BY: WILSON JOHNSON
After a 5-27 season that ranked 9th best in the CAA, William and Mary looks to have a bounce back 2022-2023 campaign in a big way. With the only returning players being sophomore Tyler Rice, senior Miguel Ayesa, and juniors Jake Milkereit and Ben Wight, Tribe Men’s Basketball is set to look very different. Here is a sneak peek of the eight new faces that will be suiting up in the green and gold for the first time this season.
Jack Karasinski
Jack is a freshman wing from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jack’s biggest strengths lie on the offensive side of the ball, and this can be evidenced by the 20 points per game he averaged during his junior season in which he led Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School to a state championship. At the next level, you can expect him to be a threat on all levels of offense, especially since at 6’7, 205 lbs he already has the build to play Division 1 basketball. With a consistent three-point stroke and the ability to finish through contact, he will fit flawlessly into any offensive set. More than anything Jack is a competitor in all facets of the game; he’s the guy who takes charges, dives after loose balls, and gets his hands dirty on both the defensive and offensive glass. Between his ability to score and toughness, I expect him to have a chance to make an impact.
Charlie Williams
Charlie is a freshman forward from Carmel, Indiana. With the departure of two of the team’s three tallest players, Charlie brings some much needed size to the Tribe at 6 ’10, 205 lbs. Charlie adds another big man with great footwork and touch around the rim, much like Ben Wight. Charlie can also stretch the floor with his consistent mid-range jumper that has the potential to extend beyond the arc at the collegiate level. With his height and length, Charlie regularly grabbed boards and sent shots back for Carmel High School, leading them to a state championship in 2021. I believe Charlie will be a good rim protector on the next level, especially while in help defense where he blocks most of his shots. I could see Charlie playing valuable backup center minutes when Ben Wight needs a rest or gets in foul trouble. Keep your eyes peeled for Charlie’s progression throughout the season as he grows into his role.
Chase Lowe
Chase Lowe is a freshman point guard from Weddington, North Carolina. At 6’5 and 195 lbs, he already has the size to play point guard at the Division 1 level. During his time at Weddington High School he led the Warriors to back to back state championships as well as an astounding 49 game win streak. Chase is most effective when he has shooters around him that he can pass to out of a pick and roll, and lucky enough, the Tribe has shooters coming in as well as established long range marksmen Miguel Ayesa and Jake Milkereit to whom Chase can dish. With his size he is capable of guarding 1-3 which I believe will allow him to play more minutes as a secondary ball handler alongside Tyler Rice. On top of all of that, Chase’s internal motor seems to never stop running, it’s like he never runs out of energy on either side of the ball. With his size, ability to facilitate, and extremely high motor, Chase will make an immediate impact for the Tribe on both sides of the ball this upcoming season.
Noah Collier
Noah is a Junior forward from Mullica Hill, New Jersey. Noah is transferring from the University of Pittsburgh where he played 44 games in two seasons. He averaged 1.3 points per game on 50% from the field as well as 1.6 rebounds per game in about 9 minutes per game. He’s a phenomenal athlete who can grab rebounds at will thanks to his great vertical leaping ability. His strength and “hops” also nearly guarantee a strong finish above the rim every time a defender is brave enough to meet him there. At 6’8 and 220 lbs, Noah will likely play a slashing-type role at the power forward position and will be a defensive anchor for the Tribe next season. He is a good interior defender who doesn’t allow anything easy inside. I could see scenarios where he would play center in small-ball lineups, especially if the other team decides to go small. There’s no doubt in my mind that the ACC product will contribute to William and Mary wins next season.
