LOWELL, Mass. – 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, this group brings a strong mix of experience and skill to the lineup. The team welcomes four true freshmen,
Kris Johnson (Prince George's County, Md.),
Armani Perkins (Brockton, Mass.),
Martin Somerville (Bowie, Md.) and
Isaiah Walter (Gosford, Australia), as well as senior
Quincy Clark (Columbus, Ohio) and fifth-years
Mekhi Gray (Montrose, N.Y.) and
Caleb Murphy (Atlanta, Ga.).
"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."
RIVER HAWK PLAYER PROFILES
Name: Kris Johnson
Jersey #: 1
Hometown/High School: Prince George's County, Md./Clinton Grace Christian
Class: Freshman
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-5/190
Major: Undeclared
HIGH SCHOOL: Played basketball at Clinton Grace Christian School … two-time All-Conference First Team selection … All-Defense First Team as a senior … averaged 14.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game … top-10 ranked player in the state of Maryland by PrepHoops.
PERSONAL: Son of Wayne and Kendra … has two older siblings (Jaier and Jalen) … hobbies include music and dancing … names SpongeBob as his favorite TV show … names the New Orleans Saints as his favorite professional sports team and Kevin Durant as his favorite sports figure … chose to attend UMass Lowell for the high academic engagement.
Name: Armani Perkins
Jersey #: 22
Hometown/High School: Brockton, Mass./Holbrook
Class: Freshman
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-1/180
Major: Finance
HIGH SCHOOL: Played basketball at Holbrook High School … three-time Mayflower League All-Star … team captain as a senior … surpassed 1,000 career points as a senior … named First-Team All-Scholastic and MBCA Senior All-State All-Star in his final season … won Mayflower League MVP and helped his team reach the Final Four as a junior … three-time academic honor roll member.
PERSONAL: Son of Allen and Anjella … has four older siblings … enjoys drawing and playing video games in his free time … lists Suits as his favorite TV show … calls the Boston Celtics his favorite professional sports team and LeBron James his favorite sports figure … chose to attend UMass Lowell because the program is very family oriented.
Name: Martin Somerville
Jersey #: 5
Hometown/High School: Bowie, Md./Southern California Academy
Class: Freshman
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-3/184
Major: Business Administration
HIGH SCHOOL: Played basketball at Southern California Academy … named Overtime Elite as a senior … averaged 14 points and five assists per game as a senior … selected to the All-WCAC Team as a junior.
PERSONAL: Son of Martin Sr. and Aretha … has three older siblings … lists Power as his favorite TV show … names Quincy Acy as his favorite sports figure … chose to attend UMass Lowell for the family atmosphere.
Name: Isaiah Walter
Jersey #: 6
Hometown/High School: Central Coast, Australia/Tuggerah Lakes Secondary
Class: Freshman
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-6/200
Major: Liberal Arts
HIGH SCHOOL: Played prep year at Terror Prep in Toronto, Canada … averaged 15.7 points, 7.9 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game at Terror … named Big Shots Prep Nationals All-Star … named Elite Prep League All-Tournament Second Team … played high school basketball at Tuggerah Lakes Secondary … two-time Regional, Central Coast and Tuggerah MVP … Australia NBL1 player and U18 NSW State Team selection … also played volleyball and was a NSW State Team selection.
PERSONAL: Son of Jay and Judy … has two siblings (Mason and Jasmine) … identifies as Australian, Samoan, Chinese and Tuvaluan … hobbies include video games, volleyball and anime … names Haikyuu as his favorite TV show … the Australian Boomers is his favorite professional sports team and Kobe Bryant is his favorite sports figure … chose to attend UMass Lowell because it was such a great fit.
Name: Quincy Clark
Jersey #: 11
Hometown/High School: Columbus, Ohio/Westerville Central
Previous School: Jacksonville State
Class: Senior
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-4/190
Major: American Studies
AT JACKSONVILLE STATE (2023-24): Appeared in 32 games with 13 starts … averaged 7.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game … totaled 97 assists with 34 steals.
AT LIPSCOMB (2021-23): Appeared in 63 games as a member of the Bisons and averaged 5.7 points on 15 minutes played per game in 2022-23 ... made his collegiate debut versus Birmingham-Southern on Nov. 8, 2021, finishing with eight points.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played basketball at Westerville Central High School in Ohio … voted Central District I All-District and All-Metro as a senior after averaging 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game … led WCHS to a 23-3 overall record and the school's first-ever region title and appearance in the Ohio state championship game after securing back-to-back district championships for the Warhawks.
PERSONAL: Son of Robert and Metiba … has one sister (Atiya) … enjoys nature and music in his free time … favorite TV show is Bojack Horseman … lists the Cleveland Cavaliers as his favorite professional sports team, and Kyrie Irving and LeBron James as his favorite sports figures … chose to attend UMass Lowell because it was a family atmosphere with a high goal he wants to help accomplish.
Name: Mekhi Gray
Jersey #: 0
Hometown/High School: Montrose, N.Y./Putnam Science Academy
Previous School: NJIT
Class: Graduate Student
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-4/190
Major: Business Administration
AT NJIT (2020-24): Appeared in 105 career games with 74 starts … averaged 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game … totaled 54 blocks and 94 steals ... shot 41.8% (277-663) from the field … named to the America East All-Rookie Team in 2020-21.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Henry Hudson High School for three years before spending a year each at South Kent and national power Putnam Science Academy (CT) ... helped lead PSA to Co-National Championship in final season … also played lacrosse and football.
PERSONAL: Son of Jeremiah and Cassandra … has two younger siblings (Riley and Madison) … enjoys binge watching TV shows and eating food in his free time … lists Law & Order SVU as his favorite TV show … the Lakers are his favorite professional sports team and Kobe Bryant is his favorite sports figure … chose to attend UMass Lowell because he felt it was a great fit.
Name: Caleb Murphy
Jersey #: 12
Hometown/High School: Atlanta, Ga./Grayson
Previous School: DePaul
Class: Fifth Year
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-4/190
Major: American Studies
AT DePAUL (2022-24): Appeared in 23 games, starting eight … averaged 5.4 points, 2.1 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game … shot 41% from the field.
AT SOUTH FLORIDA (2020-22): Appeared in 52 career games with 49 starts … averaged 10.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists … shot 39.7% from the field.
HIGH SCHOOL: Was rated the No. 72 player in the nation by ESPN and 13th-best player at his position by Rivals … rated a four-star Rivals prospect … helped Grayson High School to a No. 10 national ranking, a 30-2 record and runner-up finish in the GHSA 7A state championship game as a senior … averaged 8.8 points per game as a junior for Norcross High School and led team to a 22-9 record and appearance in the Georgia State Final Four.
PERSONAL: Son of Markus and Chantal … has two sisters and a son named Maverick … hobbies include clothes, his family, video games and school … lists the Cleveland Cavaliers as his favorite professional sports team … chose to attend UMass Lowell because of the relationship he developed with the coaches and because of the winning culture.
