Finding his role

Published 12:33 pm Thursday, January 22, 2026

Cherenfant fitting in for McNeese

Last spring, when Carl Cherenfant entered the transfer portal, he knew very little about McNeese State. 

In fact, he really had only heard of the school because of its famous manager, Amir Khan, who had taken the college basketball world by storm.

“Everybody heard of him last year,” said Cherenfant. “He was everywhere during the NCAA Tournament.”

Khan became the Cowboys’ most recognizable name after his pregame video hype with the team went viral last year.

However, he was not the reason the 6-foot-5 Cherenfant transferred from New Mexico State to McNeese.

“I knew they were a winning team and I like to win,” said Cherenfant. “I knew that, and I knew (head coach Bill) Armstrong.”

The two crossed paths when Cherenfant was looking for a college, and Armstrong, a then LSU assistant under former McNeese head coach Will Wade, recruited him. 

“I’ve known Carl a long time, and we liked the way he played,” said Armstrong. “He plays with effort and energy. He brings a lot of leadership as well.”

Cherenfant didn’t go to LSU after a coaching change; he started his college career at Memphis. The four-star recruit spent a year at each school after his time at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., according to 247Sports.

Now a junior, Cherenfant has found a home with the 15-4 Cowboys. He’s become a big part of Armstrong’s rotation and has moved into the starting lineup. 

Cherenfant has played in all 19 games, starting in 11 of them. He is averaging 5.5 points and 4.1 rebounds while playing solid defense.

“Carl understands where he can help us win, and that is with effort, energy, and his leadership,” said Armstrong. “Other players listen to what he says on the court and in practice.”

Cherenfant is coming off his best game as a Cowboy, scoring 13 points and pulling down seven rebounds in last Monday’s McNeese win at Corpus Christi. 

“It took some time for all of us to get used to each other,” said Cherenfant. “I think it is coming together.”

And Cherenfant is finding his role and expanding it as needed. 

“I’m a jack of all trades,” said Cherenfant. “I affect winning in a lot of different ways and have an impact on games. That makes it easier because I don’t have to rely on one thing.

“Whether it’s rebounding, scoring, or guarding a specific person, I think that is my role on that night. I just try to figure out and do all the little things to win. That’s my role within the team, do what I need to do to help us win.”

Cherenfant doesn’t run from high expectations and was happy to join the McNeese program. The Cowboys have won back-to-back Southland Conference titles and made the last two NCAA tournaments.

“Winning is the ultimate pressure that you can have, and it’s a standard that everyone should want at the end of the day,” said Cherenfant. “I appreciate having that pressure.”

The Cowboys enter this weekend a game behind Stephen F. Austin for first place. McNeese has already beaten SFA and will play the team again. Every game from this point will come with pressure for Cherenfant and his teammates.

“That’s the way we like it,” said Cherenfant.

He’s come to the right place.