Carson-Newman Men’s Basketball Position Previews: The Front Court
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the first part in a two-part series breaking down Carson-Newman men's basketball's positions for the 2025-26 season. This preview chronicles the forwards with help from Dave Gorianskii.
VIDEO: Dave Gorianskii Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the first part in a two-part series breaking down Carson-Newman men's basketball's positions for the 2025-26 season. This preview chronicles the forwards with help from Dave Gorianskii.
In one sense, Carson-Newman will be in a transition year in the post, in another, Carson-Newman returns one of the Southeast Region's best passing big man.
Gone is multi-year All-SAC selection and two-time Academic All-American power forward John Zhao to Spain's Segunda FEB and the Azulejos Moncayo CB. However, Braden Ilic returns for his senior season after finishing second on the team in assists last year.
C-N's sweet-shooting stretch five, ETSU transfer Braden Ilic averaged double-digits in his first season for C-N. Ilic buried 54 threes on the year at a 38 percent clip. He scored double-digits 22 times on the season and produced a trio of 20-point efforts, topping out at 26 in a game at Limestone. Ilic finished the year averaging 11.9 points per game while shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from three.
"We probably have a sort of atypical fives at the program," Gorianskii said. "Less so rugged post guys, more so, kind of silky smooth passing. So Braden does that really well. Stamps (Isaac Stamper) come in as a older freshman. He also has really good instincts for that, so. And being able to facilitate for guys that are good shooters. And it's kind of all part of the bigger picture offensively."
He also averaged 5.8 rebounds per game and 3.8 assists per game - second on the team. Ilic had 11 games where he dolled out at least five assists, topping out at nine at Emory & Henry (Nov. 26). He also produced a trio of double-doubles against Lake Superior State (Nov. 2), at Anderson (Nov. 30) and at Mars Hill (Jan. 20).
Gorianskii provides an imposing presence at the five where he towers at 7-0, 225. He has two career blocks in two career games after an injury sidelined him in his sophomore season. He dolled out three assists last year against Johnson & Wales.
"Looking to continue to grow just defensively being able to impact shots, block shots, rebound shots, you know, stuff in the zone," Gorianskii said. "We lost some good defenders like Ousmane (Dia). Just making an impact defensively and then being able to do what's asked of me offensively. If that's knocking down a shot every now and then or setting good screens, whatever it is. I want to do it."
Joining Ilic and Gorianskii at the five is freshman Isaac Stamper, who comes to Carson-Newman via Huntington Prep. Stamper averaged 16 points, eight boards and three assists to go with two blocks per game. He was a four-time recipient of the GMC Academic Award and a two-time second-team all-conference selection. Stamper was the MVP of the 'Skyline Chili' Cincinnati Reds Future High School Showcase. A two-sport star, he was named the baseball MVP for Middletown High School.
To replace John Zhao at the four, C-N brought in two transfers and a freshman to go along with a returning redshirt freshman Aivaras Uosis. Rylan Houck makes his way to Mossy Creek from Lipscomb, while Oli Smith transfers in from Lees-McRae.
Houck played in 22 games, averaging 5.3 ppg for Lipscomb as a sophomore. He averaged 1.2 points and rebounds per game with a season-high six points at Alabama A&M (11/30/24). As a freshman in 2023-24, he scored 3.0 points per game and 1.8 rebounds per game in 10.2 minutes a contest.
Smith appeared in 25 games and started four for Lees-McRae. He shot 51 percent from the field and 38 percent from three en route to averaging 6.7 points per game. He also snagged 1.8 boards per game. He produced a career-high 21 points against Erskine (12/17).
"We got a good shooter from down under with Oli," Gorianskii said. "He's got good college experience already. Probably as great of a shooting replacement as you could hope for a guy like John Zhao. He's a super athletic guy, continuing to grow like learning our scheme and stuff. So I'm excited to watch him. And Rylan comes from Lipscomb, had some good experience there, a lot of winning there, so he brings that here. Again, a guy with great sort of offensive feel for the game, great at sharing the ball, I feel like there's good strength in both of those transfers."
Uosis was 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.
He's joined down low by fellow freshman Troy Boswell. Boswell averaged 20.7 points per game and was named player of the year while starring for Tyrone Woodside at Winter Haven High School.
Carson-Newman's position previews continue Wednesday with the backcourt.
Carson-Newman opens the season at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 15 against Lees-McRae in Holt Fieldhouse in the SAC/Conference Carolins Challenge. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 7:15 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on MIX 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. A video stream is available with a subscription to FloSports at cneagles.com/flombb.
