Bradley Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Braves

Braves’ back up players

Boya’s return is huge, particularly on the defensive end. With Mast, Leons, Darius Hannah and Conner Linke who are all 6’9 Bradley is much bigger than at any time during Wardle’s tenure in Peoria, Illinois. Boya (Cameroon) was at his best during Bradley’s biggest wins prior to his injury.

Three other Braves with starting experience should be coming off Wardle’s bench this season. Depth will not be a problem for this season’s Bradley team.

Finland’s Ville Tahvanainen started 17 games last year and averaged 8.6 points and three rebounds per game and buried 47 three-pointers. The 6’4 junior was part of the Valley’s 2020 all-bench team. He also played internationally this summer.

Sophomores Jayson Kent and Hannah showed flashes of outstanding potential last season. Each player averaged nearly four points per game. The 6’9 Hannah was the number six recruit coming out of Wisconsin. At 6’7 Kent is growing into a forward’s game. He grew two inches his senior year of high school and was previously a guard.

Three freshmen join the Braves. Wardle calls Connor Hickman and Zek Montgomery pure scorers and loves the upside of Max Ekono. The 6’7 French native played prep basketball at the same school as Boya.