ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Head coach Kyle Gerdeman from Lindenwood men's basketball has announced the first four additions to the 2025-26 roster. Lindenwood is coming off their best Division I season in program history after finishing 16-17 with a 10-10 Ohio Valley Conference record. The Lions also won their first game at the OVC Championships with a win over Morehead State.

"I am very excited about this group of signees," said Gerdeman on the first four addition to the 2025-26 roster. "The coaching staff did a great job of identifying players that not only could come in and fit our system and style of play, but are high character, hardworking young men. They all have an energy and passion for the game of basketball that really stood out during the recruiting process."

Robert Lewis
St. Louis, Mo. | Forward | 6-9 | Senior | Arkansas Pine-Bluff
Returning to the St. Louis area, Robert Lewis transfers to Lindenwood after spending the last three seasons at Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Lewis played in 51 career games for the Lions starting 28 of them. He averaged 19 minutes a night for APB averaging 4.3 points per game and 3.5 rebounds. Lewis shot 50.9% from the field over his career while making 88 field-goals.
 
Lewis played in just six games during the 2024-25 season before suffering a season-ending injury. Before his injury, Lewis started all six games averaging 7.2 ppg and 6.3 rpg. He scored a career-high 16 points against Jackson State during the 2023-24 season while shooting 8-11 from the floor. During his sophomore season, Lewis had his best year playing in 28 games while starting 11 of them. Lewis averaged 4.7 ppg while shooting 59.6% from the floor.
 
Prior to his collegiate career, Lewis attended Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School located right in St. Louis, Mo. Lewis averaged 21.8 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game and 2.1 blocks per game during his senior season while making the All-State Missouri team.
 
Dontrez Williams
Sikeston, Mo. | Guard | 6-5 | Sophomore | Abilene Christian
Dontrez Williams returns to the state of Missouri after playing his freshman season at Abilene Christian. Williams played in 29 games for the Wildcats while averaging 5.6 points per game and 2.4 rebounds per game. Across 29 games, Williams averaged 15.3 minutes a night while shooting 43.8% from the field. Williams scored a career-high 16 points twice last season against Howard Payne and Hardin-Simmons. He played a career-high 27 minutes at Southern Utah where he scored 12 points on 5-9 shooting.

Prior to his time at ACU, Williams was a two-time All-State selection at Sikeston High School. He was a three-time All-Conference and three-time All-District selection while being named the Class 5, District 1 Player of the Year during his senior season. As a junior, Williams averaged 20.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.7 apg and 1.9 spg.

During his time at Sikeston, he was also named a two-time Academic All-State selection. A dual-sport athlete, Williams placed sixth in the high jump at the Missouri Track and Field State Championships (Class 4) and was part of the Class 4 District 1 Boys 4x200 championship relay team.
 
Mekhi Cooper
Bolingbrook, Ill. | Guard | 6-1 | Junior | Miami (OH)
Mekhi Cooper has played in 65 games over his first two seasons at Miami of Ohio making 63 starts. During the 2024-25 season, Cooper played and started in 34 games averaging 5.8 points per game, 2.5 rebounds per game, and 2.7 assists per game in 23.6 minutes per night. He scored in double-figures nine times last season including a season-high 14 points against Defiance and Bowling Green. Against Northern Illinois this season, Cooper had a career-high six steals in a 87-58 win.
 
In his freshman season, Cooper appeared in 31 games making 29 starts at the point guard position. He scored in double-figures eight times during his first season at Miami (OH) including a career-high 17 points against Marshall while making three three-pointers. During the season, he averaged 6.3 points per game and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 38.8% from the field and 32.1% from three.
 
Cooper attended Bolingbrook High School where he reached the century mark during his senior season, scoring over 1,000 points for his career. In his junior season, he averaged 15.0 points per game, 4.0 assists per game and 3.0 rebounds a game. He made the All-Conference team during his junior and senior seasons while making All-State during his junior year.
 
Kevin Anthony
Chicago, Ill. | Forward | 6-10 | Junior | Wabash Valley College
 
Kevin Anthony joins the Lindenwood men's basketball program after spending his first two seasons at Wabash Valley College. The Chicago, Ill. native appeared in 29 games last season averaging 5.9 points per game while shooting 62.0% from the floor. The 6-10 forward also averaged 4.2 rebounds a night and had 10 performances where he grabbed at least six rebounds. Anthony scored a season-best 15 points in a 69-66 win at Rend Lake College.