BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University men's basketball team returns nine letter-winners and all five starters from last seasons team that advanced to the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals.

Second-year Head Coach Tom Heil looks to build on his team's success as he returns two seniors, four juniors, five sophomores and added one transfer and nine freshmen.

"As a coaching staff we are very excited about this year's team," commented Heil. "We have a great balance of experienced returners and talented newcomers. We expect to compete every night we take the floor. We look forward to watching this team grow."

Headlining the BW returners are junior two-time All-OAC guard Cam Kuhn (Vermilion) and junior All-OAC forward Jake Fetherolf (Norwalk). Kuhn, an OAC first-team selection, was second in the OAC and led the team with 21.5 points-per-game, made a team-high 67 three-pointers and tallied a career-best 58 assists last season. Fetherolf was an OAC honorable mention a year ago as he averaged a team-high 9.9 rebounds-per-game, scored 11.4 points-per-game and tallied a team-high 34 blocks.

Senior guard Zack Brandy (Hudson), junior forward Mike Kaminski (Medina) and sophomore guard Jay Battle (Gahanna / Lincoln) are the final three returning starters. Last season, Brandy and Battle played in all 27 games and split time running the offense. Brandy recorded career-bests in points per game (7.3) and assists-per-game (1.8). Battle tallied a team-high 111 assists and averaged 9.4 point-per-game. Kaminiski started in all 27 games and averaged seven points and 2.9 rebounds per game.  

In the backcourt, sophomore Wes Gerhardt (Lakewood), sophomore transfer Kyle Nader (Vermillion) and freshmen Zach Cebula (Brunswick), Troy Massa (Parma/Normandy), Michael Quiring (Brunswick) and Ben Seaman (Canton/Jackson) will look to contribute in Heil's rotation.

In addition to Fetherolf and Kaminski, senior Ben Chase (Bay Village/Bay), junior Jordan Richardson (Beachwood) and sophomores Dylan Nieto (Brunswick/St. Ignatius), Jeremy Holley (Sheffield Lake/Elyria Catholic) and Andrew Patterson (Oberlin / Open Door Christian Academy) as well as first-year players Tyler Colombo (Strasburg/Tuscarawas Central Catholic), Jake Elbin (Findlay), Jack Lostoski (Uniontown/Lake), Alex Nahra (Mayfield) and Drew Sova (Chagrin Falls/Kenston) will all provide depth in the paint.  

The Yellow Jackets open the 2016-17 season on Tuesday, November 15 when they travel to Cleveland to face cross-town rival Case Western Reserve University in a non-conference game in Horsburgh Gymnasium inside the Veale Center at 7:30 p.m. BW begins OAC play on Saturday, December 3 when it hosts defending OAC regular season champion Marietta College in the Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center at 3 p.m.