SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State men's basketball program and head coach Vinay Patel announce their sixth addition to the incoming 2023-24 class, with 6-foot-10 forward DJ Basey joining the Rams for the upcoming season.

Basey, a native of Mesquite, Texas, returns to the Lone Star State, having played last season at Division I institution Coastal Carolina.

"DJ adds some much-needed length to our front line," said Patel. "We have watched him play for a long time and are very excited to get the chance to coach him this upcoming season. He is long and athletic and runs the floor extremely well. His motor helps him make plays on both ends of the floor." 

Last season for the Chanticleers, Basey averaged 2.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest while shooting 68.1 percent from the field. His season-best performance came on December 10^th against Regent University, where Basey scored 14 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the field while also grabbing eight rebounds.

Prior to Coastal Carolina, Basey was a standout for NJCAA school Connors State College. Starting 27 games for the Cowboys, Basey averaged 10.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while leading the conference with a 61.4 field goal percentage.

"Our guards are going to love playing with a forward that has his athletic ability," said Patel. "DJ will give us the ability to defend more aggressively on the perimeter while he helps protect the rim with his shot-blocking ability."

Defensively, he recorded 60 blocks, averaging two rejections per game. Basey helped lead the Cowboys to a 28-6 overall record and a Region II Championship, as well as an appearance in the NJCAA National Tournament.

"I am excited for our fans to see DJ Basey play this upcoming year," said Patel. "He has one year to play and will graduate from ASU in May. His aspirations as a player and student align with the expectations we have in our program. The Lone Star Conference is one of the best in the country, and we need players that are the right fit to help us succeed. We are extremely energized to add another winner to our program, and we are anxious to get DJ to San Angelo!"

The 2022-2023 Rams finished 26-7 and made it to the second round of the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament.  The 26 wins were the second most in program history and the most by a first-year head coach. The Rams also finished a perfect 13-0 inside the Junell Center – Stephens Area and finished first in the Lone Star Conference in home attendance.
 

2023-24 Signees	Yr.	Ht.	Previous School
Everson Armstrong	Fr.	6-5	Wall HS
Shemar Smith	Jr.	6-7	Connors State College
DJ Freeman	Jr.	6-6	Oklahoma Baptist
Keyshawn Embery-Simpson	Gr.	6-3	Tulsa University
Trey Farrer	Gr.	6-9	Westminster (Utah)
DJ Basey	Sr.	6-10	Coastal Carolina