When the fate of their in-state rivals suddenly became in jeopardy, the Panthers rounded out their roster with a final piece for the 2024-25 season.
Themus Fulks, a senior guard who started 29 of Louisiana’s 33 games last year, announced his commitment to Milwaukee on Sunday. Fulks spent the 2021-22 campaign at Dodge City CC playing for current Panthers’ assistant coach Jake Williams, who recruited both Fulks and now-former Panther BJ Freeman.
Fulks joined guard AJ McKee, forwards John Lovelace Jr., Danilo Jovanovich and JaMichael Stillwell as transfers. The quartet replaces the gaping hole left by Freeman (Arizona State), as well as Elijah Jamison (UNC-Wilmington), Zach Howell (Drury), Makuei Riek (Fairfield) and Markeith Browning (Lindenwood), who all transferred out of the program.
Head coach Bart Lundy previously expressed hope that completing the roster this early allows more time for the team to gel.
Fulks averaged 10.6 points per game and 4.4 assists per game in his second season with the Ragin’ Cajuns. The North Carolina native is expected to become the Panthers’ primary floor general at the point guard position, a role they lacked following Pierce Spencer’s pre-season knee injury.
McKee, also a senior guard, finished third in the A-Sun with his 18.8 point-per-game average. He played for Lundy from 2019-22 at Queens University of Charlotte.
Junior college transfer JaMichael Stillwell arrives from the junior college ranks, scoring 12.5 points per game at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas.
“He has an edge,” said Lundy on the character of junior college players, specifically Stillwell. “We like his edge. It’s good. He’s still a high character guy, but when he hits the court, he’s a warrior.”
Lovelace and Jovanovich, both native to the Milwaukee area, come by way of the transfer portal. Lovelace is a Brown Deer graduate who carries a reputation as a standout defender. He averaged 6.6 points per game last season for Horizon League rival Youngstown State.
Jovanovich, who played high school ball at Whitnall, returns to his native Milwaukee after appearing in 20 games at Louisville during his sophomore campaign. Lundy hopes the pair can re-cement the university’s status as Milwaukee’s city school.
“Those guys can put Milwaukee back on the map,” said Lundy. “People will want to play with these guys… we want to take care of home first.”
The Panthers became the first Horizon League team to round out its roster, a task they completed much earlier than the prior two seasons. Some five programs faced head coaching changes this offseason, including Green Bay, who lost Sundance Wicks to Wyoming on Sunday.
Lundy and his staff enter their third year in Milwaukee, hoping to take the next step after falling just seven points shy of an NCAA Tournament berth last year.