DURHAM — After a year with the University of New Hampshire men’s basketball team, Alex Tavares will take his talents south to play his final season with Southern Wesleyan University, a Division II program in central South Carolina.
“I’m ready for what’s next,” said Tavares, a 2019 graduate of Portsmouth High School who helped Great Bay Community College to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division 2 Small College national semifinals in 2023. “I’m excited to be granted this opportunity.”
Tavares was a preferred walk-on without a scholarship at UNH. Tavares, who got a full scholarship at Southern Wesleyan, appeared in five games last season for UNH, grabbing four rebounds in 10 minutes.
“(The scholarship) really changes everything,” Tavares said. “It allows me the opportunity to move away from home and get out of my bubble. I want to go as far as basketball will take me. I knew eventually it would take me away from Portsmouth and New Hampshire, and now it’s taking me away from New England.”
Tavares, who is listed at 6-foot-3, entered the transfer portal and then attended a three-day college showcase from May 17-19 in Atlanta, where he met Southern Wesleyan University head coach Joel Stites.
“Through our conversations and exchanging of film and words, I was really able to gain this gentleman’s trust,” Tavares said. “He believes in me, and I believe in him. I want to get down there and win.”
More: How Portsmouth graduate Alex Tavares achieved dream to join UNH men’s basketball
Stites, who was named head coach back in March, saw Tavares score 10 points and grab 12 rebounds in his final game of the showcase. Tavares and Stites exchanged numbers after the game, and stayed in contact.
Southern Wesleyan University is a private Christian school, and Tavares said he and Stites connected on “principles and morals.”
“Eventually, the basketball is just kind of how I tie it all in,” Tavares added.
Being a player with experience and going to team with a first-year head coach, Tavares spoke about how he could contribute to Southern Wesleyan, which went 4-24 last year, in his final season of eligibility.
“Hopefully take the program to a new direction,” Taveres said. “I really want to start (Stites) career off with being part of a winning team. I feel like changing the culture and bringing in someone like me is something that any team can benefit from.”
Tavares said the conversations surrounding his role remains up in the air, but he thinks he’ll be in a good position ‘to hit the ground running’ due to his experience.
“(Stites) wants me to play what he calls a point forward,” Tavares said. “He wants me to be able to get the ball and make a play. If I grab a defensive rebound, don’t be scared to push (the ball) in transition.”
Tavares added that Stites wants him to work on his catch and shooting, as SWU will run a motion-based offense.
“It’s a lot of driving and kicking, so if I’m open, he said, ‘shoot the shot’,” Tavares said. “He wants me to score at all three levels, and wants me to really contribute on the offensive and defensive end.”
