2025-26 High Point Preview
The 2025-26 Big South Hoops Hub Preview of High Point
High Point:
Background and 24-25 Recap:
It was the revenge year for High Point, after a heartbreaking end to their 2023-24 season losing to Longwood. High Point came in as the odds on favorite to win the Big South in 2024-25, and the won the regular season title and had two BIG scares vs Radford despite leading the whole game and then the famed Winthrop game, the game where Mean Mug Mania took over the College Hoops world, but after a loss to Purdue in the Round of 64, HPU was poised to run it back with Alan Huss at the helm.
Until, April 10th when it was announced that Alan Huss had officially taken an Assistant Coach position (and most importantly Head Coach in Waiting) at his alma-mater, Creighton. Then in a coaching search that seemed like it was going to take at least one week with some of the people linked to the job, High Point chose to keep the momentum going and hiring Flynn Clayman, the Associate Head Coach under Alan Huss.
Now we are in the FlynnStones Era at HPU, and with this roster, it could become the WINstone Era.
Returning Players:
G: Chase Johnston
Despite entering the portal, Chase Johnston has had a change of heart choosing to return to High Point for his final season of college sports. I don’t know if Chase could have had a hotter start to his High Point career with 31 in the season opener vs Coppin State and lit it up from behind the arc all season with 71 threes and shooting at over 40% from behind the arc.
Awards/Notable Facts:
ASun 2nd Team All Conference (2021-22)
1,500+ Career Points
Highest Returning Offensive Rating in the Big South
F: Terry Anderson
Despite missing the first 5 games of the season due to injury after transferring in from Lamar and having to work his way into the offense, Terry finally found his footing when it mattered most, the Big South tournament was a VERY BRIGHT spot for Terry.
16 points, a season high for Anderson vs Gardner Webb in the first round. 5 points off the bench vs Radford, and then playing a massive part in High Point’s resurgence vs Winthrop with 8 points and 5 rebounds. Now with no preseason injury in the way, expect Anderson to make an impact from Day 1.
Awards/Notable Facts:
2024 Southland Conference All-Tournament Team
2023-24 2nd Team All Southland Conference
Was a Top 30 JUCO Player before going to Lamar
F: Josh Ibukunoluwa
The Aussie big man had a pretty successful Year 1 in High Point, playing in 25 games averaging just under 10 MPG on a very successful High Point squad, and those weren’t blow out minutes.
Josh had some really amazing performances including 10 points and 5 rebounds on National TV vs Longwood then the next game scoring 13 points and grabbing 8 rebounds vs Winthrop. Josh also had 6 points and ELEVEN rebounds vs Non D1 Carolina University.
Awards/Notable Facts:
Won Big South Freshman of the Week (2/17/25)
2nd highest ranked Australia recruit in the 2024 recruiting class.
F: Braden Hausen
The final scholarship returner Braden Hausen, Hausen only appeared in 7 games early in the season for High Point while they were dealing with depth issues only in the season, but Hausen did look good and showed flashes in those 7 games including 6 points vs American and 5 points vs Pfeiffer.
Awards/Notable Facts:
His brother Brendan Hausen plays basketball at Iowa
Was the 275th ranked player in the Class of 2024
Was featured in All Hail Cullen’s Tour of HPU’s Campus (Video Here)
Incoming Transfers:
G: Rob Martin - Southeast Missouri State
High Point wasted NO TIME getting players in the portal as within the first week they landed Rob Martin from Southeast Missouri State. Martin began his career at Indiana State where he only played in 12 games averaging 0.9 PPG and 0.8 APG before transferring to Southeast Missouri State.
Once Rob stepped foot at SEMO, it was very clear that Rob was talented. In his sophomore season he led SEMO in scoring with 11.9 PPG and led the team in assists with 3.5 APG across 31 games. During his junior season, Rob stepped it up even more averaging 14.8 PPG and 4.5 APG again leading the team in both stats, helping lead his team to the OVC Title Game where they fell to SIU Edwardsville.
