2025-26 Gardner Webb Preview
The 2025-26 Big South Hoops Hub Preview of Gardner Webb
Gardner Webb:
Background and 24-25 Recap:
After the loss of Coach Tim Craft to nearby Western Carolina, Gardner Webb chose to keep it in-house, hiring longtime GWU assistant coach, Jeremy Luther, and Coach Luther was able to bring back two GWU studs in Anthony Selden from Rice and Jamaine Mann from Georgia State.
Sadly for Coach Luther, it wasn’t the season he would have wanted in Year 1, despite starting the season 4-3 and winning the Cancun Challenge. Gardner Webb entered conference play at a record of 5-8 and ended the season with a loss to High Point ending their season at 11-20.
Now after losing Selden and Mann to graduation and their budding star, Buddy Simmons to the portal, Coach Luther only returns two players from last season.
Returners:
G: Jacob Hudson
The most productive of the two scholarship returners, but isn’t saying too much. Hudson was a big piece off the bench last year for Gardner Webb, and his role became larger down the stretch playing over 20 mins in 3 conference games compared to 0 in the non-conference portion. Hudson averaged 4.1 PPG and 1.4 RPG in 13 MPG, but in his last 5 games he averaged 6 PPG and 1.5 RPG including an 11 point and 6 rebound game vs High Point.
Awards/Notable Facts:
Held offers from Iona, Siena and Fairfield before committing to Gardner Webb
G: Colin Hawkins
The other of the two scholarship returners is sophomore Colin Hawkins. Unlike Jacob Hudson, Hawkins saw all his playing early in the season, not playing at all after January came to a close vs Longwood. Hawkins had some good performances in his freshman season including an 8 point outing vs Elon and a career high 9 points vs Wofford. Across his 20 game freshmen campaign Hawkins averaged 2.4 PPG, 0.7 APG and 0.6 RPG.
Awards/Notable Facts:
#4 Player in Colorado before heading Sunrise Christian Academy for a Prep School Season.
Hawkins averaged 14 PPG and 5 RPG at Sunrise Christian Academy in 23-24.
Incoming Transfers:
G: Aaron “Ace” Talbert - St. Francis PA (For more on Talbert)
Likely the most proven of Coach Luther’s transfer portal class, Aaron Talbert comes from St. Francis PA after having his sophomore campaign ruined to a knee injury in the 5th game of the season. Despite only playing 5 games, Talbert showed improvement after a very solid freshman season averaging 10.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG and 1.8 APG in 28.2 MPG.
Unlike most freshmen, Talbert was an almost instant starter in his freshmen season playing in 29 games and starting 21 of them averaging 8.3 PPG, 2.2 RPG and 2.2 APG with over 38% shooting from behind the arc in just over 28 MPG.
Awards/Notable Facts:
All Academic Basketball All American in High School.
Post 12 double figure games and one 20+ point game in his freshman season.
G: DJ Jefferson - Longwood
One of the 4 intra-conference transfers, Gardner Webb was the only Big South teams to lose and gain players from within the conference losing Pharrell Boyogueno but picking up former Top 100 recruit DJ Jefferson. DJ began his career as the 85th ranked player in the 2022 High School class committed to Tennessee and like another DJ, just didn’t find his footing at Tennessee as Jefferson only played one game across two seasons for the Vols putting up 3 points and 2 rebounds vs Tennessee Tech.
Unlike the other former Tennessee commit named DJ who entered the Big South, he didn’t find home on his first transfer. At Longwood, DJ again struggled to find the court, only playing in 13 games averaging 3.7 PPG and 2.3 RPG playing only 7.3 MPG.
Awards/Notable Facts:
85th ranked HS player in the Class of 2022, #1 Player out of Minnesota ranked above Tre Holloman, Pharrel Payne and Cam Heide
2022-23 First Year SEC Honor Roll and 2023-24 Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll
G: Spence Sims - Alabama
Probably the most unknown or unproven addition for Gardner Webb is Alabama transfer guard Spence Sims. The Bama transfer was a Walk-On last season at Alabama after having a storied high school career at Fairhope HS in Florence, Alabama in which he averaged 19 PPG and 3.8 APG in his senior season.
At Alabama he was behind guards like Mark Sears, Labaron Philon both of which were NBA prospects, Sims did not play at all during his freshman season, meaning he has 4 remaining years of eligibility.
