The term "new era" isn't one that is thrown around lightly in athletics – typically reserved for new coaching staffs.
 
For the Oregon Tech men's basketball team, the term resonates within the program heading into the 2025-26 – as the team is squarely in the middle of a reloading mission.
 
Gone are five senior starters – four-year starters Jamison Guerra and Keegan Shivers, three-year starters Kam Osborn and Erik Fraser, two-year starter Blake Jensen, along with top reserve, Jay Elmore. The group combined to play 75% of the minutes, score 75% of Tech's points last season, helping the team to three appearances in the second-round of the NAIA National Tournament.
 
In all reality – the new squad is a "new era" of Tech basketball.
 
"They were so experienced and great people on and off the court," head coach Justin Parnell said of the graduated seniors. "We had a lot of all-conference and All-America honors in that group. But that is coaching, you are going to have really good groups and you have to find a way to get that next really good group."
 
For Parnell, he knows the new team will look different. Nine returning players are back, adding five true freshmen and a junior college transfer – with the lead up to the season much different than the past seasons.
 
"The scary part is the uncertainty. With the seniors the last 2-3 years, we knew the preseason was going to be smooth. You did minimal teaching, the guys knew what is expected and how to operate and how big every game is. I think why that group had so much success is that they had been through it so many times. With the new group, there is so much more teaching and have to get them up to speed. At times in practice, we look great at times and at others, it looks like we have a long ways to go. It's part of the process.
It's been a great month, the guys have done everything we've asked. I think we will be better than most people might think."
 
The players new to the OIT program have impressive resumes – as all five true freshmen earned first-team All-State honors, including league MVP's from the Portland Interscholastic League and Three Rivers League – along with an NWAC All-American. The ability for the six players to step in immediately will be key to the Owls success.
 
"Coach (Mitch) Fink spent a lot of time on the road recruiting and identifying and we signed maybe one of the best classes we've ever signed," Parnell said. "We are long, athletic and can shoot the ball. IQ wise for a freshman, a lot of them are in a good spot – but they are still freshmen. They have to get used to the pace and speed of the game, the strength and physicality of our league. But they have to learn, first and foremost to bring it every night, every practice – always bringing your best."
 
The big question mark for the squad is who will be the floor general, as Guerra, an NAIA All-American, has moved on to Idaho State for his graduate season. Two returners – Sean Chris Tresvant and Kaden Groenig, along with two newcomers, freshman Owen Nathan and junior Colby Whicker – are locked in a battle, which won't be decided until game week.
 
Tresvant, in his third season, played in 17 games as Guerra's back-up, averaging two points per game and find a knack to get to the foul line – taking 36 free throw attempts despite playing just five minutes per game. Groenig saw action in five games and utilized his redshirt by playing in less that 20% of contests – recording five assists and three steals in his time on the court.
 
Both newcomers had stellar seasons in 2024-25. Nathan was named PIL Player of the Year at Roosevelt High, averaging 14 points, seven rebounds and a 6A best seven assists a game, earning all-state honors. Whicker led Southwestern Oregon CC to the NWAC title game, averaging 14 points a night in earning NWAC All-America honors.
 
"We've had the same point guard for four years and now that we've entered a new era of Oregon Tech basketball – it's been a battle," Parnell said of the crew. "We still haven't made a decision – we have four options that are very good players that each bring something different. It will be interesting to see who we start Game 1, who will break through in the next week. It is the catalyst of our offense and when we have been good, we have had great point guards. I think there are 1-or-2 in this bunch – I know we are excited to see who separates themselves."
 
At the wing, the Owls will look different – as nine players will be competing for three spots.
 
Headlining the group is senior Dakota Reber, who was instrumental off the bench last season. The third-year player averaged seven points and three rebounds per game, converting 53% of his field goal attempts.
 
Alongside Reber will be a combination of four returning players – senior Grant Tull, junior Garrett Osborne, sophomore Jared Sucher and redshirt freshman Quincy Townsend.
 
Tull, in his fifth season, has served as a role player throughout his career – averaging three points and two rebounds, while converting 54% of his field goals last season. The same can be said for Osborne, a tremendous defender – who played key minutes during Tech's 2024 run to the CCC Tournament title.  Sucher played in 28 games a season ago, making 40% of his 3-point attempts, while Townsend used a redshirt year after five games played, but showed promise after tallying 10 points in a win over Warner Pacific.
 
