High Point:
Background and 2025-26 Recap:
The first season of the Flynn Clayman era could not have gone much better if you were a High Point fan. Beginning with their win at Furman and ending at the final buzzer against Arkansas in the Round of 32, High Point excelled past every expectation that was placed in front of them a season ago. As soon as the success came, the next offseason began, and it wouldn’t be easy for the Panthers, as they needed to replace 11 players lost to graduation or the transfer portal.
Despite losing 11 players, High Point still has some of the best returning production in the conference, led by Cam’ron Fletcher after an amazing Big South Tournament Final and NCAA Tournament Games. The Panthers also return key players like Braden Hausen, Conrad Martinez, and Caden Miller, along with unknowns Kasen Krueger and Mavrick Miller. High Point brings in the 79th-ranked transfer class in the country, above multiple High-Major classes headlined by 3 All-Conference Honorees from a season ago, joined by the Highest-Ranked Big South Freshman in history and two European prospects.
The Returners:
G: Conrad Martinez
After a very up-and-down season last year, Conrad Martinez can thrive in HPU’s system if he finds consistency. Last season, Conrad averaged 8.8 PPG and 3.3 APG while playing 21.8 MPG. Conrad had some of the best performances for High Point last season, including 26 points against La Salle and 22 points against Gardner-Webb. Before this past season, Conrad spent two seasons playing sparingly at Arizona.
Conrad’s value becomes even clearer when you dig into the analytics. Last season, Conrad Martinez ranked in the 81st percentile in RAPM and the 85th percentile in DRAPM. For Wins Shares, Conrad ranked in the 85th percentile or higher in Wins Shares per 40, Offensive Wins Shares per 40, and Defensive Wins Shares per 40.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 36 Games (1 Start) 8.8 PPG - 1.4 RPG - 3.3 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 59.6% - 32.8% - 84.4%
G: Kasen Krueger
Kasen Krueger returns to High Point after “redshirting” last season, one of the few players not to benefit from 5-in-5. Coming out of HS, Krueger played four seasons at Amador Valley HS, scoring 1705 points and having 579 assists.
Kasen comes in after being one of the hardest workers last season, earning praise on the Prowled Panthers Podcast from Flynn Clayman. Clayman has also known Krueger for a while and offered him while he was at Southern Utah.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Season Redshirt/No Appearances
Held other offers from UC Santa Barbara, USC Upstate, and Southern Utah
G: Mavrick Miller
Mavrick Miller is entering Year 3 at High Point, and in the two seasons he has been there, he has been part of two championship teams. Miller has not appeared in a game for High Point in either season.
Mavrick Miller came to High Point after being a 3-time All-Conference in HS and winning a state title in 2021. Mavrick Miller also comes from a basketball-gifted family, including his father, NBA Rookie of the Year and 2 Time NBA champion Mike Miller.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Season Redshirt/No Appearances
G/W: Braden Hausen
One of the biggest breakouts last season came from Braden Hausen in his sophomore season at High Point. In Hausen’s freshman season, he only appeared in 7 games, averaging 2.6 PPG. In Hausen’s sophomore season, appearing in all 36 games, Hausen averaged 6.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 1.2 APG.
One of the areas that Braden Hausen really excelled in last season was shooting beyond the arc. Last season, Hausen shot 35.8% from beyond the arc. Hausen also excelled defensively, posting a 1.6 DRAPM and ranking in the 84th percentile.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 36 Games (25 Starts) 6.7 PPG - 2.9 RPG - 1.2 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 55.6% - 35.8% - 79.2%
F: Cam’ron Fletcher
Returning for High Point in his final season of college basketball is Cam’ron Fletcher. Last season, Fletcher appeared in 27 games, averaging 13.2 PPG and 7.1 RPG. But he finished the season strong. During the Big South Title Game, Fletcher scored 17 points and hauled in a Big South Tournament Final Record 19 rebounds, then followed it up with 14 points and 11 rebounds against Wisconsin and 25 points and 8 rebounds against Arkansas.
Something clicked for Cam’ron Fletcher in those final 3 games that he had been missing since mid-December. If Cam Fletcher can play a full season as he did for 75% of the time for HPU last season, Cam Fletcher could be getting a call during the 2027 NBA Draft.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 27 Games (11 Starts) 13.2 PPG - 7.1 RPG - 0.9 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 69.2% - 36.2% - 71.6%
2025 Boardwalk Battle MVP
2025-26 Lou Henson Award Watchlist
2x 2025-26 Big South Player of the Week
F: Caden Miller
One of the most promising returners for High Point is now sophomore Caden Miller. Last season, Miller saw action in 26 games, averaging 2.8 PPG and 2.1 RPG. Before coming to High Point, Miller was a Top 300 recruit and spent a prep season at Moravian Prep.
Miller returns after having a very solid freshman season, being a wildly efficient player when he was on the court. Miller averaged 2.8 PPG on limited minutes with a 64% True Shooting Percentage, while also being a 90th-percentile offensive rebounder and 95th-percentile shot blocker.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 26 Games (0 Starts) 2.8 PPG - 2.1 RPG - 0.3 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 74.4% - 0% - 28.6%
2x 2025-26 Big South Freshman of the Week
The Transfers:
G: CJ Brown - South Florida
Reuniting with his former coach, Ben Fletcher, at South Florida is CJ Brown. Last season, playing for Bryan Hodgson, Brown averaged 10.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 4.7 APG, started all 34 games, and helped lead USF to the NCAA Tournament. During Brown’s freshman season under Ben Fletcher, Brown averaged 7.2 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 2.5 APG, earning American Freshman Team Honors.
