SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Savannah State Men’s Basketball is in its first offseason under head coach Clevan Thompson.

Thompson took over in the middle of last season after former head coach Horace Broadnax stepped down from the position. Thompson served as an assistant coach under Broadnax.

Last season, Thompson led the Tigers to a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship and secured a bid to NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament.

SSU has acquired seven new roster pieces in the offseason, to go along with 11 returning players.

Thompson said winning the SIAC Tournament has been a huge piece in recruiting.

“The fact that we won and they saw us be successful,” he said. “They want to be a part of it, and it helps us as coaches carve out the culture, we want to have here to be successful.”

One big addition to the roster is former Beach High School star James Leach. Leach transferred to Savannah State from St. Petersburg College.