BIRMINGHAM – As the 2020-21 men’s basketball season approaches, UABSports.com will provide the fans with a weekly positional preview. Today focusing on the front court.
“Although Kassim Nicholson is the only returning front court player from last year’s team, we feel good about adding him to the five players we have signed for this season,” said head coach Andy Kennedy.
“From Trey Jemison’s experience in the ACC, to Simeon Kirkland playing two seasons at one of the top junior colleges in the country, to the three freshmen in Rongie Gordon, Terrell Ard, Jr., Tobias Rotegaard, we feel we have the necessary size, depth and versatility along our frontline to compete at a high level this season.”
Kassim Nicholson – Senior – Jackson, Miss.
Nicholson came to UAB last season after spending two seasons at Holmes Community College. He played in all 32 games, making four starts and averaging 19.2 minutes per game. He scored a career-high 15 points off the bench against Louisiana Tech while logging double-figures in eight contests – including 10 points against No.15 Memphis. He was one rebound short of a double-double against Alabama A&M.
Trey Jemison – Junior – Birmingham, Ala.
Jemison is coming off a season at Clemson where he shot 49 percent from the floor. In his first career start against Notre Dame, the 7-0 center registered career-highs with seven rebounds (four on the offensive glass) and 30 minutes played. In Clemson’s win against Alabama A&M, Jemison had career-highs of 10 points and four blocks – which tied the Clemson single-game high for the season. Jemison received a waiver from the NCAA on August 26 that he could be immediately eligible to play this season.
Simeon Kirkland – Junior – Ocala, Fla.
Kirkland came to UAB in April, transferring from Florida SouthWestern State College. In his second season with the Buccaneers, he led the team to a 29-2 record and a perfect 12-0 mark in the Suncoast Conference. FSW finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA. The 6-10 forward was selected to the All-Suncoast Conference Second Team after averaged 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting 52.8 percent from the field. He had 13 games scoring in double-figures including a career-high 16 points against Wake Technical Community College.
Rongie Gordon – Freshman – Montgomery, Ala.
An early signee, Gordon inked his NLI in with UAB in November 2019. His senior season in high school, he led Jeff Davis High School to 16 wins and a berth in their first regional title game since 2007. A Class 5A-7A Third Team All-State and First Team All-Metro selection, Gordon averaged 13.9 points and 7.9 rebounds as a senior.
Terrell Ard, Jr. – Freshman – Acworth, Ga.
Ard, Jr. played the 2019-20 season at Putnam Science Academy in Putnam, Conn. after graduating from Allatoona High School in 2019. The 6-7 forward led Putnam to a share of the 2020 National Prep Championship with a 36-4 record while averaging 8.0 points per game and 7.0 rebounds per game. He recorded a double-double of a season-high 23 points and 17 rebounds against Dohn Prep in the First Round of the National Prep Championship playoffs.
Tobias Rotegaard – Freshman – Kongsberg, Norway
One of the top Scandinavian prospects, Rotegaard played the 2019-20 season at Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kan. He helped Sunrise to a 22-4 record and averaged 10 points while shooting 48 percent from beyond the arc. Rotegaard led the Buffaloes to a No. 6 ranking among postgraduate teams in the nation.
2020-21 UAB men’s basketball season tickets are on sale now. Current basketball season ticket holders can click here to renew their seats for the upcoming season. Fans interested in purchasing new season tickets can do so starting as low as $100 with the Blaze’s Corner season ticket.
For questions regarding your 2020-21 UAB Basketball season ticket order, email the UAB Athletics Ticket Sales and Service team at tickets@uab.edu or call (205) 975-UAB1. Ticket representatives can be contacted during normal business hours of 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Fans can also request more information on ticket options for the upcoming season here.
For more information on the UAB men’s basketball program, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram. Also be sure to follow @CoachAK13 on Twitter.
