LOWELL — UMass Lowell men’s basketball head coach Pat Duquette has added seven newcomers to his roster ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
Although this marks the largest incoming class to join the River Hawks in a single season since 2014-15, the group brings a strong mix of experience and skill to the lineup.
“We are excited to welcome a deep and talented incoming class, combining three transfers with four incoming freshmen,” said Duquette. “They will add depth and versatility to our backcourt and complement our returning core very well.”
The River Hawks are coming off back-to-back seasons in which they advanced to the America East championship game. Expectations are high for Duquette and his program. UML went 22-10 last season, including a win at Georgia Tech and a two-point loss at Arizona State.
Meet the New River Hawks
Here’s a look at the newest River Hawks:
Kris Johnson
A 6-5, 190-pound freshman guard from Prince George’s County, Md., Johnson starred at Clinton Grace Christian School.
He was a two-time all-conference first team selection. Johnson averaged 14.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. He was ranked a top-10 player in Maryland by PrepHoops.
Armani Perkins
Perkins is a 6-1, 180-pound freshman guard from Brockton who starred at Holbrook High School.
At Holbrook, he was a three-time Mayflower League all-star. He surpassed the 1,000-point plateur as a senior. As a junior, he was selected the Mayflower League MVP.
Martin Somerville
A 6-3, 184-pound freshman guard from Bowie, Md., Somerville spent this past season at Southern California Academy.
Somerville averaged 14 points and five assists as a senior and was named Overtime Elite his final season.
Isaiah Walter
A freshman guard with impressive size (6-6, 200 pounds), Walter grew up in Gosford, Australia and was a standout at Tuggerah Lakes Secondary.
He spent last season at Terror Prep in Toronto and produced a solid season, averaging 15.7 points, 7.9 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game. He earned Elite Prep League All-Tournament second team honors.
Quincy Clark
A 6-4, 190-pound senior guard from Columbus, Ohio, Clark is a transfer from Jacksonville State.
At Jacksonville State, he averaged 7.9 points and 2.9 rebounds, while adding 97 assists and 34 steals. He started 13 of 32 games. Clark began his college career at Lipscomb, where he played from 2021-23.
Mekhi Gray
The graduate student is a 6-4, 190-pound guard from Montrose, N.Y., and familiar to River Hawk fans.
He is a transfer from NJIT, where he played against UMass Lowell from 2020-24. In 105 games, Gray started 74 of them, averaging 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Gray was selected to the America East All-Rookie team in the 2020-21 season.
Caleb Murphy
A 6-4, 190-pound graduate student guard from Atlanta, Ga., Murphy will play at UML after stops at South Florida and DePaul.
He played in 52 games at South Florida before transferring to DePaul. In two seasons at DePaul, he saw action in 23 games, eight of them starts. He averaged 5.4 points, 2.1 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game at DePaul. He was rated the No. 72 high school player in the country by ESPN.
A Strong Core
The addition of these seven players adds depth and experience to a team that already has a strong core. The River Hawks are looking to build on their recent success and compete for an America East championship.
The River Hawks will open their season on November 10th at home against Sacred Heart. The schedule also includes games against a number of power-conference opponents, including a rematch against Georgia Tech on December 20th.
The Future is Bright
The additions of these seven players show the commitment of Duquette and his staff to building a championship-caliber program. With a strong core of returning players and a talented group of newcomers, the future is bright for UMass Lowell men's basketball.
