Senior forward Raysean Seamster and sophomore forward Cameron Jackson both joined the UTA men’s basketball team in the 2024-25 season. Jackson and Seamster said they have a brotherly chemistry with the rest of the team.
Of the 13 student-athletes that played for the 2024-25 UTA men’s basketball team, five graduated, six transferred and only two stayed: senior forward Raysean Seamster and sophomore center Cameron Jackson.
Both joined the team last season, with Seamster transferring from Eastern Arizona University and Jackson committing as a freshman from Weiss High School in Pflugerville, Texas.
Their reasons for coming to Arlington differed. Seamster already had connections, primarily with assistant coach Jeremy Pope, mentioning the team felt like a family from the beginning. Meanwhile, proximity was the key to Jackson’s recruitment.
“One big thing through the whole high school recruiting process is being able to stay home and close to family,” Jackson said. “Then also UTA in general, it’s believed in me. They saw ways I could grow my game and really develop.”
The two had different initial plans after finishing the 2024-25 season. While Seamster considered leaving the Mavericks before being convinced to stay, Jackson knew he was staying planted in Arlington.
Seamster said he was originally in the transfer portal, but when he realized he had career-defining opportunities, he reconsidered. It was eventually a call from head coach KT Turner that fully convinced the forward to stay in Arlington for his senior year.
Jackson’s plan from the beginning was to stay a Maverick for his sophomore year. He said he had a bond with the coaches and felt they cared about him not just athletically or academically, but personally.
Sophomore forward Cameron Jackson committed to the UTA men’s basketball team as a freshman for the 2024-25 season. Jackson said he hopes to grow more this season.
While the duo differs in what kept them playing home games at College Park Center, they align in leadership of the new-look Maverick roster. They join four freshmen and eight transfers, including one who transferred last season but didn’t play.
“As far as plays go, we run the same stuff as last year, so I’m making sure they’re all in their spot, knowing where they need to be,” Jackson said. “So as far as helping them out in any aspect, really making settling in as easy as possible, because I know how it was for myself last year.”
Both agree that despite the relatively high number of newcomers, the team has had chemistry from the get-go.
“I feel like we’re brothers for real. Our first week here, we were all hanging out, doing stuff, just outside of basketball,” Seamster said. “We were just outside, doing what we had to do, playing the game, just talking, watching film, watching other games that were going on, just doing anything we can to build that bond to get closer.”
Jackson first met some of the newcomers at a meetup at a coach’s house. Immediately, the teammates hit it off, buying into the program and wanting to help each other win.
“It really was easy, and that just translates on the court. You just trust them more,” Jackson said.
Senior forward Raysean Seamster is one of two returners for the UTA men’s basketball 2025-26 season. Seamster was the second-highest scorer and rebounder on the team for the 2024-25 season.
Last year, Seamster was the second-highest scorer and rebounder on the team. Meanwhile, Jackson averaged only about eight minutes played per game.
Jackson saw last year, he hopes to play significantly more now to show the staff his ability and gain their trust.
“Just keep growing my role, getting the coaches to trust me and show more of what I can do. Eight minutes wasn’t really enough to showcase my talents,” Jackson said.
Both players want the same thing for the team: the Western Athletic Conference championship.
“We really thought last year we were going to get it, so it was sad we came up pretty short,” Jackson said. “But this year we just want to win the WAC.”
With this likely being Seamster’s final year playing college basketball, the experienced returner wants to go out with several notable accolades, specifically mentioning the WAC Player of the Year, WAC Defensive Player of the Year, WAC All-Conference First Team, and WAC All-Defensive Team.
“I think I’m going to go for the clean sweep,” Seamster said.
KT Turner wasn’t the only person who convinced Seamster to stay a Maverick. The senior’s brothers laid out the opportunity for the year ahead, not just for Seamster but for the entirety of the UTA basketball team.
“Come back. The WAC is wide open,” Seamster’s brothers told him. “You can go out there and dominate, but also win the WAC Championship. If you eat, everybody eats.”
@TyRoland06