A New Era Begins: Jamion Christian Leads Bryant Men’s Basketball in Their Quest to Defend the America East Crown

Will Tondo
3 minutes ago
5 min read

New Coach, Same Mission: Bryant Bulldogs Ready to Run It Back in 2025–26. The Jamion Christian era has officially begun for the Bryant Men’s Basketball Team. With energy, vision, and championship ambition, the Bulldogs look to build on last season’s America East title and make an even deeper run this year.

After a landmark 2024–25 campaign that saw Bryant University capture both the America East regular season and tournament titles, the Bulldogs are reloading, not rebuilding. Yes, the coaching staff has changed and the roster has been shuffled. But the hunger? That’s still there, especially after the preseason polls announced the Bulldogs were picked sixth in the conference. A playoff team, but written off because turnover. With keys to the program now in the hands of a proven winner in Jamion Christian, the Bulldogs are looking to prove last year was just the beginning.

Bryant Men’s Basketball - A New Voice in the Locker Room: Jamion Christian Takes the Reins

The departure of Phil Martelli Jr. to VCU in the offseason could’ve rocked the foundation. Instead, Bryant reloaded with a name that should inspire confidence across the board: Jamion Christian, who returns stateside after leading Pallacanestro Trieste to a title and promotion in Italy’s Serie A2.

For those who follow the coaching carousel, Christian is no stranger. His resume includes head coaching stints at Mount St. Mary’s, Siena, and George Washington. He’s known for building programs that press, run, and play with confidence. The fit feels right. He’s charismatic. He wins. And perhaps most importantly, he’s inheriting a program with expectations. This isn’t a “hope we can compete” kind of year. It’s “we’re here to win again.”

Roster Turnover and Fresh Blood: Who’s Wearing the Black and Gold This Season?

With the coaching change came inevitable player movement, and the Bulldogs’ roster for 2025–26 features a mix of returning contributors, intriguing transfers, and a massive infusion of international and freshman talent.

Veteran Presence

Jakai Robinson (G, 6'5'', Senior): A returning senior guard, who played in 33 games last season and started in 10. He brings leadership and familiarity to the squad, and his role could be key in close games.
Quincy Allen (G/F, 6’8”, 5th Year): The former Chicago State transfer is set to be the guy this year. He’s long, athletic, and poised for a breakout if he can stay consistent offensively. Leadership will be key.
Aaron Davis III (F, 6’7”, Junior): A solid wing presence who battled injuries last season. Could be an X-factor if he finds his rhythm early.
Khalil Williams (G, 6’5”, Sophomore): Shows flashes of athleticism and versatility. With more minutes, he could develop into a high-end role player.
Langston Bailey (PG, 5’9”, Sophomore): The undersized point guard with a huge heart. He’ll need to manage the tempo and lead the offense, especially against the more physical backcourts in the league.

Newcomers to Watch

Ashley Sims II (F, 6’8”, Freshman): Built like a college upperclassman already, Sims is a physical forward who can bang in the paint. Should provide immediate rebounding help.
Daniel Akoue (F/C, 6’11”, Freshman, Gabon): One of the more intriguing long-term pieces on the roster. Raw but athletic. If he picks things up quickly, could be a shot-blocking and rebounding anchor.
Timofei Rudovskii (F, 6’9”, Freshman, Russia): Stretch-four potential. If he can shoot the three consistently, he’ll stretch opposing defenses and open up Christian’s offense.
Tyler Tabales, Gio Sanford, Joe Green, and Ethane Bourgade round out a deep freshman class that gives Bryant one of the more versatile rosters in the America East.

This isn’t the most experienced team Bryant’s ever fielded, but it may be one of the deepest. Christian has options, and a ton of size to work with.

System Reset: What Does Bryant Basketball Look Like in 2025–26?

Under Martelli Jr., the Bulldogs were aggressive offensively and relied on tempo, attacking the rim, and creating havoc defensively. Expect a similar philosophy, but Christian’s twist includes more structured sets, a commitment to pressing, and most importantly, defensive toughness. Bryant’s Achilles heel last March was its inability to stop elite shot-makers. In their NCAA Tournament loss to Michigan State, the Bulldogs gave up 87 points and were overwhelmed physically. That’s where the new size and focus on rebounding comes in. Christian has already emphasized in practice that defense is the Bulldogs’ “currency.” If they can buy in on that end, they’ll cash in come March.

Path Back to the Big Dance: Can Bryant Repeat?

There is no guarantee and it's not an easy feat. Repeating as America East champs is a tough task. Vermont is America East royalty. Maine, UMass Lowell, and Binghamton are all improved. The conference as a whole is deeper and more unpredictable than it’s been in years. But Bryant has the tools. In order to do so, here’s what needs to happen:

Establish an identity early. Non-conference games will be crucial for Christian to figure out rotations, develop chemistry, and let someone emerge as the go-to guy.
Don't get discouraged in Non-Con Play. It's a tough schedule to kickoff the year. The team cannot get discouraged if results don't yield right off the bat, especially with chemistry forming and new schemes are put into place.
Own the America East schedule. The Bulldogs went 14–2 in conference last year. Do that again (obviously) and they’re back in the mix for the top seed.
Win the games you should win. The America East is filled with potential trap games. Avoiding a mid-January slip-up in Binghamton or a flat performance against NJIT will separate contenders from pretenders.
Have a closer. Every championship team needs one. Will it be Robinson? Allen? Davis? One of the international freshmen? Someone needs to be the guy when it’s a one-possession game with 90 seconds left.

Tonight is the Night - The Bulldogs opener against Siena

Bryant opens the season Monday night on the road at Siena, a sneaky-good MAAC team. It's also a homecoming game for Coach Christian, where he coached the Saints in the 2018-19 season.

That’ll be the first real test and a tone-setter for what this group can be. They’ll also see some strong non-conference opponents before the grind of the America East schedule begins in January.

Bryant isn’t flying under the radar anymore. They’re playing with the target on their back. The question isn’t can they do it again, it’s will they? If the pieces click and the buy-in is real, we could be watching the Bulldogs cut down the nets in March once again. And maybe, just maybe, dancing their way to the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win.

The Dawgs are back.