Chris Loofe entered the 2025-26 season with big shoes to fill.
Essam Mostafa’s size 14, to be exact.
After receiving considerable minutes in his first two years with Middle Tennessee State men’s basketball, including playing behind all-conference performer Mostafa last season, the junior center is getting his chance as a full-time starter.
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“I learned a lot, not only from (Mostafa) but from Jared Coleman-Jones (2023-24 starting center) too,” said Loofe, who had his first career double-double (10 points, 12 rebounds) in a season-opening 100-51 win over Milligan Nov. 5. “Those two guys were very active on the boards. I think that’s the main thing that I need to pick up this year that they had, and then just their ability to finish around the rim.”
Loofe, a 6-foot-11, 240-pound Texas native, averaged four points and 3.4 rebounds in about 14 minutes a game and led the team in blocks, playing behind Mostafa, who led MTSU in rebounding (9.2) and was second in points (14.5) as a graduate transfer.
With the Blue Raiders substituting freely in the season opener, Loofe earned 20 minutes, adding two assists and three blocks. His overall game, including outside shooting (2-of-2 from 3-point range) is something that gives confidence to coach Nick McDevitt.
“His activity is something that we need … his size, his mobility,” McDevitt said. “His ability to play really active and smart and defend and block shots and rebound without getting himself into foul trouble is important. Chris had a good day today and I think he is ready to have a really good season.”
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McDevitt noted a couple of moments in the game in which Loofe impressed him with his decision making. One of those came after hitting his first two 3-pointers. Loofe, who was 5-of-26 last season, soon had another open look from behind the arc but caught an open teammate cutting to the basket instead.
“I thought one of the more mature things that he did was (passing up the 3-pointer),” McDevitt said. “About a minute or two later he got another offensive rebound, could have slopped it up at the bucket, and he kicked it out to MJ Whitlock, who bangs in an open 3.”
New faces shine for MTSU in opener
Loofe and returning starters Kamari Lands (game-high 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting) and Torey Alston (eight points and six rebounds in just 14 minutes) were all key in MTSU jumping out to a 22-0 lead.
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However, in a game that saw five Blue Raiders in double figures and 12 players get at least nine minutes, MTSU received big production from some new faces.
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Penn State transfer Jahvin Carter, a former Alcoa star, came off the bench to score 12 points with a team-high eight assists and four steals in 21 minutes. Missouri-St. Louis transfer Savon Wykle, a former Smyrna standout, scored 10 points off the bench.
Carter is expected to log starter-type minutes at point guard.
Cecil Joyce covers high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at cjoyce@dnj.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: MTSU men’s basketball center Chris Loofe making a big impression
