The Milwaukee Panthers playoff run was cut short after losing to Detroit Mercy in the first round of the 2026 Horizon League Basketball Championship. Early on in the game Detroit had momentum with an early scoring run which set the tone for the rest of the game. Sekou Kennoh led the Panthers putting in 13 points and nine rebounds.
Josh Dixon and Chandler Jackson also pitched in double digits, both bringing in 12 points each. Milwaukee seemed to have struggled securing open shots throughout the night. Although both teams had a back and forth shoot out within the last 12 minutes of the game. The missed open shots by the Panthers and early momentum from Detroit was what ultimately helped the Titans secure a 84-63 victory.
The Panthers finished their season with a 12-20, (8-12 Horizon League) record. While the record and early ending season was not what the Panthers anticipated, the Panthers’ resilience showed after handling constant unpredicted injuries affecting the line up for each game. The team’s grit outweighed the unfortunate obstacles.
Entering the transfer portal
The reality of college sports is that after every season there are athletes who are going to begin entering their names in the transfer portal in search of new beginnings. A few of Milwaukee’s top players this past season have officially entered the transfer portal.
Stevie Elam took to social media to announce that he will not be returning for the upcoming season and has committed to Miami University. Although Elam did miss out on a month of action, he quickly returned and stepped in as a top shooting weapon.
Sekou Konneh will also not be returning and has committed to the University of San Diego. Konneh earned three starts this past season and averaged 6.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
After stepping up as a reliable force and making a huge impact on the court. Josh Dixon, one of only three players to appear in all 32 games, has officially committed to Georgia Southern University. He averaged 9 points and 1.1 rebounds per game.
Esyah Pippa-White, a well known and loved player in Milwaukee made the decision to not return this upcoming season. He started in 15 games this season and averaged 4.4 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. Pippa-White committed to Houston Christian University back in May.
Seth Hubbard, whose season was cut short due suffering a shoulder injury and was forced to sit out the remainder of the season. Although he was only able to play a few games, he was the lead scorer for the Panthers. Hubbard ultimately decided to take his career to Hampton University for the upcoming season.
Tilt the floor, turn the page
Although there has been a loss in memorable players from last season, there has been a number of new athletes who have joined the roster. On top of that, there are a few players who will be making a return for this upcoming season.
Braylon Walker, who was a four-year high school starter on varsity from Warren Township High School will be joining the Panthers this season. He scored 1,000 points during his time in Warren and also was a part of his team securing 106 victory wins which was a school record, three regional titles, two sectional crowns and one Super Sectional title. Walker averaged 14.9 points, 5.9 assists and 3.4 steals.
Another addition to the team for this upcoming season is Tre Norman. Norman is a familiar face in Milwaukee as he spent three seasons at Marquette, he appeared in 94 career games while adding 2.2 points and 1.4 rebounds. He is a former top-100 national recruit and was ranked No. 89 by 247 sports.
Aaron Womack, a local Milwaukee native will also help tilt the floor this upcoming season. Womack came as a red shirt freshman from Syracuse in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He averaged 16.6 points per game and secured his first team All-Metro Classic Conference Honors.
Amare Hereford, a top senior in the state coming to play in the Panther Arena. Hereford had an impressive run at Beloit Memorial High School. He finished his career as a top scorer with his 37.5 points per game average.
Al Amadou, a transfer coming from Saint Josephs, originally started his career at Marquette. He redshirted during the 2024-25 season but did appear in 14 games the prior season. Amadou was ranked No. 119 prospect in the 2023 class according to 247Sports.
Jake Hansen, born and raised in Wauwatosa, played at Oklahoma last season. He averaged 18.4 points per game, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Hansen was ranked No.11 overall prospect in Wisconsin and No. 79 shooting guard nationally by 247Sports.
Nate Malosa, leading shot blocker coming from Columbia State Community College and averaged 9.1 points and 8.5 rebounds. Malosa was named the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year.
The final puzzle pieces clicked into place with the arrival of SJ Young, Dylan Omweno, and Ben Akoro, officially solidifying Milwaukee’s roster for the upcoming season. The focus has swiftly shifted from roster construction to real-time execution as Milwaukee prepares to make its mark.
The Panthers’ core returners
Although the roster looks completely different, there are still some fan favorites from last season who will be making a return. Danilo Jovanovich, who is very familiar with the program and a core member of Panthers Basketball will return for the upcoming season. Jovanovich was having a breakout season when an unfortunate injury occurred that ended his season early.
Jovanovich appeared in the first 17 games and was a part of the starting line up for all those games. He averaged his career best of 12.4 points per game as well as 6.1 rebounds. He was named to the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll as well as Top 20 of multiple other Horizon League Categories.
Among the group of returners, John Lovelace Jr. will be coming into the season with something to prove. After sustaining a preseason injury which sidelined him prior to the first tip-off, he maintained eligibility with a medical redshirt. Lovelace is healthy and ready to step back on the court.
Chandler Jackson, who appeared in 24 games and started in nine, will be returning as well. He averaged 9.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game and was the team’s leading scorer starting in February and was maintained the remainder of the season.
Rounding out the core of returners are Austin Villarreal, Simeon Murchison, and Isaiah Dorceus, whose familiarity with coach Bart Lundy’s system provides crucial stability. These three returners understand the culture and expectations required to win.
Between new additions coming in and established returners eager for redemption. The incoming players bring a fresh look and new skill sets, while the returning core members provide the chemistry and leadership needed to tie it all together. This new Panthers squad has the drive to make a statement in the upcoming season.