HAMPTON, Va. — The Hampton Pirates are entering a new era.
Ivan Thomas takes over as head coach and brings with him a brand new coaching staff. Thomas is a Hampton Roads native with a long history as a high school coach in the area. More recently he's been an assistant at the college level under Ed Cooley, first at Providence then at Georgetown.
Just two Pirates from the 2023-24 team return for Thomas' first season at the helm. Kyrese Mullen was one of the best big men in the CAA last year, finishing second in the conference in rebounds. Dan Banister returns as well, a self described "glue guy" who does a little bit of everything.
Both are from the 757, Mullens a Norfolk native and Banister a graduate of Cape Henry Collegiate in Virginia Beach.
They're joined by 14 new players.
The adjustment might be easier for Mullens and Banister that you'd think, however, with 5 of those transfers also coming from the 757. The Hampton roster is littered with former VA state champs and all state players who recently starred at Hampton Roads high schools.
George Beale Jr. was the 2022 Tidewater Player of the Year at King's Fork High School before spending 2 years at Norfolk State.
Ryan Hite played with Beale at Fork, where he was first team all state, before spending last season at Converse University.
Trevor Smith led Woodside High School to the 2023 Virginia State Championship, winning VA player of the year in the process. He played for the Richmond Spiders in 2024.
Etienne Strothers played for his dad Lamont at Menchville, earning multiple all region and all state selections, before redshirting last season at Appalachian State.
Elijah Kennedy led Virginia Beach's Green Run High School to the 2020 state championship, then spent time at Florida and Texas State.
All transferred to Hampton this past offseason, joining Mullens, Banister and Coach Thomas in populating the Pirates with homegrown talent. Thomas hopes they'll also bring a hometown toughness. That's the trait he identified when talking about basketball players that come from this area, toughness. He plans on that being the calling card of a new era for Hampton University basketball.