October 10, 2024

Benson signs five for 24-25

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head men’s basketball coach Chuck Benson has announced the signing of five student-athletes for the upcoming men’s basketball season.

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson has announced the signing of five student-athletes for the upcoming men's basketball season.

Benson adds three transfers and two freshmen to this upcoming season's roster.

Braden Ilic (ETSU), Kyliese Frye (Trinidad State) and Tate Mulkey (Coker) join the Eagles for two seasons, and one season, respectively.

Caiden Botts (Cleveland, Tenn.) and Aivaras Uosis (Dingle, Ireland) are both freshmen signees.

5 Braden Ilic

Height:	6-9
Weight:	225
Year:	Junior
Hometown:	Morristown, Tenn.
High School:	Morristown East
Previous College:	ETSU
Position:	F

PRIOR TO CARSON-NEWMAN

2023-24: Ilic appeared in 20 games and averaged 2.6 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. He shot 48.6 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three whil canning 7-of-13 free throws. Ilic topped out at 11 points against VMI (Mar. 8) and five boards against King (Nov. 6). He also scored in double digits when he had 10 against Tusculum (Dec. 15).

2022-23: Has played in 23 games with two starts for the Bucs ... Averaged 2.0 points and 1.4 rebounds in 8.6 minutes of play … Made first collegiate start vs. The Citadel (2/22) ... Scored six points on two made threes at UNCG (2/7) ... Netted a season-high seven points at Mercer (1/25) ... Scored five points vs. Samford (1/18) ... Had two points and one rebound vs. The Citadel (1/11) ... Finished with four points, eight rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal vs. Mars Hill (11/30) ... Scored first collegiate points on a made three-pointer at Tennessee Tech (11/20) ... Made collegiate debut vs. Emory & Henry (11/7).

HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Morristown East High School ... Averaged 16.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game his junior season ... Joined the 1,000-point club during his junior season ... Scored his 1,000th career point against Jefferson County on Jan. 8, 2021 ... For his career, totaled 1,231 points, 712 rebounds and 271 blocks in three seasons for the Hurricanes ... Helped guide Morristown East to a first-place finish in the district after going 21-10 in 2020-21.

7 Keliese Frye

Height:	6-5
Weight:	206
Year:	Junior
Hometown:	Newport. Ky.
High School:	Woodward Career Technical
Previous College:	Trinidad State
Position:	G

PRIOR TO CARSON-NEWMAN: Frye averaged 11.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game at Trinidad State while shooting 54.6 percent from the field. He was a second-team all-conference pick for the Trojans. Frye topped out at 26 points against Dodge City Community College.

HIGH SCHOOL: Frye helped Woodward to a pair of region tournament titles and a regular season conference championship. He stuffed the stat sheet with 8.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 3.8 steals per game. He was a first-team all-conference selection for the Bulldogs.

PERSONAL: The son of Andrea Frye, he plans to study psychology at Carson-Newman.

8 Caiden Botts

Height:	6-6
Weight:	205
Year:	Freshman
Hometown:	Cleveland, Tenn.
High School:	Bradley Central
Position:	F

HIGH SCHOOL: Botts was a 4A all-district selection at Bradley Central. After transferring to Link Academy, he averaged 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game. He also played football for the Silverdale Seahawks.

PERSONAL: The grandson of Marcia and Dennis Botts and son of Katlin Botts, he plans to study marketing at Carson-Newman. His grandfather played basketball at Gardner Webb and Lee collegiately.

11 Aivaras Uosis

Height:	6-6
Weight:	210
Year:	Freshman
Hometown:	Dingle, Ireland
High School:	The Hill School
Position:	G

HIGH SCHOOL: The captain for the U18 Irish National Team, Uosis led that team in efficiency while averaging 14.7 points per game. He was a U18 Four Nations All-Star Five selection in both 2022 and 2023 and the MVP of the U20 National League Final. He dropped 36 to earn MVP honors in the U19 All Ireland Schools C Cup Final.

PERSONAL: The son of Laimonas Uosis, he plans to study interior design at Carson-Newman. His brother, Deividas Uosis, is a former professional Australian Football player with the Brisbane Lions

12 Tate Mulkey

Height:	6-4
Weight:	200
Year:	Senior
Hometown:	Charlotte, N.C.
High School:	Fork Union Military Academy
Previous College:	Coker/West Florida
Position:	G

PRIOR TO CARSON-NEWMAN:

2023-24:Mulkey appeared in 29 games with starts in 20 for the Cobras. He averaged 10.1 points per game while shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three. He connected on 77-of-198 threes. Mulkey has buried 156 threes in his two seasons in the SAC. That's the third-most in the league in the last two years (behind Carson-Newman's Nick Brenegan and Anderson's Garrett Denbow). Mulkey had 13 games last season scoring in double digits, including a quartet of 20-point nights. He scored a season-high 29 against Newberry (Mar. 2). He had 14 games where he canned three or more threes.

2022-23: Appeared in 29 games, making 23 starts...Averaged 30.7 minutes per game...Averaged 12.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game...Named to 2023 South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll. Made 77 threes on the season.

2021-22: Transferred from the University of West Florida...Was a member of the GSC Winter Academic Honor Roll...Was also a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

High School: Attended Fork Union Military Academy after transferring from Providence High School. For the Providence High School Panthers, he averaged 20 points per game, was a First Team All-Conference selection and was the Antwan Jamison Scholarship award winner...Played AAU for Team Loaded.

Personal: Son of Rohn and Diane Mulkey...His father played basketball at Lander, his mother played tennis at North Florida...Has three siblings; Reece, Carson and Cameron...Reece played football at Catawba, Cameron played basketball at Cape Fear Community College.

Carson-Newman opens the season Nov. 2-3 at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. The contests will be broadcast on the Eagle Sports Network beginning with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on MIX 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.