Awards/Notable Facts:
2024-25 First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference
Rated fifth in the OVC in assists and sixth in assist/turnover ratio in 2023-24.
Led the Ohio Valley Conference in assist rate last season.
G: Scotty Washington - Cal State Northridge
High Point kept it pushing with landing highly talented scorers at the guard position adding CSUN transfer Scotty Washington. Washington began his career at Cal Baptist with 3 seasons at CBU, only playing 2 due to redshirting his freshman season. In his RS-Freshman season Scotty Washington averaged 5.1 PPG in 28 games including two starts in the WAC Tournament. In his sophomore season Washington finally carved out a starting role at CBU playing in 33 games and starting 18 averaging 8.5 PPG and 1.6 RPG.
After two pretty successful seasons at CBU, Scotty made the move to Cal State Northridge for his RS-Junior season where he had a pretty big breakout averaging 14.6 PPG and just over 3 RPG on 29.2 MPG. He was 2nd on the team in scoring playing alongside two high major transfers in Marcus Adams and Keonte Jones.
Awards/Notable Facts:
2024-25 All-Big West Honorable Mention
10th best Free Throw Percentage in CSUN history.
G: Vincent Brady - Missouri State
A familiar face to the High Point faithful who happened to watch the Cayman Islands Invitational where Brady scored 27 points to beat High Point in the 1st Round. Brady began his career at IU-Indy (IUPUI at the time). Where as a freshman he started all but one game where he happened to be a bright spot on what otherwise was a pretty bad IUPUI team, averaging 10.9 PPG and nearly 4 RPG. During his sophomore campaign, his stats took a slight slip averaging 9.1 PPG and 3.4 RPG and so did his playing time only starting 21 games, as opposed to 31 the previous season.
After the firing of Matt Crenshaw at IUPUI, Vincent Brady transferred to Missouri State to play for storied Head Coach Cuonzo Martin and was an impact the second he stepped on the floor scoring 21, 15, 14 and 27 in 4 of his first 5 games at Missouri State, Brady also had 29 vs MVC power Bradley. Brady had 13.5 PPG and 4.3 RPG in just over 32 MPG.
Awards/Notable Facts:
Horizon League All-Freshman Team in 2022-23
Nominated for the 2021 McDonald's All-American Game.
IUPUI Academic Advisor's List (3.0 GPA or Higher): Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
G: Conrad Martinez - Arizona
One of the more high upside gets for Flynn Clayman and High Point, Conrad comes from a very well run program at Arizona. Despite not playing much in his first two seasons, he has shown flashes of being a good player.
Of the available film out there from his two seasons at Arizona, the vision is undeniable and his shooting ability is clearly there. Martinez also played for Spain in the U18 Euros where they finished runner up to Croatia. In 7 games for Spain, Martinez averaged 6.7 PPG and 3.3 APG including 10 points vs France and 7 assists vs Croatia in the final.
Awards/Notable Facts:
One of two Spainards on High Point’s 25-26 Roster
2nd highest Spain recruit in the 2023 recruiting class
G: Babacar Diallo - Missouri-Kansas City
The final of High Point’s transfer guards is the Senegalese transfer of Babacar Diallo. Mostly added after the loss of Jaydon Young to UNC, and I actually think Diallo is a better player than Young. Diallo began his career at St Peter’s but left after one season where he only appeared in 12 games, transferring to Navarro College for his sophomore season where he averaged 2.8 PPG and 3.4 RPG.
After his JUCO season at Navarro, Diallo moved to UMKC where he would spend 3 seasons in which he role grew bigger year in and year out going from 3.5 PPG to 4.2 PPG to 7.4 PPG in this most recent season, but Babacar provides his biggest impact on two areas, playmaking and defensive skillset. Babacar averaged 3.5 APG this past season with a 33.8% Assist Percentage and Diallo also tallied 1.2 SPG.
