A new era of Navy men’s basketball will dawn Monday night. Jon Perry will be striding the sidelines as head coach for the first time when Navy travels to South Carolina to play Presbyterian in the season opener.

Perry takes over the program from Ed DeChellis, who retired after 14 seasons at the helm of the Midshipmen. After serving as associate head coach for 12 years, Perry was promoted to become the 20th head coach in Navy men’s basketball history on March 19.

After seven months in the top position, Perry is ready to get his inaugural season going.

“It’s a blessing and I’m just enjoying every day with this great group of young guys and trying to serve them to the best of my ability,” he said.

Perry inherits a team that returns all five starters and standout sixth man Mike Woods. Having so much proven production in the lineup is why Navy was picked as the preseason favorite in the Patriot League. The Midshipmen bring back 90% of their scoring, rebounding and assists.

After falling to American in the Patriot League Tournament championship game last season, Navy is looking to take the next step and earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

“We only got to the championship game last season and that’s not good enough for me or for any of the guys in that locker room. We still have a lot to prove,” Perry said. “That preseason ranking doesn’t win us a game or get us a trophy or do anything for us.”

Navy will once again be led by senior point guard Austin Benigni, who was chosen as the preseason Patriot League Player of the Year. Benigni was a first team All-Patriot League selection last season after averaging 18.8 points and 4.3 assists. He led the conference in scoring and free throw shooting percentage (86.3) and ranked second in assists.

Benigni is well known for his hard-charging style and ability to take the ball to the basket with reckless abandon. He led the league and ranked fifth nationally in both free throws attempted (255) and made (220).

Perry said Benigni’s is focused completely on “hanging a banner here before he leaves” and could care less about individual accolades.

“Austin is a hard worker and extremely smart young man. His basketball IQ is high and just keeps on getting higher every day,” Perry said. “He’s tough and not afraid to sacrifice his body. He’s the first guy in the gym and the last one to leave. He has a  lot of pride for the name on the front of the jersey and a lot of passion because he loves the game of basketball.”

Jordan Pennick led Navy men's basketball last season with 62 made 3-pointers. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)

Wing guard Jordan Pennick was the only other player to average in double digits a year ago, putting up 10.7 points per game on the strength of a team-high 62 made 3-pointers. The Spalding product tied for second on the squad in steals (31) and was third in assists (50).

Perry noted that Pennick routinely guards the opponent’s top perimeter scoring threat, especially players that like to penetrate.

“Jordan has a great work ethic and always brings effort every day. His decision-making has improved, his vision and passing have improved,” Perry said. “Jordan is a guy that can knock down some perimeter shots and stretch the floor. He brings great intensity on the defensive end and has a great ability to keep the ball in front of him.”

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Senior center Aiden Kehoe is coming off a breakout season that saw him almost average a double-double with 9.0 points and 8.9 rebounds. The 6-foot-11, 246-pound pivot posted eight double-doubles, second-most in the Patriot League.

Kehoe provided a much-needed post presence on offense and led Navy with 37 blocked shots. He led the conference in offensive rebounds per game (3.38).

“We’re going to play through Aidan a lot. He gives us a post presence and is a big part of what we want to do as far as playing inside-out,” Perry said.

Senior forward Donovan Draper is another double-double threat who averaged 8.4 points and 8.2 rebounds in 2024-25. Perry is pushing the long-armed 6-foot-6 Draper to improve both of those figures while providing more consistent play.

Draper, who has the potential to be an All-Patriot League performer, led Navy with 52 steals while ranking second in assists (71) and blocks (22).

“Donovan is extremely coachable and has a growth mindset. He’s been putting in the extra work and is starting to figure out how he can score and when he can score,” Perry said. “We need Donovan to score more. He’s one of our best passers because he’s got great vision and really sees the floor well. He is going to be an important part of who we are as a team this season.”

Rounding out the list of returning starters is junior guard Jinwoo Kim, whose 40% shooting from beyond the arc was tops on the team. Kim only took 92 3-pointers, almost half the amount of Pennick. Perry would like to see the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Kansas native attempt more since he is one of the team’s best perimeter shooters.

Woods was outstanding as the sixth man last season and played particularly well down the stretch after DeChellis decided to use him in the five spot in relief of Kehoe. Although undersized at 6-foot-4, Woods scored in double figures in four of the last seven games with most of the baskets coming down low.

Navy has promoted Jon Perry to be its men’s basketball coach. (Courtesy of Navy Athletics)

Perry has nicknamed Woods “flex” because that is what he does after making a big play. The Upper Marlboro resident was voted captain by teammates and has taken that role very seriously.

“Mike is a guy that uses really good judgment and never compromises our standards. He empowers and encourages his teammates,” Perry said. “Mike speaks with great conviction and, most importantly, he leads by example every day.”

Perry and the rest of the coaching staff will spend the nonconference portion of the schedule trying to develop the rotation. Senior guard Cam Cormany, junior guard Cam Cole and sophomore swingman David Burnett have shown they are ready to contribute off the bench.

Navy is thin in the frontcourt behind Kehoe and Perry is hopeful sophomore Cooper Jackson (6-7, 228) and freshman Jerry Ashley Jr. (6-8, 225) can develop to the point of providing quality minutes.

That is going to be a continuous question as to how we develop the bench as we go through the season,” Perry said. “I’m not sure how deep we will be early, but I’m hopeful we can play nine or 10 guys by the time we get into the Patriot League season.”

Knowing this was a veteran team with the potential to capture a Patriot League Tournament title, Perry built a schedule that features several schools that played in the NCAA Tournament last season. Navy has road games against North Carolina and Penn State, while its opponent in the Veterans Classic, Yale, is the defending Ivy League champion.

Navy also plays at North Carolina-Wilmington, which won 32 games on the way to capturing the Coastal Athletic Association crown.

“Our guys are ready and eager to go into environments like that. We’ll learn a lot about our team by playing teams like North Carolina, Penn State and UNC-Wilmington,” Perry said.

Have a news tip? Contact Bill Wagner at bwagner@capgaznews.com, 443-534-0102 and x.com/@BWagner_CapGaz.