Courtesy of UAPB Athletics
Golden Lions Athletics made a significant move to reaffirm the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff commitment to the Golden Lions Men’s Basketball program.
Vice Chancellor of Intercollegiate Athletics Chris Robinson announced that Golden Lions Men’s Basketball Head Coach Solomon Bozeman has agreed to a three-year extension to stay on with UAPB.
Coach Bozeman and UAPB basketball have achieved unprecedented success on the court and in the community that has helped transform our athletics department and university,” said Robinson. “We are excited that Solomon and his family are remaining as part of our UAPB family. He has made it clear to us that he wants to be here, and we have done likewise with him. We share a strong confidence in the present state of UAPB Men’s Basketball.”
In the last two years, coach Bozeman has brought an exciting style of basketball to UAPB; as a unit, the Golden Lions finished 39th in the nation in steals per game (8.1) and top-five in nine categories in the SWAC Conference, led by Arkansas native Shaun Doss who led the conference in scoring (548), averaging (17.7 ppg).
Under the leadership of Bozeman, his style of play raised the bar with UAPB men’s basketball student-athletes graduating and playing basketball on the professional level. In two years with the Golden Lions, Bozeman had five student-athletes sign professional contracts overseas: Dequan Morris, Trey Sampson, Chris Greene, Shawn Williams (2021-22 SWAC Newcomer of the Year & First-Team), and Shaun Doss Jr. (2022-23 SWAC First-Team).
With the season around the corner, the Golden Lions will return nine players of the 2022-23 team, including point guard Rashad Williams, a talented scorer, a transfer from St. Louis Billikens who sat out last year.
The Golden Lions also picked up four newcomers, including 2022-23 SWAC Preseason Player of the Year Joe French, who transferred from Bethune-Cookman. French, a playmaker with great range from behind the arch, averaged 9.8 ppg, scoring a career-high 31 points against Mississippi Valley St.
Coach Bozeman also picked up Lonnell Martin Jr., a transfer from Montana. Martin, a guard who can score with great basketball IQ, started 30 out of 31 games for the Grizzlies, averaging 6.6 points per game, scoring a career-high 18 points against Southern Miss.
