• Preseason Releases: Men, Women | Media Day Recap
The Little Rock men's team was picked the preseason favorite while the women's team was predicted seventh in the 2025-26 OVC Preseason Poll voted on by league head coaches and communications directors.
The predictions were released as part of the OVC Basketball Media Day powered by
Centerpoint Energy, which was held on October 14.
Little Rock's men's team's high expectations come with the return of All-OVC standouts Johnathan Lawson and Tuongthach Gatkek. Lawson was among the national leaders in minutes played last season, averaging 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while leading the Trojans to the OVC Tournament semifinals. Gatkek, the OVC Defensive Player of the Year, tallied 28 blocks, 29 steals, and averaged 10.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.The Trojans also bolstered their roster in the offseason with key additions Kachi Nzeh and Braxton Bayless, both of whom were named to the OVC Preseason Players to Watch list.
The women's team returns graduate guard Jordan Holman, a returning second-team All-OVC performer who averaged 13.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season. Newcomer Mya Cotto transferred from Murray State College, where she led the team in scoring and guided them to a 28-4 record and NJCAA Tournament berth. Sophomore post Destinee Salgado, a 6-2 transfer from Iona, is also expected to make an impact in the paint.
The Little Rock teams will look to be one of eight teams in each gender to qualify for the 2026 OVC Basketball Championships, which will be played March 4-7 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. For more information on the championship,
click here.
BELOW VIDEOS
Head Men's Coach
Darrell Walker
Senior Guard
Johnathan Lawson
Head Women's Coach
Steve Wiedower
Junior Guard
Mya Cotto