BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The polls are out, Valdosta State's senior forward, Blaise Wallace, was named to the 2026-27 preseason All-Gulf South Conference men's basketball team. Forwards Keshawn Evans and Jack Voth, and guard DJ Hamlett were listed on the Newcomers to Watch list.  The Blazers were picked fourth in the GSC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll.

Wallace returns for his senior season averaging 13.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game while starting in 26 of the 29 games he played, accumulating 403 points and 269 rebounds. He also totaled 47 assists, 32 steals and 13 blocks while earning GSC Player of the Week in February. 

He joins UAH sophomore forward Jordan Mabe, Lee senior forward Zach Gray, Trevecca Nazarene sophomore point guard Fred Bailey and West Alabama junior point guard BJ Brown Jr.

Newcomers to Watch:

Evans, Hamlett and Voth were chosen as part of the conference's Newcomers to Watch list after transferring from Edward Waters, Shelton State and Warner University respectively.

Evans, a 6-foot-7 senior forward from Atlanta, Ga., is joining the Blazers having been named to the SIAC All-Second Team while playing at Edward Waters. During his 2025-26 season, he averaged 13.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game while totaling 36 steals and six blocks in 20 games. Evans also received awards for SIAC Player of the Week and SIAC Newcomer of the Week.

Hamlett, a 6-foot-5 junior guard from Tuscaloosa, Ala., is moving from Shelton State to Valdosta State after two seasons. During his time there, he averaged 7.9 points per game in 55 appearances, starting in 30 games while accumulating 136 assists and 34 steals.

Voth, a 6-foot-6 junior forward from Wilmington, N.C., came over to Valdosta State after playing at Warner University. While there, he averaged 18.3 points per game and totaled 95 assists and 24 steals. He started in 31 of the 32 games he played during his time at Warner.

Preseason Poll:

Valdosta State received fourth place in the GSC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll with 70 points, being just three points behind Trevecca Nazarene in third. Lee is right behind Valdosta State in fifth with 69 points.

West Alabama was named the preseason favorite, earning nine first-place votes and 99 points, while UAH came in second with two first-place votes and 92 points.

Complete Poll:

1. West Alabama (9), 99
2. UAH (2), 92 points
3. Trevecca Nazarene, 73
4. Valdosta State, 70
5. Lee, 69
6. AUM, 61
7t. Delta State, 37
7t. Mississippi Christian, 37
9. Union, 33
10t. Christian Brothers, 17
10t. Montevallo, 17

Looking Ahead:

The Blazers will open their 2026-27 season at The Complex against Thomas University on Monday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. They will then travel to Melbourne, Fla. for the GSC/SIAC/SSC Regional Challenge, facing Florida Tech on Nov. 13 and Edward Waters on Nov. 14.

VSU will open GSC play at home against UAH on Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. The regular season features 28 games, including 20 conference contests and 15 home games. The GSC Tournament is scheduled to begin March 1, with the semifinals on March 4 and the championship game on March 7.

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