(WILMINGTON, Ohio) – The Wilmington College men's basketball team opens their 2026-27 season tomorrow night inside Hermann Court at 7:00 PM in the Quaker Bowl against Earlham College.
 
A Look Back
Wilmington finished their 2025-26 season with an 11-15 overall record and 7-9 mark in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). This was good for the Quakers to make the OAC Tournament where they fell in the quarterfinals at Ohio Northern University.
 
Leading them into the tournament was a high-powered offense which led the conference in scoring for the first time in school history. Paired with a defense which took pride in leading the conference in forced turnovers per game.
 
Their biggest loss from last year's team was two-time All-OAC selection and 1,000-point scorer Domenic Farley. He finished his career with 1,035 points.
 
"We had a great senior class last year that started up top with our leaders, and that trickled down through the team," said Quakers fifth year Head Coach Micah Mills. "They really cared about representing Wilmington."
 
Key Returners
Senior Elijah Cathey returns for his final season in a Quakers uniform after his best season to date in 2025-26. He was second on the team with 392 points, while leading the team with 145 rebounds and 62 assists. This led to him being an All-Conference selection for the first time in his career, as he was an Honorable Mention.
 
This shows his growth at Wilmington. He spoke about his early day as a Quaker and how he "had a really poor mistake response and really poor work ethic." However, being around his teammates and coaches, "pushed me to just really change my body and how I play." This was crucial to Cathey's career year last season, and he looks to be even better this year for Wilmington.
 
Senior Ben Golan is coming off a season in which he was named OAC Player of the Week during the year and set career highs in every major statistical category, which included leading the team in field goal percentage at 54.6%. He was second on the team in blocks with 28, which was good for third overall in the conference.
 
Golan spoke about his growth as a player and his influence on the team, saying, "I've definitely seen myself develop as a leader." He spoke at length about this development, "instead of being more in the background, I use my voice. I talk a lot more, I'm a lot louder, and then I lead by example as well as vocally." As a team captain, Golan looks to make a major impact for Wilmington both on and off the floor.

Other key players returning to Wilmington this season are senior Carson Miles and juniors Izaiah Cathey and Matt DeBrosse. Miles scored 159 points last season for Wilmington, including being third on the team in steals with 33.
 
Izaiah Cathey was third on the team with 307 points, while leading the team with 37 steals and 34 blocks, which was good for second overall in the conference. He was also second on the team with 113 rebounds and third with 52 assists in a great all-around season for the Quakers.
 
DeBrosse appeared in every game for Wilmington last season and scored 210 points with 58 rebounds and 33 assists.
 
Newcomers
Wilmington has 10 freshmen this season in Carson Duke, Zaine McMichael, Eli Stroud, Jacob Medhane, Lucas King, Corey Russell, Avery Pence, Quentin McIntosh, Drew Rossman, and Ta'Shaun Beatty.
 
One transfer for the Quakers looking to make an impact is junior Mekhi Woods, who comes to Wilmington from Emmanuel University.
 
Coaching Staff
Micah Mills is in his fifth season as the head coach of the Quakers and spent several seasons before as the Quakers top assistant coach.
 
Joining him in his fifth season with the team and second as the top assistant is Colin Echelberry.
 
Coming back for their second seasons with the Quakers are Austin Mansfield and Cyncere Watkins, as well as Gabe Green who is stepping into his role for year one as a student assistant.
 
Season Outlook
The Quakers have a three game home stand to start the season against Earlham College tomorrow night, Wittenberg University on November 11th, and Bethany College on November 17th.
 
They begin OAC play at Heidelberg University on December 5th before full time OAC action starts after winter break on January 6th at Capital University.
 
The team spoke at length about their hope to put it all together this year and show off their chemistry and confidence.
 
Coach Mills put it best, "when you turn the film on and you see Wilmington, the intent is you see a team that is playing relentless, and a team that's playing together."
 
That is the brand of basketball to expect from Wilmington College this season as they look for back-to-back trips to the OAC tournament, which would be the first time since making it in 2021 and 2022.