SheLovesThee | Jackson State Basketball

Jackson State Men’s Basketball Unveils 2026–27 Roster and Schedule

A highly anticipated first season for former Tiger Trey Johnson as head coach, with NBA champion Kendrick Perkins joining as general manager, begins with 14 straight road games before the Tigers return to Jackson.

There is a different energy around Jackson State men’s basketball heading into 2026–27. Johnson, a former Tiger who helped lead the program to the 2007 SWAC title and NCAA Tournament, now takes charge at his alma mater after four seasons on the JSU staff. Former NBA champion and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins has agreed to serve as the program’s general manager, as reported by ESPN. Together, their arrival has made this a highly anticipated season for Tiger fans.

Jackson State has posted its 2026–27 men’s basketball roster and 32-game schedule. The Tigers open November 2 at Texas Tech and do not have a listed home date until January 9 against Alabama A&M.

The road-heavy opening

The 14-game nonconference slate is entirely away from Jackson. It includes visits to Texas Tech, Mississippi State, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Memphis, Texas, Oklahoma and Ole Miss. The last nonconference date currently listed is December 28 in Oxford. No game times or television outlets are shown for those dates on Jackson State’s schedule as of September 24.

That is a demanding opening, especially for a team finding its identity under a new head coach. The caliber of opponents gives the Tigers a chance to test their defense, depth and late-game execution before conference play. Competitive results—and especially road wins—could help the team’s strength-of-schedule profile if postseason selection becomes relevant. Just playing difficult games does not guarantee an at-large bid; the more immediate payoff could be a better-prepared team when the SWAC tournament arrives.

SWAC play begins January 2 at Alcorn State. The first home stand follows against Alabama A&M on January 9 and Alabama State on January 11. Jackson State later hosts Alcorn State on February 20 and closes its regular-season schedule March 4 at Mississippi Valley State.

The 2026–27 Tigers

The roster lists 16 players: nine guards, one guard/forward, four forwards and two centers. Four are seniors. The listed hometowns stretch from Mississippi and Louisiana to Ghana and Bulgaria. The two players from Pascagoula, Blake Nettles and Dorian McMillian, wear Nos. 0 and 1.

Swipe through the player cards, or use Previous and Next. Select a photo to open that player’s official Jackson State profile.

NO. 0 · 1 OF 16

Blake Nettles

G · 6′2″ · Fr.

Pascagoula, Miss.

NO. 1 · 2 OF 16

Dorian McMillian

G · 6′3″ · Jr.

Pascagoula, Miss.

NO. 2 · 3 OF 16

Tyler Husband

G · 5′11″ · Jr.

Atlanta, Ga.

NO. 3 · 4 OF 16

AT Manyuon

G · 6′5″ · Jr.

Austin, Minn.

NO. 4 · 5 OF 16

Jayden Williams

C · 6′9″ · Jr.

Chicago, Ill.

NO. 5 · 6 OF 16

Tamarion Hoover

G/F · 6′4″ · Jr.

Yazoo City, Miss.

NO. 6 · 7 OF 16

DJ Davis

G · 6′2″ · Jr.

Oxford, Miss.

NO. 7 · 8 OF 16

Ebo Wilson

C · 6′10″ · Jr.

Accra, Ghana

NO. 8 · 9 OF 16

TK Lawson

F · 6′7″ · Jr.

New Orleans, La.

NO. 9 · 10 OF 16

Deyan Kolev

F · 6′9″ · So.

Yambol, Bulgaria

NO. 10 · 11 OF 16

Chip Brunt

G · 6′5″ · Sr.

Memphis, Tenn.

NO. 11 · 12 OF 16

Mike Williams

G · 6′2″ · So.

Dallas, Texas

NO. 12 · 13 OF 16

Delyle Williams

G · 6′3″ · Sr.

Compton, Calif.

NO. 13 · 14 OF 16

Cael Jones

G · 6′1″ · So.

Southaven, Miss.

NO. 21 · 15 OF 16

Kobe Butler

F · 6′7″ · So.

Marrero, La.

NO. 22 · 16 OF 16

Nikk Williams

F · 6′8″ · Sr.

Dallas, Texas

Roster details reflect Jackson State Athletics’ published listing. Classifications and measurements may change.

Fourteen games. Fourteen road stops.

Tap a numbered pin for its matchup and date. Scroll sideways on a small screen to explore the map.

1234567891011121314

Pin positions are approximate. The cities and dates below follow Jackson State's published schedule.

01  Nov. 2: at Texas Tech
Lubbock, Texas · Tap to return to map02  Nov. 5: at Tulane
New Orleans, Louisiana · Tap to return to map03  Nov. 9: at Mississippi State
Starkville, Mississippi · Tap to return to map04  Nov. 11: at Southern Miss
Hattiesburg, Mississippi · Tap to return to map05  Nov. 14: at Winthrop
Rock Hill, South Carolina · Tap to return to map06  Nov. 18: at Baylor
Waco, Texas · Tap to return to map07  Nov. 25: at Oklahoma State
Stillwater, Oklahoma · Tap to return to map08  Dec. 2: at Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee · Tap to return to map09  Dec. 8: at Texas
Austin, Texas · Tap to return to map10  Dec. 15: at Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma · Tap to return to map11  Dec. 17: at Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma · Tap to return to map12  Dec. 20: at Saint Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri · Tap to return to map13  Dec. 22: at Louisiana Tech
Ruston, Louisiana · Tap to return to map14  Dec. 28: at Ole Miss
Oxford, Mississippi · Tap to return to map

Map outline: Wikimedia Commons. Game locations: Jackson State Athletics.

Nonconference schedule

All dates below are in 2026. All games are away.

SWAC schedule

All January through March dates below are in 2027. Games without “at” are home games in Jackson. Times are shown only where Jackson State has published them.

A former Tiger leads the way

Johnson returns to the lead role at his alma mater after serving as associate head coach. He was SWAC Player of the Year in 2006–07 and part of the Tigers’ last NCAA Tournament team. His staff includes associate head coach Darrian Wilson, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Tyler Adams, assistant coach and director of player development Kydarrius Williams, and director of basketball operations Terrence McGrew.

Perkins brings an NBA champion’s perspective to the newly reported general manager role. His arrival adds to the attention surrounding Johnson’s first season as head coach, while the roster and travel schedule will provide the first real measure of how the pieces fit together.

SheLovesThee’s watch point: Fourteen consecutive road games will make the January home opener a milestone for this group. The schedule also sets up two meetings with rival Alcorn State, with the second in Jackson on February 20.

Meet the coaching staff

Swipe through the staff photos or use Previous and Next. Select a photo for the official biography.

STAFF · 1 OF 5

Trey Johnson

Head Coach

STAFF · 2 OF 5

Darrian Wilson

Associate Head Coach

STAFF · 3 OF 5

Tyler Adams

Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator

STAFF · 4 OF 5

Kydarrius Williams

Assistant Coach / Player Development

STAFF · 5 OF 5

Terrence McGrew

Director of Basketball Operations

Sources: Jackson State Athletics’ official roster, Jackson State Athletics’ official schedule, Johnson’s appointment, and ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins report. Schedule checked September 24, 2026; dates and times are subject to change.