Welcome to my team preview series for 2024-25. Each day between now and the start of the college basketball season, I will preview one team or conference, both on Instagram (@collegehoopsoutlet) and through an article here. The preview will go in-depth on the roster build of the team, my expectations for their upcoming season, and the state of the program under their current head coach.
High Point (Projected: 1st in Big South)
If there’s a mid-major flying under the radar heading into 2024-25, High Point could be the one. Alan Huss took over the team last offseason, leading the Panthers through a tremendous regular season at 27-9 (13-3), but they fell short in the Big South Tournament. With a majority of players returning in 2024-25, the Panthers will be thinking it’s a tournament bid or bust this year.
Four starters return from last year’s team at High Point and even that list doesn’t include pure scorer Kezza Giffa (16 ppg). Giffa saw himself in a sixth man role last season, but played 30 mpg and finished second on the team in scoring. I would be surprised if he didn’t move himself into the starting lineup this season to give the team an extra boost with Duke Miles gone. Abdoulaye Thiam (13 ppg) played on the wing last season and started all 36 games for the Panthers. Thiam brings a bit of everything, scoring when needed, defending at a high level, and a good athlete. Trae Benham (8 ppg, 5 rpg) started all 36 games last season, but I think he will swap places with Giffa this upcoming season. Benham is a physical guard, a good rebounder, and can shoot it well from three (37% 3P). The final returning guard is Titas Sargiunas (3 ppg), a sophomore who saw limited as a freshman and could still be stuck in a depth role this season.
Two starters in the frontcourt, Kimani Hamilton (15 ppg, 7 rpg) and Juslin Bodo Bodo (7 ppg, 10 rpg), round out the list of returners. Hamilton was dominant in the Big South as just a sophomore last season, a guy who would’ve garnered attention from many power conference programs if he chose to enter the portal. Juslin Bodo Bodo (7 ppg, 10 rpg) likely would’ve been seen the same way, an elite rebounder as a freshman last season for the Panthers. With Hamilton and Bodo Bodo back, the Panthers have everything you could ask for in the frontcourt between the two of them. In my opinion, the duo should be tabbed as one of the best frontcourts outside the power five conferences.
Six players left High Point this offseason, but only the loss of Duke Miles (18 ppg, 4 apg) to Oklahoma will really sting the team. Bench guards Justin Taylor (3 ppg) and Bryson Childress (2 ppg) also left the backcourt for the Panthers alongside Miles. The Panthers’ frontcourt saw Cade Potter (3 ppg), Denzel Hines (2 ppg), and Pavlo Dziuba (1 ppg) depart.
Five transfers will look to impact the Panthers’ rotation in 2024-25. Liam McChesney (7 ppg at Illinois State in 2023) joined High Point last offseason, but redshirted this past season. McChesney is the only non-freshman backup big for the Panthers and could see himself in a decent role off the bench. Terry Anderson (13 ppg, 7 rpg at Lamar) won’t necessarily pop off the page if you’re just looking at base stats, but is a guy that will affect the game in a lot of ways for High Point. Anderson is extremely athletic and is both a good defender and rebounder, something that will be beneficial for the Panthers as an option off the bench.
D’Maurian Williams (0 ppg at Texas Tech) could be the most intriguing pickup of the class for Alan Huss. Williams struggled this past season at Texas Tech, battling injuries and playing in just seven games. In 2021-22 though, Williams was in the Big South at Gardner-Webb, averaging 15 ppg and 5 rpg en route to being named second team all-conference. As a mid-major program, when you have a guy coming off your bench who was an all-conference player in your league two years ago, you know your team is DEEP. Bobby Pettiford (8 ppg at ECU) isn’t as hot of a name is it was a handful of years ago, but Pettiford should still come in and be a formidable starting point guard at High Point. With so many options surrounding him, Pettiford’s assists numbers should see a massive jump as he steps into a lineup that should dominate its league. Chase Johnston (10 ppg at FGCU) is the final incoming transfer, a sharpshooter that struggled this past season before being shut down for the season due to injury in early December.
Two freshmen forwards round out the incoming class of players for Alan Huss. Braden Hausen, younger brother of Kansas State guard Brendan Hausen, stands at 6-7 and should give some extra depth to the three and four spots. Joshua Ibukunoluwa is a bit taller, and could see minutes as a freshman in the Panthers’ thin but talented frontcourt rotation.
Alan Huss has already proved himself as a head coach through just one season at High Point. The disappointing exit in the conference tournament semifinals in their home gym will give his squad something to fight for this season. You can’t win in March until you do, and Alan Huss will be looking to prove himself as a winner this upcoming season.
With a large number of guys back for High Point, the only real role that needs to be filled is the hole left by Duke Miles. Bobby Pettiford steps into his place in the starting lineup as the point guard, but in my opinion should be a pass-first guy and may not fill that scoring void. D’Maurian Williams is the guy I chose to be my X-factor for the reason that he can replace that scoring, as proven by his All-Big South campaign two seasons ago. Williams struggled to adapt to the Big 12 while at Texas Tech, but if he can return to the Big South and put up good numbers, the Panthers’ depth and talent will look even better.
To put it simply for High Point, with the amount of returning talent back and the amount of talented transfers coming in, anything less than an NCAA Tournament bid would be a disappointment. I’ve got the Panthers finishing 1st in the Big South by a relatively wide margin, likely 2-3 games in the conference standings.