ELON – Billy Taylor spent part of the summer testing lineups in Greece. As the Elon men's basketball team works toward its Nov. 2 season opener at Columbia, that experimentation continues on the practice floor.
 
With a largely new roster, the Phoenix has used those sessions to learn how to share the ball, defend together and make the most of different combinations on both ends.
 
"There's a huge learning curve for everybody to figure out who does what, how do guys play, how do you play together, how do you share the ball, how do you defend?" said Taylor, who is entering his fifth season as Elon's head coach.
 
Elon's Global Experience trip to Greece in August provided an early opportunity to explore those questions. Ten practices before departure and three games overseas allowed Taylor and his staff to try different lineups and see how players responded to challenges during games.
 
That experience also shaped the calendar. After a longer summer together, the Phoenix had a shorter fall buildup before official practice, balancing opportunities to learn with the demands of a long season.
 
Within that process, familiar faces have helped establish a foundation.
 
Junior guard Bryson Cokley, a Preseason All-CAA Second Team selection after averaging 12.3 points per game last season, brings an understanding of Taylor's system and confidence. Taylor sees a player capable of making a significant impact as he enters his second season with the Phoenix.
 
Senior guard and fellow second-year Phoenix Randall Pettus II supplies a similar familiarity, along with the defensive disruption Taylor saw in Greece. His ability to deflect passes, create steals and interrupt possessions complements his shooting from beyond the arc.
 
"Randall is a really good friend of mine. He has a lot of confidence, and so do I," Cokley said. "I feel like we're going to come in guns blazing; he feels like no one can guard him and I feel the same way (about my game). We play off of each other really well, so I'm really excited."
 
Returning forward Iker Garmendia also caught Taylor's attention during the summer with his rebounding and ability to finish around the basket.
 
Among the newcomers, Charlotte transfer Raúl Villar has impressed Taylor with his leadership and basketball IQ. His summer required repeated adjustments as he moved between preparations with Spain's U20 team – he and Garmendia helped lead Spain to the bronze medal at the 2026 FIBA U20 EuroBasket in July – and time with his new Elon teammates before the Greece trip.
 
"It was a lot that was asked of him, and he handled it all very well and with the right kind of mindset and the right approach," Taylor said.
 
New voices on the coaching staff are helping guide that development, too.
 
Steve Robinson, special assistant to the head coach, brings more than four decades of experience and three national championships. Assistant coach John Krikorian, who led Christopher Newport to the 2023 NCAA Division III national title, adds the energy, creativity and accountability Taylor values in daily work.
 
"There's just a tremendous amount of credibility," Taylor said of Krikorian and Robinson. "We're just incredibly grateful for their time, energy and contributions to the staff."
 
As the opener approaches, Taylor continues to evaluate how those players and perspectives fit together. Greece supplied useful lessons, and each new combination in practice gives the staff another opportunity to prepare for what games will demand.
 
"We're just trying to put our guys in as many different positions as possible to learn and so that we can try to move pieces in appropriate places as a game dictates it," Taylor said.
 
TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets, single-game tickets and flex packs for the 2026-27 Elon men's basketball season are on sale at ElonTickets.com.
 
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