Greenville, S.C. – Furman ramps up its preparations for the 2025-26 men's basketball season with the official first day of preseason practice on Monday.
 
Bob Richey, now in his ninth season as head coach of the Paladin program, welcomes back six players who saw playing time in at least 31 games a year ago for a Furman squad that posted a 25-10 overall record, advanced to the Southern Conference Tournament finals, and received an at-large bid to the NIT.
 
"We return several players with significant starting experience and several who have embraced our 'work while you wait' mentality as they prepare to step into bigger roles," said Richey, who has guided the Paladins to a 181-81 record over the past eight years. "The excitement is high as we prepare to reopen Timmons Arena. Everyone is eager for the season and the return of Paladin basketball to the Furman campus."
 
The frontcourt promises to be a strength for the Paladins with the return of 6-foot-11 junior Cooper Bowser, 6-foot-7 senior Ben Vander Wal, 6-foot-11 senior Charles Johnston, and 6-foot-6 redshirt-junior Davis Molnar. Bowser, who ranks as Furman's leading returning scorer, averaged 8.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game a year ago while shooting better than 64% from the field. Vander Wal averaged 5.7 points and a team-best 5.5 rebounds in 2024-25 while showing his versatility as a wing or in the four-spot. 
 
Johnston arrived in Greenville from Cal State Monterrey Bay prior to last season and contributed 5.3 points per game while shooting 38.8% from behind the arc. Molnar, a reliable performer off the bench, appeared in 33 games and shot over 51% from the floor.
 
Vander Wal is joined by senior Tom House, Clemson transfer Asa Thomas, and sophomore Mason Smith to give the Paladins a dangerous foursome of 6-foot-7 scorers on the perimeter. House began to hit his stride late last season, scoring 19 points in a rout of The Citadel, 21 in a SoCon Tournament win over Samford, and 13 in the opening round of the NIT at North Texas. The Dayton, Ohio, native poured in 7.1 points per game while shooting 40.6% from three-point range.
 
Thomas arrives in Greenville with three seasons of eligibility after seeing action in 12 games and shooting 50% from long range as a redshirt-freshman for the Tigers. Smith earned playing time in 17 games as a freshman in 2024-25 and scored 2.9 points per game, including a career-best 20 versus Oglethorpe.
 
With the graduation of first team All-SoCon selection PJay Smith Jr., sophomore Eddrin Bronson is set to takeover duties at point guard. Despite missing most of the preseason a year ago due to injury, Bronson scored 5.6 points per game. The Tampa, Fla., native saw action in all 35 games, made three starts, and scored a career-best 16 points versus Mercer to go with 15 in the season finale against North Texas.
 
Considerable excitement surrounds the arrival of a heralded freshman class this season. Guards Alex Wilkins, the NEPSAC Class B Player of the Year in Massachusetts, and Abijah Franklin, South Carolina's Mr. Basketball at Wren High School, give the Paladins a pair of explosive young talents in the backcourt. They are joined by wings Cole Bowser and Collin O'Neal and 6-foot-9 forward Owen Ritger, who will be looking to earn playing time.
 
Furman hosts nationally-ranked Alabama in the opening event at Timmons Arena on October 26 before taking on 2025 NCAA participant High Point in the regular season opener on November 3 at The Field of 68 Tip-Off Marathon in Rock Hill, S.C. Troy, who claimed the Sun Belt Conference championship a year ago, will serve as the opponent for Furman's regular season home opener on November 7 at Timmons Arena.
 
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