Troy University Athletics
Previewing the Troy Men’s Basketball Backcourt
11/1/2024 4:01:00 PM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. – With the Troy men's basketball team set to kick off the 2024-25 season on Monday, Nov. 4, it's time to look at the players that will anchor the backcourt. The Trojans had one backcourt player garner Sun Belt Conference preseason honors, and head coach Scott Cross added new talent to pair with some returning players.
The backcourt is led by Tayton Conerway, who was named the Sun Belt Sixth Man of the Year last season. Conerway sat behind Aamer Muhammad last season but finished second on the team with 11.8 points per game. The 6-3 guard earned an All-Sun Belt Preseason Second Team selection in early October.
While he played off the bench, Conerway managed to score double-digit points in 22 games, shooting 47.5 percent from the field. The senior also led both Troy and the Sun Belt in steals, nabbing 66 of them. He led the Trojans to 10.3 steals per game, which was second in the country. Conerway played in all 32 games and finished second on the team with 81 assists. The Ranger College transfer has blossomed into a star for Troy, bringing a well-rounded game to the Trojans starting lineup.
After appearing in 28 games in 2023-24, Marcus Rigsby Jr. returns to Troy for his junior year. The 6-3 guard scored a season-high 15 points against Reinhardt on Nov. 14, 2023. Rigsby – a Fort Worth, Texas, native – shot 70 percent from the free throw line last season. He is expected to play a key role in Troy's offense this season, primarily at the point guard position. Rigsby's brother, Myles, will help lead the Troy frontcourt this season.
Cooper Campbell comes to Troy along with his brother Cobi Campbell. Cooper is coming in as a freshman, bringing elite shooting ability with him – he shot 42 percent from distance at Phhoenix Prep and was named to the Second-Team All-UAA squad in 2023. Cooper also averaged six assists per game.
Cobi is transferring from North Idaho College, where he averaged 11.3 points per game last season. The "Red Mambas" look to bring efficient shooting and passing to the guard room.
Senior guard Braydon Whitaker returns to Troy after appearing in 11 games last season. Whitaker scored a season-high nine points in 11 minutes against Reinhardt, also adding five points and a steal against ULM on Feb. 17. Kameryn Mitchell enters his third season at Troy. The Dothan, Ala., native appeared in eight games last season, scoring eight points. Mitchell logged four points against Southern New Orleans on Dec. 12.
The Trojans also added a pair of freshmen, Jackson Porch and Austin Cross, to the backcourt. Porch comes to Troy from Guntersville High School, where he averaged 18.2 points per game during his senior year.
Cross, the son of head coach Scott Cross, joins the Trojans after a decorated high school career at Pike Liberal Arts School and Charles Henderson High School. He averaged over 20 points a game in both his junior and senior years, winning state championships in 2022 and 2023. He was named the 2023 AHSAA 5A Player of the Year.
The Troy backcourt jumps into action on Monday, Nov. 4, when it will take the court at Trojan Arena against Toledo. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
The backcourt is led by Tayton Conerway, who was named the Sun Belt Sixth Man of the Year last season. Conerway sat behind Aamer Muhammad last season but finished second on the team with 11.8 points per game. The 6-3 guard earned an All-Sun Belt Preseason Second Team selection in early October.
While he played off the bench, Conerway managed to score double-digit points in 22 games, shooting 47.5 percent from the field. The senior also led both Troy and the Sun Belt in steals, nabbing 66 of them. He led the Trojans to 10.3 steals per game, which was second in the country. Conerway played in all 32 games and finished second on the team with 81 assists. The Ranger College transfer has blossomed into a star for Troy, bringing a well-rounded game to the Trojans starting lineup.
After appearing in 28 games in 2023-24, Marcus Rigsby Jr. returns to Troy for his junior year. The 6-3 guard scored a season-high 15 points against Reinhardt on Nov. 14, 2023. Rigsby – a Fort Worth, Texas, native – shot 70 percent from the free throw line last season. He is expected to play a key role in Troy's offense this season, primarily at the point guard position. Rigsby's brother, Myles, will help lead the Troy frontcourt this season.
Cooper Campbell comes to Troy along with his brother Cobi Campbell. Cooper is coming in as a freshman, bringing elite shooting ability with him – he shot 42 percent from distance at Phhoenix Prep and was named to the Second-Team All-UAA squad in 2023. Cooper also averaged six assists per game.
Cobi is transferring from North Idaho College, where he averaged 11.3 points per game last season. The "Red Mambas" look to bring efficient shooting and passing to the guard room.
Senior guard Braydon Whitaker returns to Troy after appearing in 11 games last season. Whitaker scored a season-high nine points in 11 minutes against Reinhardt, also adding five points and a steal against ULM on Feb. 17. Kameryn Mitchell enters his third season at Troy. The Dothan, Ala., native appeared in eight games last season, scoring eight points. Mitchell logged four points against Southern New Orleans on Dec. 12.
The Trojans also added a pair of freshmen, Jackson Porch and Austin Cross, to the backcourt. Porch comes to Troy from Guntersville High School, where he averaged 18.2 points per game during his senior year.
Cross, the son of head coach Scott Cross, joins the Trojans after a decorated high school career at Pike Liberal Arts School and Charles Henderson High School. He averaged over 20 points a game in both his junior and senior years, winning state championships in 2022 and 2023. He was named the 2023 AHSAA 5A Player of the Year.
The Troy backcourt jumps into action on Monday, Nov. 4, when it will take the court at Trojan Arena against Toledo. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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