By Jeff Honza
Associate Director of Athletics for Strategic Communications
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Basketball has taken
Brendan Terry across the United States and through his travels he has embraced diverse experiences that have shaped his character both on and off the court.
From the Pacific Coast to the Atlantic Coast to the banks of the Mississippi River, Terry has seen value in good people everywhere he's been and constantly surrounds himself with those who make a difference in his life.
A native of Santa Monica, California, Terry grew up close to the iconic Santa Monica Pier where scenes from movies like Rocky III, Forrest Gump, Beverly Hills Cop III and many others were filmed over the years.
Terry graduated from Crossroads High School and traveled over 2,000 miles to Pensacola, Florida. There, he played two seasons at Pensacola State College and led the Pirates in rebounding during the 2023-24 campaign.
Following his sophomore season at Pensacola State, Terry wasn't receiving much Division I interest so he turned to social media for help.
"I reached out to Jake Lieberman, and we talked a bit. Jake made a post about me with my highlights and that is how I got noticed," recalled Terry.
Lieberman is from St. Louis and well known for his recruiting news and high school/college basketball coverage. SEMO Assistant Coach
LaDon Champagnie saw Lieberman's post and initially contacted Terry. Things fell into place after that.
"I felt like we had a good connection from the start. There was a lockout period for visits, so I couldn't come to Cape Girardeau to see the campus. Instead, we did a virtual visit. Three or four days later, I committed. Everything felt right," explained Terry.
In his first season of NCAA Division I basketball, Terry earned Second-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors helping lead SEMO to its first outright OVC regular-season title in program history. He led the team with 24 blocks, ranked third in scoring (11.2 ppg) and rated second in rebounding (4.5 rpg) as one of two players who started all 33 games.
Following his productive 2024-25 season, Terry decided to stay at SEMO and finish out his college career.
"I'm excited to continue my journey with the Redhawks and have big goals for the upcoming 2025-26 year both individually and as a team," he said. "It was clear to me from the beginning that this is the place I want to grow as a player and a person. The community has welcomed me with open arms, and I feel at home here."
Terry considers himself a "neat freak" and the way he plays basketball often parallels how he handles his business.
"I like to keep my living space clean and organized. I make my bed every day and clean regularly. It's just simple things like that which help me stay focused and disciplined in other areas of my life," said Terry. "I love expanding my horizons, learning new things and finding unique hobbies."
In his spare time, Terry enjoys playing chess and even joined the Chess Club in his first semester at SEMO. He also has a newfound passion for cooking and uses that as an outlet to showcase his creativity.
"I started playing chess when I moved to Florida and continued it ever since. It is a strategic game that keeps me engaged and helps me think critically," quoted Terry. "I try to cook meals perfectly so I can post pictures and show people the progress I've made."
With the season-opener at Saint Louis less than two weeks away, Terry is anxious to see where his transformative voyage leads him next.
"The mindset of being open-minded and adaptable has translated into basketball and I am thankful for that," said Terry. "As a leader, I want to communicate with my teammates in different ways, understanding that each person responds differently. It's about finding the right balance between tough love and encouragement. I'm excited to see what we accomplish this year."
