GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- With four of its top-five scorers returning, the Tusculum University men's basketball team will open its season this weekend at the Conference Tip-Off Challenge in Murfreesboro, North Carolina.

The Pioneers will get the regular-season started on Friday as they open with Clayton State University. TU will close out the weekend on Saturday as they take on host Chowan University.

Head coach JT Burton, who is entering his eighth season in Greeneville, returns six lettermen, led by All-South Atlantic Conference guard Bryce Jackson. Back are SAC Preseason Player to Watch TJ Printup and SAC All-Freshman guard Denaj Kimber, along with senior forward Malachi Hale and sophomore guards Taj Kimber and J3 Swindell.

"We have depth at all positions entering the season with a good mix of experience and young talent," said Burton. "I'm most impressed with the leadership being shown by are veterans as well as our young freshmen. They lead by example, both on and off the court."

Jackson, a 6-3, 185-pound graduate student from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, led the Pioneers in scoring last year averaging 18.6 points per game (6^th in SAC). He started in all 28 games where he scored in double figures 25 times including a dozen times with 20 or more points. He was listed amongst league leaders in steals (1.75 spg – 4^th in SAC), minutes played (33.33 mpg – 10^th in SAC), field goals made (176 – 9^th in SAC), field goal attempts (401 – 4^th in SAC), free throws made (130 – 5^th in SAC), free throw attempts (171 – 5^th in SAC), total steals (49 – 8^th in SAC) and total points (520 – 9^th in SAC). Jackson also averaged 5.6 rebounds per contest and shot 76 percent from the free throw line.

Jackson shined off the court where he was named to the 2025 Academic All-America third team as selected by the College Sports Communicators.

Printup, a 6-6, 185-pound junior from Adairsville, Georgia, averaged 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in his 16 contests as he missed the first half of the year due to injury. He amassed 119 points, 67 rebounds, 14 assists, 14 steals and 10 blocked shots.

Denaj Kimber, a 6-3, 160-pound sophomore from Knoxville, Tennessee, played in 22 games during his rookie campaign where he earned a spot in the staring line-up 15 times. He averaged 9.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game and finished seventh in the SAC with his 1.68 steals per contest. He scored in double digits on 10 occasions and led the team in assists, dishing out 2.95 helpers per game.

Hale, a 6-5, 195-pound senior forward from Kingsport, Tennessee, finished second on the team last season in scoring with 12.0 points per contest. He led the Pioneers averaging 2.18 three-point field goals made per game (10^th in SAC). Hale posted double-figure scoring 14 times including seven outings with 20 or more points. He averaged 4.8 rebounds per game and shot 38 percent from three-point territory going 61-of-160 from downtown.

Taj Kimber, a 6-4, 165-pounder from Knoxville, finished third on the team in scoring averaging 9.9 points per game. He totaled 276 points, 66 rebounds, 50 assists, 35 steals and six blocked shots. He scored in double-digits in 13 games including twice with 20 or more. He played in all 28 games with 11 starts where he averaged 2.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

Sophomore guard J3 Swindell is back for the Pioneers. The 6-4, 215-pounder from High Point, North Carolina played in seven games with a start before his rookie campaign was halted due to injury. He averaged 3.1 and 3.1 rebounds per contest.

Amari Allen, a 6-2, 185-pound junior guard from Detroit, Michigan, comes to TU from Henry Ford Community College where he led his team in rebounds (8.5 rpg) and steals (2.8 spg) while finishing second in scoring (12.9 ppg). Allen shot 55.3 percent from the floor, 35 percent from three-point land and dished out 3.9 assists per game as he helped HFCC to a 25-9 record.

The Pioneers will have a pair of seven-foot Division I transfer center in the post in Wesley Johnson and Damjan Vukcevic.

Johnson, a 7-0, 245-pound graduate student from Raleigh, North Carolina, spent the last three seasons at Campbell University. He will add to the in-the-paint presence, but possesses the ability to shoot well from the perimeter.

Vukcevic, a 7-1, 210-pound transfer from UT Martin, brings a strong post presence with him to Tusculum. In 2023, the Podgorica, Montenegro product began his collegiate career at Los Angeles Trade Tech where he averaged 9.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest while shooting 60.2 percent from the floor and accounted for a pair of double-doubles.

Two true freshman guards have opened a lot of eyes in the Tusculum camp this year in Jeremiah Wilson and Jordan Attia.

Wilson, a 6-5, 150-pounder from New Market, Alabama, was an All-State performer at Buckhorn High School. He was a four-time All-Area choice and All-Region pick as he led his prep team to back-to-back State Championships. Wilson has an outstanding skill-set which makes him versatile play 1 through 4 in the line-up.

Attia, a 6-2, 170-pounder from Punta Gorda, Florida, was named the FHSAA 6A Player of the Year while playing at Charlotte High School. The two-time team MVP helped Charlotte to three District titles and two region championships. He contributed 15.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Sophomore Naim Iborci, a 6-3, 175-pounder from Staten Island, New York, transfers to Tusculum from Division I Oral Roberts. He attended Hargrave Military Academy and scored over 1,500 points during his high school career.

Also looking to contribute to the Tusculum line-up are: AJ Murphy (G, 6-0, 155, Fr., Johnson City, Tenn. / University HS), Jai'Den Davis (C, 6-8, 220, Fr., Durham, N.C. / Southern Durham HS), Lorenzo Sedita (F, 6-7, 195, Fr., Rome, Italy / Claremont Secondary School), Reed Ownby (G, 6-4, 210, Fr., Sevierville, Tenn. / Sevier County HS), Jonny Mathiang (C, 7-1, 210, Fr., Rumbek, South Sudan / South Kent HS) and Landon Ingham (F, 6-3, 200, Jr., Newland, N.C. / Milligan University / Newland HS).

Following this weekend, Tusculum will wrap up a three-game road swing with Tuesday's (Nov. 18) game at North Greenville University. TU will host Trevecca Nazarene University next Saturday (Nov. 22) at Pioneer Arena before opening SAC play at Newberry College on Nov. 25.