FAMU men's basketball absorbing newly-assembled squad with the goal of a turnaround season

Last season left a need of much improvement for Florida A&M men's basketball after finishing 7-22 and missing the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament.

Therefore, the Rattlers are undergoing a roster overhaul, signing eight players to join the team for the 2023-2024 season ― Love Bettis, Rod Coffee, Ja'Derryus Eatmon, Shannon Grant, Keith Lamar, Kjei Parker, Alvin Tumblin, Morrell Schramm.

Five players from a season ago are projected to return ― Chase Barrs, Jordan Chatman, Hantz Louis-Jeune, Richard Matthews, and Dimingus Stevens.

"I could not be more excited about this class that we've been able to assemble," FAMU head coach Robert McCullum said during Wednesday's press conference to talk about his new signing class.

"Much credit goes to [assistant coaches Willie Powers III, Isaac Brown, and Craig Brown for identifying players that are a great fit to help us compete for a SWAC Championship."

FAMU welcomed seven of those players for official visits. Coffee visited campus unofficially before committing.

Ultimately, the Rattlers shot a perfect eight-for-eight for prospects that accepted invites to tour the campus.

"We went to the [NCAA Transfer Portal] intentionally and put emphasis on being more physical," McCullum said of his recruiting approach. "This team is certainly better prepared to meet that challenge. We've got to be able to compete with the upper echelon and I think this group will."

FAMU basketball's emphasis in adding proven winners could help team turn the corner

After season-long struggles, the Rattlers' goal in recruiting was to accrue players that has experience of sitting on basketball's mountain top as a champion.

This could bode well for FAMU as the team looks to have its first winning in-conference record since 2021-2022, its first year in the SWAC.

"Extremely, extremely important," McCullum said. "Your message resonates a lot easier when you bring in guys from winning programs because they've been in winning locker rooms and have a sense of what's required ― the sacrifices, the teamwork."

Parker, guard, is the lone high school signee for FAMU. He helped Bartow High School win the 2021 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) 6A State Championship. Parker then transferred to Winter Haven, where his team fell just two points shy of capturing the 2023 FHSAA 7A title.

He was selected to The Ledger's 2022-2023 All-County First Team.

"Kjei is a player that wanted to be here from the start and that's really, really important," McCullum said of the Lakeland native. "He wasn't sitting around waiting on offers from offers from prep schools and Power Five Conferences. He reminds me a lot of Jalen Speer because I think they are the two most prepared players coming out of high school since I've been here.

"[Parker] has the 'IT' factor and we saw a presence about him. He plays the game with such a pace that you can't speed him up. That's advanced. That's rare.

"He'll play early and often."

Bettis, also a guard, is a direct transfer from fellow Division I HBCU North Carolina A&T. But, he was the starting point guard for when Coffeyville won the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Championship in 2021.

Bettis, who's from Pensacola, was connected to McCullum by hometown friend MJ Randolph, who once starred for FAMU as the 2022 SWAC Player of the Year.

"Love was highly recommended by MJ Randolph," McCullum said. "[Bettis] is a gym rat and has a great deal of experience. That's really going to set the tone in terms of his work ethic and love for the game.

"He can really shoot the ball and can pressure the ball for 94 feet."

FAMU basketball using summertime program to help team adapt to new players, scenery

Now, it's about meshing an influx of new players into the system.

Especially with the team's top three scorers from last season, Jordan Tillmon, Jaylen Bates, and Byron Smith all transferring out.

The NCAA allows teams eight hours a week for instruction and conditioning. The Rattlers began their second week of workouts last Monday.

"Chemistry is going to be a big factor," McCullum said. "I couldn't be more pleased with so many small things we're seeing of players being teammates, looking out for each other, and from the bonding standpoint. As coaches, you want your group to take care of things on their own without having to push or manufacture it."

So far, so good.

McCullum is feeling confident about his new-look team as the Rattlers look to compete and chase a SWAC Championship once the season tips off this winter.

"In terms of pieces, this team has all the data to give us the most realistic chance from early indications," McCullum said. "Again, I could not be more excited."

Florida A&M Rattlers Men's Basketball 2023 Recruiting Class

Love Bettis, Junior, Guard, North Carolina A&T

Rod Coffee, Sophomore Forward, Pensacola State

Ja'Derryus Eatmon, Junior, Forward, Lawson State

Shannon Grant, Junior, Forward, Mercer

Keith Lamar, Junior, Forward, South Georgia State

Kjei Parker, Freshman, Winter Haven High School

Alvin Tumblin, Junior, Forward, Stetson

Morrell Schramm, Junior, Guard, Chattanooga State

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.

No one covers the Rattlers like the Tallahassee Democrat. Subscribe using the link at the top of the page and never miss a moment.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Basketball: Coach McCullum excited about the impact of newcomers