UAA Men's Basketball Season Opener: Turner Era Begins Against Evergreen State

Cameron Turner takes the helm at Alaska Anchorage

For the first time in 22 years, the University of Alaska Anchorage men’s basketball program will operate under a new head coach. Cameron Turner officially begins his tenure this week as the Seawolves open their 2026-27 season against Evergreen State, according to reports from goseawolves.com.

The transition marks a significant shift for a program that has maintained a high level of stability, having seen only seven head coaches in its 48-year history. Turner, who previously served as a graduate assistant for UAA from 2011 to 2017, returns to Anchorage following a highly successful four-year run as the head coach at Eastern Arizona College (EAC). During his time with the Gila Monsters, Turner compiled a .748 winning percentage, leading the program to back-to-back conference and regional championships in 2023-24 and 2024-25.

The stakes for this new era are immediate. UAA is attempting to build upon a recent season where the team went 21-11 and reached the NCAA Tournament. While the coaching staff is new, the roster carries significant veteran presence, headlined by reigning GNAC Preseason Player of the Year Sylas Williams.

A roster defined by rapid change

While Williams provides a steady foundation, the composition of the Seawolves’ squad has undergone a massive overhaul. The team is integrating 11 newcomers, nine of whom are transfers. This heavy reliance on new talent is a calculated move to inject fresh energy into a program that finished fourth in the GNAC preseason coaches’ poll.

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The incoming talent pool is a mix of Division I experience and junior college depth. The roster features several players who have moved through various competitive tiers to reach Anchorage:

Player	Previous Program	Role/Background
Sylas Williams	Returning Starter	GNAC Preseason Player of the Year
Walker Timme	Southern Idaho (JC)	5th-year player; 11.1 ppg
Will Kuykendall	Arizona/Baylor (D-I)	Junior Guard
Karim Elgizawy	Laramie County CC	Junior Guard; 12.1 ppg
Tarrance Warren	Barry (D-II)	Senior Guard; rejoins Coach Turner
Joseph Mayberry	McLennan CC	Senior Guard; 11.0 ppg

This influx of players creates a unique challenge for Turner. He must quickly synchronize the disparate playing styles of Division I athletes, junior college standouts, and returning local talent to maintain the defensive identity that defined the Seawolves’ previous successful campaign.

The defensive standard remains the priority

Despite the roster turnover, the blueprint for success in Anchorage is rooted in defensive efficiency. Last season, UAA established itself as a powerhouse in the GNAC, leading the conference in scoring defense (64.5 ppg), rebounds allowed (30.6 per game), and assists per game (17.3). These metrics placed them among the top 20 programs nationally in several categories, including assist-to-turnover ratio and scoring defense.

The ability to control the tempo through defense is a hallmark of the program’s recent history. In the 2025-26 season, the Seawolves were particularly dominant when holding leads, posting a 16-1 record when leading at halftime. For Turner to replicate this success, his new-look roster must master the defensive rotations that allowed UAA to force 14.6 turnovers per game last year.

Sylas Williams will be the primary anchor for this effort. The Washington native enters the season as the GNAC’s leading rebounder, coming off a season where he averaged 7.7 rebounds per game. His ability to secure defensive boards and initiate transitions will be critical as the team attempts to integrate its nine new transfers into a cohesive defensive unit.

Community impact and the season kickoff

The season opener is more than just a basketball game; it serves a broader civic purpose in the Anchorage community. The first game, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 6, at 11 a.m. AST at the Alaska Airlines Center, features an unusual tip-off time to accommodate more than 2,800 Anchorage School District fifth-graders. This “Slam Dunk Into Higher Education” event, sponsored by Premera, aims to connect local students with collegiate athletics and higher education opportunities.

Evergreen State at Idaho (Men's Basketball) | Full Game Highlights | 12.14.2025

The weekend series against Evergreen State, an NAIA program from Olympia, Washington, provides a testing ground for the Seawolves. While these games serve as exhibitions for the visiting Geoducks, they count toward UAA’s official season record. The Seawolves hold a 2-0 historical advantage over Evergreen State, including an 80-48 victory in their last meeting on Nov. 8, 2025.

Schedule and Access Details

Friday, Nov. 6, 11:00 a.m. AST: Evergreen State at Alaska Anchorage (Alaska Airlines Center)
Saturday, Nov. 7, 4:15 p.m. AST: Evergreen State at Alaska Anchorage (Alaska Airlines Center)
Live Streaming: Available via the GNAC Network portal at gnacnetwork.com/uaaseawolves
Tickets: Available at GoSeawolves.com

The transition from a long-standing coaching era to the Cameron Turner era brings both the promise of new tactical approaches and the uncertainty of roster integration. Whether the Seawolves can maintain their status as a top-tier GNAC contender depends largely on how quickly this collection of transfers can adopt the defensive discipline that has become the program’s signature.