Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina's 2025-26 men's basketball season preview begins with a look at the wings, focusing on a trio of returning players who are joined by a freshman joining the program to round out the quartet.
WCU's 2025 position preview on CatamountSports.com continues with both the guards and forwards heading into the opening of the schedule in Cincinnati on Nov. 3.
Catamount men's basketball looks to redshirt senior Chase McKey, along with redshirt junior and preseason All-Southern Conference selection Marcus Kell, to lead the group, along with returning redshirt freshman Max Williams and true freshman Tayeshaun Smith (Raleigh, N.C.).
In his debut season for WCU a year ago, McKey made an immediate impact, seeing action in 28 contests for the Purple & Gold with four starts, including a pair in SoCon play against Chattanooga and The Citadel. He made his presence known right off the top in Cullowhee with 13 points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting in his debut against Bob Jones University.
McKey was an efficient 46-of-91 (50.5%) from the field last season to rank second on the squad. He was one of five players to eclipse the 100-rebound plateau, posting 17 games with at least four boards. McKey finished 72.4% from the free throw line, while dishing out 22 assists, 11 steals, and four blocks as the Atlanta, Ga. native averaged 16.5 minutes per game.
After not seeing game action during the 2023-24 season, redshirt junior Marcus Kell made waves throughout the SoCon in '25-26 with an impressive 352 points scored at an 11.7 clip, as he averaged 14.7 points per game in league games a season ago. The Preseason All-SoCon selection also garnered back-to-back SoCon Player of the Week awards during the middle portion of February.
Kell scored in double figures 16 times, including the final 12 games of the season, with a career-best 31 on the road at Chattanooga. He was able to tally three double-doubles in league action against UNCG, ETSU & Mercer, reaching double figures 14 times in total. The Fort Mill, S.C., product connected on 44 3-pointers at a 37.9% clip, leading the squad while also pulling down 164 total rebounds in 15 games with six or more rebounds. Kell paced the Catamounts in blocks with 26 while making 65 free throws in SoCon play at an 80.2% rate.
Kell and McKey are joined by a pair of wings that are looking to make an impact in the 2025-26 season as Max Williams returns, coming off his redshirt season, and newcomer to Western Carolina, Tayeshaun Smith from Raleigh, N.C.
Williams joined Western Carolina before the 2024-25 season after spending a prep season at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia, where his squad posted a 31-7 record and finished fifth nationally in the rankings. Fork Union also claimed the elite prep league title. Before his time at Fork Union, Williams played at Hanover High in Virginia, where his team was selected to play in the Shenandoah Valley All-Star game and set the single-season wins record.
Smith comes to Cullowhee after a successful prep career that included stints with the Combine Academy and 1 of 1 Academy in the Charlotte area. In 2024-25 at Combine Academy with the Blue Checks squad as part of the Overtime Elite Prep League, he averaged 10.0 points per game along with 8.0 boards, while also being a mainstay on the defensive end by ranking amongst the top five in the league in blocked shots.
Smith additionally played with the Overtime Elite League, which is a program that has produced NBA talents like Alex Sarr of the Washington Wizards and both Ausar (Detroit Pistons) and Amen Thompson (Houston Rockets).
Western Carolina opens the 2025-26 season on Wednesday, Oct. 29, in exhibition play against Brevard inside the friendly confines of Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center. The game is free of charge to all patrons, with season ticket holders gaining access to their seasonal seats. The regular season opens with a road bout at Big 12 foe Cincinnati on Nov. 3, before traveling in-state to Duke on Nov. 8. WCU opens its home slate on Nov. 13 against Voorhees University out of Denmark, S.C.
Each home game throughout the 2025-26 season is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), with live audio coverage from the Catamount Sports Network kicking into full gear after the football season (check listings).
Season tickets for the home portion of the 2025-26 Catamount men's and women's basketball seasons are on sale now through the first-floor Ramsey Center Ticket Office, by phone at (828) 227-2401, and online at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets. Options include tickets for men's or women's and an "all-hoops" package for every home game in the Ramsey Center for both squads. Single-game tickets for both squads are also on sale.
Keep track of everything related to Catamount men's basketball and WCU Athletics through our social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@catamountmbb @wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@CatamountMBB @catamounts).