Awards/Notable Facts:
2023-24 Summit League All Defensive Team
#1 Ranked Player in Senegal in 2016
Played in the 2019 FIBA World Cup for Senegal
F: Cam’ron Fletcher - Xavier
One of the most high profile additions of the offseason for the Big South, Cam’ron Fletcher has had a storied career beginning when he was the 88th ranked recruit headed to Kentucky to play for Coach Calipari, but only played in 9 games for Kentucky averaging 1.7 PPG and 1.7 RPG before transferring to Florida State.
At Florida State, Fletcher saw more time on the court but still battled with knee injuries in his 2nd and 3rd seasons at FSU only playing a combined 17 games after a successful sophomore campaign in Year 1 at FSU. Fletcher showed flashes of how well he could play at FSU with 6.8 PPG off the bench in Year 1, 10.8 PPG and 7.5 RPG in Year 2 as a starter, and then 6.7 PPG off the bench in Year 3. After 3 seasons at FSU, Cam made the choice to find another home, in which he went to Xavier.
In his most recent season at Xavier, Fletcher couldn’t find the court much, only playing in 9 games for the Musketeers in which he played sparingly. In the action he did see, Fletcher played really well including 8 points and 6 rebounds on perfect shooting vs Morgan State.
Awards/Notable Facts:
Dated WNBA Superstar Angel Reese
Was at one point a Top 40 HS Recruit, held offers from North Carolina, Michigan State and many other Power 5 schools
2024 ACC Academic Honor Roll
F: Owen Aquino - Liberty
The second of the Spainards on High Point’s roster, Owen Aquino comes from C-USA powerhouse and former Big South member, Liberty. Aquino actually began his career at Eastern Florida State, a JUCO in Cocoa, Florida. In his two years at Eastern Florida State Aquino started all but 3 games (all in his freshman season), averaging 4.9 PPG and 6.8 RPG in his freshman year before a stellar sophomore year averaging 14.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG and 4.4 APG, earning his a myriad of honors including being a Top 50 JUCO recruit.
At Liberty, Aquino picked up where he left off with being an impact player starting all 35 games for the Flames this past season, averaging 8.6 PPG and 5.5 RPG on nearly 60% shooting from the field, including a 28 point and 10 rebound performance vs NC A&T. Aquino also helped lead Liberty to the school’s first C-USA title and Liberty’s 6th NCAA tournament appearance before losing to Oregon in the Round of 64.
Awards/Notable Facts:
2022-23 All Central Conference Team (Eastern Florida State)
NJCAA Division 1 All American Nominee
Played for Spain’s U-16 Team in 2019
On Spain’s B Team Roster with players like Baba Miller and Great Osobor
F/C: Youssouf Singare - UConn
The final of High Point’s stellar portal class is a former national champion from UConn, Youssouf Singare. Singare comes to High Point after not playing much behind a STACKED frontcourt at UConn which had Donovan Clingan, Tarris Reed, Samson Johnson and Alex Karaban. Singare only played in 39 across 2 seasons at UConn averaged 0.3 PPG and 0.7 RPG, his career high was 4 points vs Xavier in the 24-25 season.
Awards/Notable Facts:
Won a National Title in 2023-24 with UConn
Was a Top 140 Recruit in the Class of 2023
Incoming Freshman:
G: Kasen Krueger - Amador Valley
One of only three incoming freshman for the Panthers is Kasen Krueger, a guard from the NoCal area having played his basketball at both Monte Vista for his Freshman and Sophomore season before transferring to Amador Valley for his Junior and Senior seasons.
Kasen is a a part of a very exclusive group of players in the state of California with OVER 1500 career points and 500 career assists, Kasen ended his career in HS with 1705 points and 579 assists.
Awards/Notable Facts:
Has a younger brother Cade in the Class of 26’ who also holds a High Point offer
Held offers from UCSB, USC Upstate and Southern Utah
G: Dorian Grosber - SSV lok Bernau Alba
One of the later additions for the entire Big South, Dorian Grosber is an international prospect who played professionally in Germany. Grosber had spent time with Alba Berlin. In his most recent season for SSV lok Bernau Alba, Dorian averaged 9.2 PPG and 4.2 RPG and during the NBBL season for Alba Berlin averaged 11.6 PPG and 7.2 RPG.