Awards/Notable Facts:
Hold the Fairhope HS Single Game Scoring Record: 46 points
Was a McDonald’s All American Nominee
G: Julius Clark - Tallahassee State College
Probably the biggest addition aside from maybe Ace Talbert, Julius Clark was a Top 150 JUCO Round Up player, one of two who committed to Gardner Webb. In his freshman season at Tallahassee State, Clark played in 33 games, starting in 13 and averaged 5.9 PPG and 2.9 RPG leading Tallahassee State to the FCSAA Region 8 Tournament.
Julius’ sophomore season was a big breakout as he played and started in 29 games where he averaged 16 PPG, 5.3 RPG and 1.8 APG earning his 1st Team All Conference Honors.
Awards/Notable Facts:
Ranked 76th in JUCO Top 150 RoundUp
Earned Tallahassee State College Student Athlete of the Year (2024-25)
F: Curtis Williams - Northwest Florida State
The other of Gardner Webb’s JUCO Top 150 addition, Williams actually began his career at Pepperdine University where he actually had pretty good success including a 12 point game vs LIU in just his 4th EVER college game. In his freshman season at Pepperdine he averaged 1.7 PPG, 0.5 RPG and 0.2 APG across 23 games.
Then after transferring to Northwest Florida State, Williams helped lead NWF to a 20-9 record while averaging 8.9 PPG and 2.9 RPG with over 34% shooting from behind the arc.
Awards/Notable Facts:
Ranked 140th in JUCO Top 150 RoundUp
Was 3 Star Recruit in HS with offers from USC, SDSU and Portland State
F: Ahmadou Ndiaye - Southwest Mississippi CC
Nicknamed “Hami”, Ndiaye is the final JUCO addition for Gardner Webb in this class, coming from Southwest Mississippi CC after beginning his career at Southern Connecticut State where he only played in 7 games across his freshman season averaging 0.9 PPG and 0.9 RPG playing 5.6 MPG.
During the 24-25 season which he played at Southwest Mississippi CC, Ndiaye played in 24 games, starting 19 of them playing just over 20 MPG. Ndiaye averaged 6.6 PPG and 5.4 RPG with an amazing 38.6% 3PT percentage.
Awards/Notable Facts:
Had a 21 rebound game vs Baton Rouge Post Grad Academy
Had his best game with 19 points and 7 rebounds vs Northwest Mississippi CC
F: Na’vuan Peterson - Trevecca Nazarene
One of the better additions in the frontcourt for Gardner Webb is Trevecca Nazarene grad transfer Na’vuan Peterson. Peterson began his career at Lewis and Clark CC, hence why he gets a fifth year. In his freshman season across 18 games (15 starts), Peterson averaged 8.6 PPG and 3.9 RPG and improved in his sophomore season averaging 13.2 PPG and 4.9 RPG in 26 games (25 starts).
After he ended his JUCO career, Peterson went to D2 Kentucky Wesleyan where in 29 games, 3 of which being starts, he averaged 4.8 PPG and 3.1 RPG in just over 13 MPG. After that season he made the move to Trevecca Nazarene where he played 18 games, averaging 9 PPG and 6.7 RPG across 27 MPG including a 25 point game vs Alabama Huntsville.
Awards/Notable Facts:
Started the Exhibition Game in which Kentucky Wesleyan beat Louisville in 2023-24.
F: Jacob Hogarth - Iona
The lone Division One addition to the front court for Gardner Webb is Iona transfer Jacob Hogarth. Before committing to Iona, Hogarth was the #6 player in CT according to New England Recruiting Report and the #20 player in all of New England.
During his freshman season at Iona, in which he averaged 1.1 PPG and 1.1 RPG. Hogarth showed he can play at this level appearing in 18 games and even starting 1 of them vs Delaware. He played over 10 mins in multiple games including vs West Virginia where he played 20 mins, a career high for him.
Awards/Notable Facts:
Won the NEPSAC Class-AAA Title in High School during the 22-23 season.
Held offers from Fairfield, Buffalo, Quinnipiac and Maine before committing to Iona.
F: Riek Riek - Drury
For the final of the Gardner Webb transfers is D3 Drury University big man transfer Riek Riek. Riek Riek transferred to GWU after two years at the JUCO level with Walters State and Sauk Valley before he went and spent two seasons at Drury. At Walters State, Riek only averaged 2 PPG and 1.7 RPG but at Sauk Valley, Reik averaged 10.6 PPG and 6.7 RPG earning him his chance at Drury.