"You have guys who have been waiting their turn, and we've preached loyalty in this program," Parnell said. "We will recruit you when you are young and help you develop and pay your dues and know your time is going to come. Guys who haven't got a ton of minutes or meaningful minutes the last couple years are more than capable and are ready. They are at such a different level than say an incoming freshman – their mentality, physicality, psyche. I am excited for those guys, who have put in their work, to have an opportunity to have the fruits of their labor shine. The Grant Tull's, the Garrett Osborne's, will have a huge impact this year. Garrett is such a tremendous athlete and plays within himself and is such a great defensive player. Grant is someone who deserved to play last year but was behind a multiple-time all-conference player. He can really score and really shoot."
 
Squarely in the mix are four talented freshmen that will play a lot of minutes.
 
Gylan Payne, the TRL Player of the Year at Oregon City High, will lead the group. The 6-foot-5 wing averaged 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists as a senior, earning 6A All-State honors. James Kefgen, from Westview High, earned 6A All-State honors – setting a school record as a senior by connecting on 83 3-point attempts. Mason Bierbrauer, Sam Barlow High, averaged 16 points and six boards a night, earning 6A All-State honors in leading his club to the state title. Crater product Kyle Bittle was a 5A All-State pick, averaging 20 points and seven rebounds a game.
 
"I think with length and athleticism, we will defend better," Parnell said. "We aren't a big team on the interior but are very big at three positions – we will have multiple line-ups with 6-5, 6-6, 6-7 in there. This group is long, we have multiple guys who are extremely athletic and play above the rim – their length is going to cause issues defensively."
 
On the block, junior Jackson Cooper will anchor the paint – coming off a season in which he averaged nine points and five rebounds per game. The 6-foot-8 post made 51% of his field goal attempts and scored 10-or-more points 14 times – a player Parnell is excited for.
 
"Jackson Cooper is the guy. He is our leader, he has had an incredible preseason and I expect him to be one of the better players in the Cascade Conference. He can pass, he can shoot, he can attack – he is a little bit of everything – we expect him to have a phenomenal year."
 
Also expected to have an expanded role is junior Logan Thebiay. The 6-foot-10 post saw action in 14 games last season, averaging two points and two rebounds, making 67% of his field goal chances.
 
The upcoming preseason schedule is a daunting one – as preseason foes Southern Oregon and Arizona Christian reached the final site of the NAIA Tournament, both The Master's and Hope International qualified for the NAIA Tournament, while both Our Lady of the Lake from Texas and Simpson will both be quality opponents.  
 
But, as Parnell says, a tough preseason schedule is key for the Owls development and success.
 
"In the past, there have been teams in our league that hurt our RPI and strength of schedule, so we have to make up for that in the preseason. I also do not want to bring any false confidence into this team – we know we are going to face tough opponents' and we aren't going to get better beating a bad opponent. We will get better by playing potential national tournament teams and find out early that this is the level we need to get to."
 
The rigors of the Cascade Conference will challenge the Hustlin' Owls – as preseason favorite College of Idaho is coming off a NAIA national title, Southern Oregon is coming off a trip to the national quarterfinals, with Lewis-Clark State and Eastern Oregon each boasting talented recruiting classes. But for Parnell – wins and losses are crucial – but just as important is the development of his players.
 
"The problem with the coaching profession is it is so publicly results driven. If you don't have a good win-loss record, it is a failure. But, in reality, it is what you put your identity into. Is it winning? Everyone wants a piece of that – but want our identity to be getting better every practice, every week of the season and build, sustain and increase the culture that is the lasting legacy of Oregon Tech basketball. That is why we have been successful year in and year out. It's about who you become and set yourself up for success in life as a person, a husband, a father – that is what we build around. However, winning ballgames can't get lost in that, we have a job to do on the court and will put our players in the best possible position to get that done."
 
The Hustlin' Owls open their season next Friday against Southern Oregon, followed by a Saturday exhibition match-up against the Seattle Mountaineers.