MURFREESBORO, N.C. - The 2025-2026 Chowan University men's basketball season will be different from last year. But different is a good thing for 5th year Hawks skipper, Rob Burke, as he navigates the upcoming season with a solid mix of returning players and newcomer talent.
Different for this year's squad means less familiar faces on game day. The Hawks graduated one of the top basketball classes in program history, including Daylan Askew, last season's Conference Carolinas Player of the Year. Askew along with Cheick Traore, Keith Reese Jr., RJ Wilson, and Aaron Ross left record-setting marks across many statistical categories over their playing careers leaving Burke and assistant Alex Lewis the unique challenge of filling large shoes in several key positions.
Those five players alone accounted for nearly 70% of the Hawks total scoring a year ago. Graduating those kinds of players means that Burke and Lewis had to be intentional in two major program veins in the off season: getting the nine returning players ready for the 2025-26 season and recruiting six players who would mesh well with those returning players.
"We were really intentional on bringing in five or six tool players across the board, no matter their position," said Burke. "Coach Lewis and myself felt like if all nine returners could make themselves overall better basketball players then we would have an easy adjustment with the new players joining our program."
The players that make up the roster may look different to Hawks fans, but the style of play fans are used to seeing will be the same Burke-style ball. As Burke likes to say, "We are going to get after it." And get after it the Hawks will. Attention to detail, hard work, and pushing the basketball up and down the floor are all a part of the signature Burke style and what fans have become familiar with since Burke took over the program five seasons ago.
"We are focusing on a few key areas in preparation for this season," stated Burke. "We have been heavily working on conditioning, which is vital for the pace of basketball we play. We have been working very hard on our attention to detail, especially on the defensive side of the ball."
Burke and the Hawks have not deterred from the preseason plan, stringing together practices and scrimmages that set them up for optimal performance against a tough NCAA D2 basketball schedule.
Returning Players Bring Balanced Threat
Eric Gordon Jr. returns for his junior season, the lone starter returning for the Hawks from a year ago. Gordon was responsible for leading the Hawks from the point guard position where he averaged 8.2 points per game and dished out 2.4 assists an outing. Gordon gives the Hawks experience at the guard position, something that a new roster will benefit from.
Damerius Summers returns as the Hawks leading scorer. The junior forward averaged 10.2 points a game and 4.9 rebounds a game a year ago and will be asked to step up and lead in that position after the departure of Traore and Wilson. Summers moves up and down the floor easily in transition and will be counted on to contribute on both ends of the court this season.
Dominique Bailey, a sophomore from Ruther Glen, Virginia, came off the bench as a freshman a year ago. The versatile guard averaged 6.8 points a game and nearly two assists a game. He will be on opponents' scout lists this season as a player to watch in 2025-26. Bailey can run the Hawks offense from the point guard position, drive to the basket, and set up an offensive threat from around the perimeter. Bailey brings an intensity to the floor that mirrors Burke's style of play.
William Hynes is another player to watch this season for the Hawks. The senior guard from Ballarat, Australia brings an international style of play to the Hawks back court. Hynes dropped 5.0 points a game a year ago and 2.0 assists. His leadership combined with his athleticism will keep him in the rotation this season.
Martinie Kamga, a 6-7 junior forward from Cameroon, will add experience to the Hawks front court this year. Kamga spent the offseason preparing for his chance to shine in the paint this year. Israel Powell, a Hertford County High School graduate, returns to the line up for the Hawks at the guard position. Powell had an impressive preseason and Burke is pleased with how the local star is progressing at the level needed to play in the perennially-tough Conference Carolinas.
The returning core of players adding depth to the Hawks roster this season include Zach Riddle, a perimeter threat, from Charlotte and transfer from Sandhills CC. Cameron Spencer, Jalen Hines, Cameron Walker, and Joseph Lezeau II give Burke options as the team progresses through the 2025-2026 playing season.
Newcomers Have Much to Prove
The Hawks' newcomers this season are led by a group of transfers in Damien Robinson, Amari Gorham, Markell Hollis, and Keshaun Johnson. Robinson transferred to Chowan from Sandhills Community College and will be a force in the paint this season. Gorham brings versatility with a 6'6'' frame that can swing between front and back courts. Hollis is familiar with the style of play that Chowan brings to the court after transferring from Flight 22. The prep school is known for producing some of the top talent in the region. Johnson, a native of nearby Suffolk, Virginia, will look to add a dominant presence both offensively and defensively this season.
Dapo Kruyswijk and Cristian Rosado round out the newcomers in this year's class. Kruyswijk brings international experience to the Hawks paint presence while Rosado will look to firm up the back court.
Takeaways for the Season
The Hawks will have much to prove this year with significant roster changes but Burke is excited about what the season and this group of players have to offer. "These guys together will help push us in the chase of a championship," said Burke.
Fans can expect to see a fast-paced style of play from Burke and his band of Hawks. While the roster may have seen significant changes, the Hawks will still be explosive and give fans 40 minutes of thrilling play this year. A balanced attack of returning experience combined with newcomer talent makes for a combination that Burke can work with moving into the season.
Fans will get a chance to see the Hawks in action early this year as they are hosting the Conference Challenge Tip-off Classic at the Hawks Athletic Center November 14th-15th. This year's slate features competition from the Peach Belt and the SAC in Lenoir-Rhyne University, Tusculum College, and Clayton State University. The opening tip off is set for 5:00pm on Friday, November 14th between Clayton State and Tusculum. The Hawks will face off against Lenoir-Rhyne at 7:00pm on Friday. Saturday's line up will see Lenoir-Rhyne and Clayton State go toe-to-toe at 2:00pm before the Hawks tip it up against Tusculum at 4:00pm.
In 2025, fans will get a chance to see the Hawks play four times at home following the conference challenge. In the new year, Chowan will defend the home court seven times, beginning with North Greenville on January 10th, 2026.
Fans can get season tickets by becoming a member of the Brave Hawks Club. For more information on joining, contact Elizabeth Heller at elheller@chowan.edu.