Awards/Notable Facts:
Became the first Luxembourg born player to score in a EuroLeague Game.
Played for the Luxembourg National Team in FIBA Pre Qualifiers.
F: Caden Miller - Moravian Prep/YNG Dreamerz
Caden Miller, the final of the incoming freshman for High Point comes from Overtime Elite, but is most known for his time playing HS basketball in Kentucky at Covington Catholic. During his senior season at Covington Catholic, Caden averaged a double double with 15.6 PPG and 10.7 RPG helping lead his team to a 24-5 record.
Caden was a 3 star commit coming out of HS holding offers from Missouri, Mississippi State and DePaul early in his HS recruitment.
Awards/Notable Facts:
Was the 306th HS Recruit in the Class of 24’, was a high as a Top 170 Recruit
Voted for as a Mr. Kentucky Basketball Nominee
Roster Prediction:
Roster Thoughts/Ratings:
Backcourt: A-
Rob Martin: Very few teams can replace a guard like Kezza Giffa at any level HM or MM, even fewer upgrade from a guard like him. High Point didn’t just replace Kezza, I think they upgraded. The only place where Rob doesn’t stack up to Kezza is inside the paint but Rob makes up for it with his playmaking and defensive abilities.
Scotty Washington: Speaking of replacing and upgrading, I don’t know if Scotty Washington is an upgrade of D’Maurian Williams, but he is easily on the same level at least, and with D’Maurian being an All Conference Level player and could have been Conference POY if it weren’t for Taje Kelly and Jordan Marsh. I would expect Scotty to make that kind of impact.
Vincent Brady: Between Conrad, Chase Johnston, Diallo it was hard to pick the 3rd guard I would cover in depth but I chose Vincent Brady. Vincent and Chase are probably the 2 most ready to be a starter/6th man. Either way, if they got with Brady, Conrad, Chase or Babacar, whoever they pick as the 3rd guard/SF spot, HPU will have an amazing rotation of guards that any coach would salivate to have.
Frontcourt: B+
Owen Aquino: Probably the most proven of the starting caliber forward, I would expect Aquino to have a big role in the offense. While he doesn’t have the ability to pop it like Kimani did, he has the playmaking ability and the strength to play down low. I also do think Kimani relied on his ability to shoot a little too much and led to some bad possessions, maybe Owen coming in takes the HPU offense to the next level.
Cam’ron Fletcher: I think Fletcher will be the biggest talking point/question on the roster for High Point this offseason. If Cam is fully healthy, he might be the best player in the conference. If Cam isn’t healthy and can’t get healthy, HPU won’t be in trouble but it would really hurt their chances of getting an At Large and maybe even chances to win the Big South. I still love High Point taking him on, very low risk, and the talent IS and HAS been there in the past.
Terry Anderson: Probably the returner who will play the most besides Chase Johnston maybe. A fully healthy Terry Anderson could be scary for the Big South, he showcased a bit of it during the Big South tournament but I think we will see more consistent showings from Anderson as either the 1st forward off the bench or maybe even in the starting 5.
Josh Ibukunoluwa: The battle for the starting center will be BIG in High Point, do they play small ball with Aquino or play taller with Singare or Ibukunoluwa. Either way HPU will be very mobile, if there was one thing Bodo Bodo was lacking, it was mobility. Ibukunoluwa will have an impact either as a reserve big man, bench big man or starter and that’s big for HPU.
Bench/Depth: A-
Thoughts: I really love the guard depth with High Point. If I was doing this by position grouping, HPU would get an A++++. Diallo is one of the most overlooked and underrated additions, Conrad Martinez is an amazing talent and of course Chase Johnston has a green light from anywhere beyond half court. If you are trying to beat High Point, you won’t do it through guard play.
The forward depth is the only small question mark I have for the roster, and even then they are DEEP at the forward position, it’s just a lot of either unproven talent like Singare, Hausen or players who have had health issues like Fletcher and Anderson but either way High Point has some of the best depth in the conference and even all of MM basketball.