By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
There’s a large make-over for the Elon men’s basketball team, but coach Billy Taylor says there are reliable returning players as well.
Guards Bryson Cokley and Randall Pettus II are key returning players, set to launch their second seasons with the Phoenix.
Taylor, who’s beginning his fifth season, said he likes the backgrounds for these and many of the team’s players.
“Two double-digit scorers,” Taylor said. “. . . To have that type of experience back kind of in the guard core to lead your team (we’re really excited about).”
The Phoenix opens the season Monday night at Columbia. Its home opener comes November 6 vs. UNC Greensboro.
Elon, which went 14-18 last season, was selected eighth out of 13 teams in the CAA preseason coaches’ poll. UNC Wilmington tops the league’s poll.
Cokley landed on the All-CAA preseason second team. He averaged 12.3 points per game last season.
Cokley said he appreciates how “coaches have confidence in (my) game.” He also knows what Pettus can do.
“He has a lot of confidence and so do I, so I feel like we’re going to come in guns blazing,” Cokley said.
Point guard Raul Villar is a transfer from Charlotte expected to have an impact.
Another transfer is guard Isaiah Mbeng, who played last season for East Carolina after holding a spot on the All-CAA rookie team in 2024-25 with William & Mary.
Women’s basketball
Elon begins the season with Monday night’s game against Division II UNC Pembroke at Schar Center.
Charlotte Smith is in her 16th season as coach.
The Phoenix, which had a 16-16 record last season, was picked second in the CAA preseason coaches’ poll behind Monmouth.
“You have to prove yourself throughout the entire season,” Taylor said.
Redshirt sophomore guard Jayda Angel and junior forward LaNaé Corbett are on the All-CAA preseason second team. Angel suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second game of last season.
“We are incredibly blessed in terms of roster retention,” Smith said. “I’m just excited that we have a lot of veteran leadership.”
Those players are blending with five first-year players in the program.
“We trust each other at the end of that day and that trust is there,” sixth-year guard Kamryn Doty said.