During his first season at Drury, Riek played in 28 games starting 6 of those 28 in which he averaged 3.7 PPG and 2.8 RPG on over 30% shooting from behind the arc. During what was going to be his final season of college hoops before the NCAA JUCO ruling, Riek averaged 4.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 1.6 APG in 27 games and 15 starts before now using the JUCO waiver to head to Gardner Webb.
Awards/Notable Facts:
Had a season high 13 points vs McKendree on 1/16/25.
Riek Riek’s parents are originally from South Sudan.
Incoming Freshman:
G: Jamias Ferere - Putnam Science Academy/Southern Guilford
The first of the high school commits comes from a familiar school for Gardner Webb’s coaching staff and fan faithful, Putnam Science Academy. Putnam Science has provided Gardner Webb greats like Buddy Simmons and D’Maurian Williams, and Jamias hopes to put himself on that same list.
Before making the move to Putnam, Ferere had a successful career at Southern Guilford where he averaged 17 PPG, 7 RPG, and 5 APG during his senior season earning him 2023-24 3A Offensive Player of the Year as well as NC District 7 Player of the Year and All-District Team.
Awards/Notable Facts:
Held offers from Manhattan, Albany, Fairfield and Bryant before committing to GWU.
Ranked as the 23rd best player in Connecticut by New England Recruiting Report.
G: Ashton King - Millbrook HS
GWU late in the offseason made one more addition from the High School ranks adding NC guard Ashton King to their roster. During this past season at Millbrook High School in which King took to the 2nd round of 4A Playoffs, King averaged 23.5 PPG and 4 APG including 4 30 points games. King earned All District Team Honors in part to his performance.
Awards/Notable Facts:
32nd in North Carolina in PPG as a senior, 321st in the nation.
Roster Prediction:
Roster Thoughts/Ratings:
Backcourt: C
Ace Talbert: Likely the biggest get and maybe most talented player on the team in my opinion, Talbert’s success and a lot of GWU’s success depends on if he can be the player he was at the start of last season before his injury. If he is 100%, GWU might be able to avoid the basement of the conference, if he isn’t 100% or doesn’t return to form, it will be a long year for Gardner Webb.
Jacob Hudson: I think we see Jacob Hudson pick up right where he ended the season with playing time, just progressively carving his role into the offense. Hudson was clearly gaining more playing time, and with the other returner (Hawkins) being injured to end the season last year, I think it will take Hawkins time to work back into the rotation where as Hudson can pick up where he left off being a fringe starter.
Julius Clark: Finally as the last fringe starter/first guard off the bench, I think Clark comes away with this role, I’m not convinced anyone else just has it to beat out Clark. Clark was the 76th JUCO player for a reason and everyone else is either inexperienced player or freshman.
Frontcourt: D
Na’vuan Peterson: Probably the forward addition I like the most, if Peterson can stay on the court he has proven he can make an impact. He was good at Trevecca when he was on the court, but once again like Talbert, it’s about being there TO PLAY and being healthy.
Curtis Williams: Williams should have the highest floor for all the forwards, coming in as the 140th ranked JUCO player in the Class of ‘25 along with experience at Pepperdine. I just can’t see him having more of a breakout or seeing him being much more than a solid role player as a starter.
Jacob Hogarth: Either Hogarth or Riek Riek will likely be the starting center, I’m not sold on either but I’m more sold on Hogarth, at least he has played D1 ball and has shown flashes of being a solid D1 level player. I just do not think a 6’9” center will be enough to really compete in the Big South especially with lack of projected guard production.
Riek Riek: As I said in the Hogart comments, I am not sold on Riek Riek. I truly don’t know if any other Big South school would have added him and if they did it would be as a 3rd string forward/center. Riek Riek will likely see substantial minutes at Gardner Webb, and I do not think it bodes well for Gardner Webb’s hope to relive 2019.
Bench/Depth: D
Thoughts: The depth is where the issues really show their face for GWU, there is none. The guard depth is lacking, DJ Jefferson being the only depth player with D1 experience. Sims, while being an amazing HS player, I don’t really know if he’s a D1 player then you are already to the freshmen of King and Ferere, I would assume Ferere will be the big freshmen for GWU and I do think he will be pretty good.
For the forwards, well I mentioned all the rostered forwards in the starter section, they have one rostered outside of those 5 at forward Amhadou Ndiaye, in fact according to their team site they have FOUR forwards as Ndiaye is listed as a guard but I think he will NEED to play forward at some point.