VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State men's basketball team is among others receiving votes in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) NCAA Division II Top 25 Preseason Poll. 

The Blazers garnered 42 points in the poll and currently are the "fifth team" of others receiving votes for what could be considered 30th if the poll went past 25.  Nova Southeastern leads the initial Top 25, followed by Washburn, Dallas Baptist, Daemen and Fairmont State round out the top five.  The University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH) is sixth as the only Gulf South Conference ranked in the poll.  Along with VSU, Montevallo also is among others receiving votes from the GSC with one point. 

For teams from the South Region, Nova Southeastern and Florida Southern (15th) are the only other teams ranked along with UAH.  In addition to VSU and Montevallo, Miles, Clark Atlanta, Tampa are receiving votes. 

Click here for the NABC Top 25.

The Blazers were picked third in the GSC Preseason Poll as Montevallo was picked as league-favorites followed by UAH.  Blazer senior Drew Mills was selected to the All-GSC Preseason Team.  A native of Baltimore, Md., Mills had an outstanding first season in Titletown in 2024-25 as he played in 32 games with 29 starts logging 800 minutes and 25 minutes per game.  He went 192 of 368 from the field for a .522 average, while draining 34 triples in 82 attempts (.415) and was 36 of 49 from the line for a .735 clip.  He averaged 14.2 points per game to tie for second on the team, while he averaged 5.8 rebounds per game which was good for second on the team.  Mills had 23 steals and 20 blocks as he was one of two Blazers with over 20 steals and blocks last season.  He had 25 games in double figures and had two double-doubles last season. His leadership and consistency were pivotal to VSU's success, and his return gives the Blazers a proven star to build around this season.

Blazer head coach Mike Helfer begins his 21st season at the helm of the Blazers and is 386-198 at VSU, while he is 572-281 all-time in 28 seasons of coaching.  Helfer's 2024-25 squad finished 25-7 and went 18-4 in GSC play earning a trip to the NCAA South Regional a season ago.  It marked the first regional appearance for the Blazers since 2020-21. 

Along with Mills, the Blazers return a talented group of players and have added several exciting newcomers to the roster including Blaise Wallace, a 6-7 transfer forward from Albany State, along with Jose Cuello a transfer from University of Maryland-Eastern Shore and Michael Batchelor who transferred from West Virginia Wesleyan as those three were named to the GSC Men's Basketball Newcomer Watch List. 

The Blazers open the 2025-26 season with the South Region Crossover Nov. 14-16 at The Complex versus Edward Waters (Nov. 14) and Florida Tech (Nov. 16).

Season tickets now are on sale for Blazer men's and women's basketball.  Season tickets are $120 for adults, $105 for youth/senior and VSU employees.  The deadline to renew season tickets is Nov. 14 before the seats will be released to the public.
 
To purchase season tickets, please call 229-333-SEAT (7328) or visit the VSU Athletic Ticket Office in the P.E. Complex.  The VSU Athletic Ticket Office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.  Season tickets also can be purchased online by clicking here.