DOWAGIAC, Mich. – Basketball season has arrived at Macomb Community College! The Macomb Men's Basketball program opens the 2026-27 season Friday (Oct. 30) at the Southwestern Michigan College Roadrunner Classic. The Monarchs take on a pair of NJCAA Division I opponents out of the Chicagoland area in Kennedy-King College (Ill.) at 3 p.m. Friday before wrapping up the weekend against Richard J. Daley College (Ill.) at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
 
The Monarchs finished the 2025-26 season with a 17-13 overall record and 10-4 mark in MCCAA Eastern Conference play. 
 
WELCOME COACH: Just six short months ago, Macomb athletic director Bryan Rizzo tabbed Jeff Jayson to become the ninth head coach in the storied history of Macomb Men's Basketball.
 
Before joining the Monarchs, Jayson served two separate stints as the boys' varsity head coach of Waterford Mott High School. In all, Jayson was at the helm of Waterford Mott for nine seasons across his two stints (2011-2017 & 2023-2026) and is responsible for both of the program's MHSAA Regional Finals appearances while producing three All-State selections and sending a host of student-athletes to play at the collegiate level. 
 
Prior to his coaching career, which includes extensive experience within the AAU/travel circuit, Jayson enjoyed a stellar playing career at Aquinas College. During his time with the Saints, Jayson was a two-time NAIA All-American, two-time All-Academic Team member and a three-time WHAC First Team All-Conference selection. To date, Jayson holds the Aquinas record for 3-point field goals made (332) and is fifth on the all-time scoring list with 1,919 points. For his efforts, Jayson was inducted into the Coach Terry Bocian AQ Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023. 
 
Jayson is joined on staff by former Monarch standout, Linden Holder, as well as Devon Guinane and Micah Wingate.
 
A LOOK AT MACOMB: A new coach and a nearly entirely new look for the Monarchs this season as the Navy and White only return three active players from last year's roster in Justin Gloster, Simon Stockwell and Dante Wimberly. Kimari Barden, a redshirt last year for the Monarchs, will be officially rostered for Macomb this season.
 
Of the returners, Stockwell saw the most action, appearing in a total of 27 games, while Wimberly appeared in 25 games and earned a pair of starting nods. Gloster recorded 20 appearances for the Monarchs a season ago.
 
Transfers include sophomore guard Braeden Holder. The Warren De La Salle product and brother of Linden [assistant coach], was a key piece for Oakland Community College last season, averaging 9.6 points, 4.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds per night to earn Honorable Mention All-Eastern Conference. He started in all but three games for the Owls last year. 
 
Caden Neves joins Macomb after transferring from Mott Community College. In 27 games with the Bears last season, he averaged 8.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per contest. The Grandville High School graduate made 12 starts as a freshman. 
 
DJ Lee, most recently at Lake Region State Community College (Minn.), and Jude Drake, most recently at South Suburban College (Ill.), round out the transfers for the Monarchs this season.
 
Despite being extremely limited without a full recruiting cycle, Jayson was able to add four active freshmen to the roster and one redshirt. Devin Lee is one freshman expected to play a prominent role this season. Lee, DJ's brother, prepped at Detroit Catholic Central High School before playing postgrad at Sunrise Christian Academy (Ks.).
 
Tovin Williams, brother of former Monarch star and current Mississippi Valley State University player, Tymias Williams, joins the Monarchs this season after a successful high school career at Dakota High School. Fellow Dakota High School standout, Nehvir Njoku, joins Williams at Macomb, while Nic Farr, a standout guard from nearby Cousino High School, rounds out the freshman class.
 
Adam Harajly, a former guard at Dearborn High School, is rostered but will redshirt this season.
 
SCOUTING KENNEDY-KING: The Statesmen from Chicago posted a 9-22 overall record in 2025-26. Kennedy-King competed in this very same event at the start of last season and went 0-2, losing to Macomb's NJCAA Region 12 counterparts, Glen Oaks Community College and host Southwestern Michigan.
 
The Statesmen eventually reached the Region 4 Tournament as the No. 8 seed, falling 77-62 to No. 1 seed Olive-Harvey College in the first round. Kennedy-King is led by head coach La-Troy Farrow.
 
SCOUTING RICHARD J. DALEY: The Bulldogs went 8-21 last season, including a loss to Macomb's MCCAA Eastern Conference foe, Schoolcraft College. Daley did split the regular season series with Kennedy-King, however, falling 82-73 at home and winning 74-73 on the road. 
 
In the Region 4 Tournament, the Bulldogs earned the No. 7 seed and took on No. 2 Kankakee Community College in the first round, losing 91-60. Daley is led by head coach Antonne Samuels. 
 
LIVE COVERAGE: Live stream coverage via host Southwestern Michigan will be available for both games this weekend here: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/mi/dowagiac/organization/164567/southwestern-michig/team/632333/southwestern-michigan-mens-basketball
 
UP NEXT: Following the opening-weekend event in Dowagiac, the Monarchs will remain on the road and take on preseason No. 11 Lansing Community College at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. The home opener at The Den in Warren is set for Nov. 7 against Bay College. Tip-off time for the home opener will be announced early next week. The game, along with all home regular season contests, will feature a free live stream on MacombMonarchs.com/Watch with the 'Voice of the Monarchs', Tom Cavanaugh, on the call.