Men’s basketball team looks to make impact in conference play during 2025-26 season
The Hill College men’s basketball team will have a new look and feel this season as the Rebels are poised to compete in a competitive 2025-26 season.
Hill College Assistant Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Swede Trenkle said his roster of 16 student-athletes will carry 12 freshmen and four sophomores.
“We have 11 players who are new to our team this season,” Trenkle said, “and only three of our returners saw action last season.”
Hill College’s three returning sophomores include Derrick Morris, who was Second Team All-Conference last season as well as started in every game; Theo Panagiotopoulos, who played good minutes during the second half of last season; and Quincy Owens, who also saw lots of second-half action last season.
“[Derrick] Morris will be very important for us this season,” Trenkle said. “He has both experience and leadership at the point guard position.”
Sophomore Earland Pagliero, who transferred last semester from Claredon College, will also start this season for the Rebels.
Despite the lack of playing experience on the overall roster, Trenkle said he is very excited about the depth the Rebels have at every position.
“We have a team full of very equal and talented players,” he added. "We have gelled very well so far in the early part of the year.”
Among the freshmen are Daylyn Martin and Hamzah Abdullahi who had to redshirt last season because of knee injuries.
“Abdullahi is a very talented 6-8 forward who can score at all three levels,” Trenkle said, “and Martin has huge energy and plays with excitement on every play.”
Trenkle also said he looks for all of his freshmen to play key roles this season – as they all have special tools that can help the team win games.
According to a preseason conference coach’s poll, the Rebels are currently ranked at the bottom of the conference standings, but Trenkle said that actually places a chip on his team’s shoulder, and he’s eager to see how his student-athletes respond during conference play.
“The conference looks extremely deep this season with talent from top to bottom,” Trenkle added. "McLennan Community College and Collin County Community College will definitely be the teams to beat in conference.”
Trenkle will once again be accompanied by assistant coach Julien Addison, who begins his third year with the Hill College men’s basketball program.
“When [Julien] told me he wanted to come back for his third season, I was extremely happy,” Trenkle added. “He is a tremendous on-the-floor coach, the players really work hard for him in individual workouts, and they listen to everything he is trying to teach. We are lucky as both a basketball program – and an institution – to have him working here.”
Hill College officially begins its 2025-26 season Friday against the Ford Hood Phantom Warriors at the McLennan Classic in Waco. The Rebels will also play five non-conference opponents who are ranked in the Top 10 in the country including No. 2 South Plains, Connors State College (who lost in the National Championship Game last year), Odessa College, Snow College, and Lee College.
Fans will get a chance to see the Rebels play both Connors State College (Nov. 15, 4 p.m.) and Lee College (Nov. 19, 6 p.m.) in the Bob Bullock Sports Center on Hill College, Hill County Campus.
Hill College’s home opener will be Nov. 7 against Dallas College Brookhaven as part of the Joe White Classic at the Bob Bullock Sports Center beginning at 6 p.m.
For more information on the Hill College men's basketball program, please visit https://hillcollegeathletics.com.
Hill College 2025-26 Men’s Basketball Roster
0 Akeim Strahan, freshman, G
1 Daylyn Martin, freshman, G
2 Theodoros Panagiotopoulos-Andritsopoulos, sophomore, F
3 Derrick Morris, sophomore, G
4 Joshua Lewis, freshman, G
5 Jan Lopez, freshman, F
10 Hamzah Abdullahi, freshman, F
11 Ryan Auer, freshman, F
12 Evan Besse, freshman, G
13 Vodie Ilunga, freahmsn, G
14 Peter Szlagyi, freshman, F
15 Temi Omotoyinbo, freshman, F
20 Erland Pagliero, sophomore, G
21 Joshua Moore, freshman, G
23 Quincy Owens, sophomore, C
25 Cheick Diaby, freshman, C
Assistant AD / Head Coach: Swede Trenkle
Assistant Coach: Julien Addison