The official start of practice is just around the corner for the WKU Hilltopper Basketball team, which will take the court together for the first time early next week. Senior forward Justin Johnson is the only returning starter for the Hilltoppers, who feature eight newcomers this season. Johnson has led WKU in scoring and rebounding the last two seasons and paced Conference USA in both rebounding and double-doubles in 2016-17.
He’ll be joined in the senior class by walk-on guard Tyler Miller, the only other returning active player from last season, as well as graduate transfers Dwight Coleby and Darius Thompson. Coleby and Thompson come from Kansas and Virginia, respectively, and they’ve competed in a combined five NCAA Tournaments.
The Hilltoppers add more NCAA Tournament experience from redshirt junior guard Lamonte Bearden, who took Buffalo to the Big Dance twice. The roster also features four freshmen in a nationally recognized recruiting class. WKU had the chance to build chemistry over the summer with a foreign tour to Costa Rica. On top of bonding time and three victories over international competition, the Tops also got 10 coveted days of practice before leaving for their trip.
Fans will get their first look at this year’s squad at the annual Hilltopper Hysteria event at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13 at E.A. Diddle Arena. WKU plays its first exhibition game against Campbellsville on Nov. 1 and opens the regular season at home against Missouri State on Nov. 10.
(Courtesy WKU Athletics)