Never too early to talk about some college basketball, and a program that has earned our attention early here in North Carolina is UNC-Pembroke. Coming off a season in which they finished 25-7 and 18-2 in conference play, the staff will have a strong blend of returning players and new names coming into the program. We dive into what we know about the roster and what fans should be excited about this upcoming season.
Returning Players:
Nygel Verdier
Demar Anderson
Quay Watson: 7.0ppg, 33 made 3’s
Joel Pettiford: 8.9ppg, 6.0rpg
Jonathan Kurtas: 3.2ppg
New Faces Joining the Team:
Jullien Cole – The Academy Prep
Cole is a player we have highlighted on several occasions, and he produced recently on the Phenom Hoops platform. This is what we had to say:
“Watching Cole once again, you can see the 6’4 guard has put in the work, and he proved that he could be a D1 get for a program late. He has a great frame and plays well off the ball but is also a tough presence when attacking downhill and embracing contact. Cole finished downhill consistently and through defenders, as well as finding ways to get to the line. Add that on top of his ability to knock down open shots off the catch, Cole gave us a lot to like with his game.”
Mahmoud Bangura – LMU
Bangura is a 6’7 prospect that people should be excited about. He was able to get some valuable time and brought production at LMU last year, playing in 29 games. But before then, he was an absolute force at Coker in which he averaged 17ppg and 7rpg. Bangura could come in and be a big piece.
Dallas Whitney – Cowley CC
Whitney, another 6’6 prospect, will be an interesting piece to watch out for. He averaged 9.8ppg, 3.7rpg, and 2.7apg last year at Cowley, and produced much of the same the year before at Hutchinson CC.
Will Hopkins – Atlee High School
Hopkins is a 6’2 combo guard that helped lead Atlee High School in Virginia to a 26-1 record, proving to be a leader and scoring power on the court. He averaged 21.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.2apg, and 3.6spg to lead his team, as he was named 1st Team All-Metro and a Class 4 State Championship.
JP Ricks – Prairie View A&M
Ricks, who is a 6’1 guard, is coming off a season in which he averaged 2.3ppg, 1.7rpg, and 1.4apg. Before then, he played at Hutchinson CC, as he is one that should be able to provide depth at the guard position and will be counted on in a big way.
Marquin Thompson – GA Highlands CC
Thompson will be one to watch for, as he has experience and produced in a big way last year. He was an effective scoring guard averaging 12.1ppg, shooting 45 percent from the floor and being a threat from behind the arc at 45 percent. Last year alone, he hit 61 threes to help his team.
Tahj Johnson – Tallahassee CC
Johnson, a 6’8, 200-pound forward will be looked upon to provide impact with his size, experience, and ability to score well around the basket, knock down shots from multiple levels, and be an impact player on the glass. He averaged 9.3ppg, 6.4rpg, and 3.6apg last year while shooting 51 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three.