, Lovejoy gives Green Bay a big boost on both ends of the floor. Lovejoy was First Team All-League a year ago with the Titans, averaging 15.8 points per game and also getting it done on the defensive end, earning a nod on the Horizon League’s All-Defensive Team as well. As of this writing, Lovejoy’s eligibility is still up in the air, but if that gets resolved, he figures to be a big part of the Phoenix’s plans for the season.
Isaiah Sutherland, Senior, 6-7, F, Orlando, FL, Eastern Tennessee State
Sutherland is another Division I transfer in, coming over from ETSU. At 6-7, Sutherland figures to be a “3 and D” player, who can play inside or out. Gottlieb says that he has integrated himself extremely quickly with his new teammates and is an exciting addition to the team.
Clarence Payia, Junior, 6-6, G, Beaumont, TX, Angelina College
A bigger guard, Payia led Angelina College with 10.1 points per game last year at the JUCO level, with a season high of 22 points, and was selected for the All-American JUCO Showcase. He can score from anywhere on the floor, evidenced by his 43.7% shooting from the floor, and 37.5% from deep. He also averaged over a steal per game and figures to play any of the guard spots.
Stewart Erhart II, Redshirt Junior, 6-2, G, Tanana, AK, Fort Lewis College
Erhart is a defensive menace. Erhart averaged 3.7 steals per game last year with Division 2 Fort Lewis, recording 100 steals to set a program record. He also led the team in scoring with 17.9 points per game, while adding 4.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists. He can shoot from deep and he can drive the lane, adding plenty to this Green Bay team.
Aidan Hadaway, Graduate, 6-8, F, Lafayette, GA, Ohio University
Another one of the graduate transfers slated to come into Green Bay, Hadaway is described as a guy you hate to play against but who you want on your team. A defensive presence that can score from anywhere, grab rebounds, and get in opponents’ heads, Hadaway is coming off an injury, but hopes to be back by the regular season. If so, and if he ends up remaining eligible, he’ll be another key transfer to give the Phoenix some much needed size and physicality.
Projected Starting Lineup
Guard LeBron Thomas
Guard Stewart Erhart II
Guard: Orlando Lovejoy
Forward Marcus Hall
Center Maruan Cicic
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