Cullowhee, N.C. – With a late summer roster opening, Western Carolina head men's basketball coach Tim Craft has made one final addition to the 2025-26 roster, welcoming Tahlan Pettway (Worcester, Mass.) to the squad for the upcoming season. Pettway has been with the men's basketball program throughout the fall semester, enrolled at the University, and was recently cleared for the upcoming 2025-26 season. 

Pettway comes to Cullowhee off a successful prep career in the New England region, as he picked up several NCAA Division I offers before joining the Catamounts. In 2023, he was a part of a Massachusetts State Championship before spending a season at The MacDuffie School in Granby, Mass. He's looking to follow in the DI footsteps of his older brother, Tanahj, who spent the 2024-25 season at Prairie View A&M.

Following a season at MacDuffie, Pettway decided to go down a different path, transferring to local powerhouse St. Thomas More. While originally intending to play two seasons with the Chancellors of STM, Pettway departed a year early – but his mark was certainly left. The incoming Catamount averaged over 11 points per game in the tournament, and an active stat line of nine points, five rebounds, and five assists in the finale. 

With the schedule officially released back on Aug. 12, Western Carolina opens the season 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.

All game times, home game promotions, and broadcast information will be released later this month, though most all home games will be available on ESPN+ (paid subscription required).

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