Chris Mullins
Chris is a graduate student from Grand Prairie, Texas. Chris is transferring from Rice University where, in four seasons, he played in 116 games and started in 101 of them. As a 6’3 combo guard, he averaged 9.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 27.6 minutes per game over his four years at Rice. As a four year starter, Chris will bring valuable experience and veteran leadership to this Tribe team. On defense he is a menace for opposing ball handlers, never allowing a smooth startup of the offense. His lateral quickness and high defensive IQ make him an exceptional on-ball defender as well as off-ball. On offense he has sneaky good court vision, boasting a ten assist outing against the University of New Orleans last season. Chris is also a threat to get to the basket, his best scoring season being in 2018-2019 where he averaged 12 points per game. Fans should look forward to number 24 getting stops late in games against the opposing team’s best guard.
Matteus Case
Matteus is a sophomore shooting guard from Pickering, Ontario. Matteus is transferring from the University of Providence where, in one season, appeared in four games and averaged 1 point per game on 100% from the field in 1.5 minutes per game. Matteus didn’t get much opportunity on a stacked Providence team that would go on to the NCAA tournament as a 4-seed, eventually losing in the sweet 16 to the soon-to-be national champion, Kansas Jayhawks. Although Matteus’ production seems low, he was undeniably impactful in the time he was on the court; his per 40 minute averages translate to a whopping 26.7 points per game and 13.3 rebounds per game. Obviously those numbers are extremely inflated, but you understand my point. Matteus’ biggest strengths lie on the offensive side of the ball where his lateral quickness, tight handle, and consistent three point jump shot make him a nightmare for opposing defenders. Expect him to be an athletic shot creator and perimeter defender who brings tournament experience to a program searching for its first NCAA tournament berth.
Anders Nelson
Anders is a graduate student from Edina, Minnesota. He played four years of collegiate basketball at the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) where he started in 92 of 94 career games. Anders can flat out put the ball in the basket; he led the Tommies in scoring in three out of four seasons, his best being in 2020-2021 where he averaged 19.4 points per game in 28.7 minutes. At only 6’0 and 175 lbs, his game is very reminiscent of 2017 Isaiah Thomas; he can get to the rim and finish in a multitude of ways against defenders of all sizes. His most deadly weapon, though, is his shooting ability. He is what you would call a “mid-range maestro” with his ability to hit contested fadeaways over bigger defenders. He is also extremely accurate from beyond the arc, boasting a career 38.7% from deep. A lot of times in college basketball when you see offensive production like Anders’ they are usually inefficient, however, Anders shot 48.6% from the field during his time as a Tommie. I imagine Anders will be a savvy veteran who can heat up quickly from all the floor.
Gabe Dorsey
Gabe is a sophomore wing from Westminster, Maryland and is transferring from Vanderbilt University where he appeared in 22 games with two starts. Out of high school Gabe was a top 150 player in the nation according to 247 Sports. To put that into perspective, the Tribe’s highest ranked high school recruit of all time was only ranked 314th per 247 Sports. At the Hill School, Gabe broke the record for most three pointers made in a single season twice, once his sophomore year (75) and then again his junior year (78). On top of his knock-down three pointer, he also has the ability to get by defenders with his quick first step. When he gets to the rim his left handedness and finishing ability are sure to give defenders headaches. On top of his athleticism, at 6’6 and 215 lbs, Gabe can guard nearly any wing or forward. His craftiness on offense and tenacity on defense will likely make him a key rotational player, and possibly an even bigger role as he develops.
2022-2023 Team Overview
I believe the two biggest strengths of this team will be their experience and athleticism. This Tribe team will have nine players who have collegiate experience and only three freshmen. I believe their experiences will help this group of guys gel faster and minimize any beginning of the season chemistry issues. The team’s influx of athleticism should blend quite nicely with Dane Fischer’s positionless style of basketball. On offense, perimeter shooting will open up driving lanes for athletes as well as space for big men like Ben Wight to operate in the post. On defense, the new height and athleticism will make opposing teams struggle to create and get off shots. The main thing to remember is that this team will only get better as the season progresses and these new guys build chemistry and learn their roles. We should all be excited to see the heights that this new-look team can reach this upcoming season.
The William and Mary Sports Blog 
Great read!