AMERICUS, Ga. — The Georgia Southwestern State University men's basketball team has been picked to finish eighth in the 2025–26 Peach Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, released Wednesday by the league office. The poll reflects voting among the conference's 11 head coaches.
North Georgia earned the top spot with nine first-place votes and 99 points, followed by USC Beaufort and USC Aiken, which collected two first-place votes. Augusta, Columbus State, and Lander filled out the middle of the pack, while GSW landed in eighth ahead of Georgia College & State University, Clayton State, and Middle Georgia.
2025–26 Peach Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
(First-Place Votes) |
| 1 |
North Georgia |
99 |
(9) |
| 2 |
USC Beaufort |
85 |
|
| 3 |
USC Aiken |
83 |
(2) |
| 4 |
Augusta |
68 |
|
| 5 |
Columbus State |
61 |
|
| 5 |
Lander |
61 |
|
| 7 |
Flagler |
51 |
|
| 8 |
Georgia Southwestern |
32 |
|
| 9 |
Georgia College & State University |
31 |
|
| 10 |
Clayton State |
24 |
|
| 11 |
Middle Georgia |
10 |
|
The Hurricanes return three players who saw time on the floor last season — Gavin Guion, Abrahm Driver, and Faustin Phanor — while Alaunzo Doctrine rejoins the lineup after missing the 2024–25 campaign due to injury.
Guion, a senior guard, is the most experienced returner after appearing in 25 games a year ago, averaging 4.1 points and 19.9 minutes per contest.
The 2025–26 season marks the start of a new era for GSW under first-year head coach Kevin O'Connor, who joins the Hurricanes after three seasons leading NCAA Division II Cameron University in Lawton, Okla.
O'Connor and the Hurricanes open the season Nov. 14 in Hartsville, S.C., against Converse College.