CJ Brown has some of the highest playmaking upside in college basketball for this upcoming season. Last season, CJ Brown ranked in the 90th percentile in Assist Percentage (99th), Assist Ratio (98th), and Assist-to-Turnover Ratio (97th).
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 34 Games (34 Starts) 10.9 PPG - 3.9 RPG - 4.7 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 41.9% - 24.2% - 72.7%
2024-25 American Freshman Team
3x 2024-25 American Freshman of the Week
G: Liam Campbell - Saint Mary’s (CA)
Nicknamed “Baby Bird,” Liam Campbell comes to the Panthers after scoring 15 points against Texas A&M in the NCAA Tournament. Campbell spent the past two seasons at Saint Mary’s, including one redshirt year. Last season, Campbell averaged 4.9 PPG, 1.8 RPG, and 0.5 APG, capped by his 15-point performance against Texas A&M.
The raw box score stats don’t tell the full story for Campbell; last season Campbell shot 52% from 3, setting Saint Mary’s 4th-highest mark in program history. Campbell was also an elite defender at Saint Mary’s, posting a 93rd-percentile DRAPM.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 33 Games (0 Starts) 4.9 PPG - 1.8 RPG - 0.5 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 50% - 52% - 80%
1x WCC Freshman of the Week
4th Highest 3PT Percentage in a season at Saint Mary’s (52%)
G: Seamus McDermott - Duquesne
Coming from Duquesne after being coached by Dru Joyce, Seamus McDermott enters High Point after seeing limited action in 3 seasons at Duquesne. Last season at Duquesne, McDermott appeared in 3 games.
McDermott, while having limited college experience, showed talent at the High School level. McDermott averaged 10.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 2.2 APG at Holy Ghost Prep.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 3 Games (0 Starts) 0 PPG - 0.3 RPG - 0.3 APG
2x A10 Commission Honor Roll
G/W: Jason Rivera Torres - Monmouth
Known to many as Nick Mendez on the show Swagger, Jason Rivera Torres comes to High Point after an All-Conference-level season last year. Last season at Monmouth, Rivera Torres averaged 15.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 2.9 APG while playing over 35 MPG, earning Second Team All-CAA Honors and CAA All-Defensive Team Honors. Torres also spent time at San Francisco and Vanderbilt. At Vanderbilt, Rivera Torres had a nice freshman season, averaging 6.4 PPG and 3.1 RPG.
Jason Rivera Torres was a real workhorse last season for Monmouth, playing the 3rd most minutes of any CAA player with 1,177 minutes logged. Torres made a massive impact in those minutes, ranking in the 90th percentile or higher in PER and WARP, along with Steal Percentage, Block Percentage, Defensive Rebounding Percentage, and Offensive Rebounding Percentage.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 34 Games (34 Starts) 15.8 PPG - 8.1 RPG - 2.9 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 45.8% - 31.5% - 80.2%
G/W: Curtis Williams Jr - Tulane
One of two late additions for the Panthers was Tulane transfer Curtis Williams Jr. Last season as part of the Green Wave, Williams averaged 12.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 1.2 APG, starting all but 1 game he appeared in. Williams also spent 1 year each at Louisville and Georgetown, averaging around 5 PPG off the bench for both programs.
Curtis Williams Jr. really excelled against Top Competition one season ago. Last season, in Q1+2 games for Tulane (10 games), Williams had +1.8% better Effective FG%, +0.6% higher Hakeem Percentage, and +5% better 3PT Percentage.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 33 Games (32 Starts) 12.4 PPG - 4.8 RPG - 1.2 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 48.4% - 33.5% - 82.5%
1x 2025-26 AAC Player of the Week
F: Frankquon Sherman - Kennesaw State
The leading rebounder in the C-USA last season and headed to the Big South, usually wouldn’t be in a sentence together, but they are now thanks to Frankquon Sherman. Last season at Kennesaw State, Sherman averaged 10.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 1 APG. That 8.6 Rebounds Per Game led the entire C-USA, above Zach Cleveland and Corey Stephenson, players who had big draft buzz this past offseason.
Frankquon Sherman’s rebounding ability can’t be understated; it is OTHERWORLDLY. Sherman had an Offensive Rebounding Percentage of 14% and a Defensive Rebounding Percentage of 22%. One player in the Big South last season had both a 14% ORB and 22% DRB: Logan Duncomb. The difference between Duncomb and Sherman is over 3 inches.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 35 Games (25 Starts) 10.8 PPG - 8.6 RPG - 1 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 57.2% - 28.6% - 74.1%
2025-26 C-USA Leading Rebounder
F: Filip Brankovic - UT Rio Grande Valley
With the unfortunate situation of Youssouf Traore not being able to come to HPU, it left a 15th spot on the roster, which High Point used on Filip Brankovic. Brankovic enters after 1 season at UT Rio Grande Valley, where he averaged 13 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 1.9 APG, earning All-Southland 2nd Team Honors. Brankovic also played 3 seasons in the BNXT.
Brankovic provides what High Point clearly emphasized in their frontcourt this portal cycle: the ability to stretch the floor. Last season at UTRGV, Brankovic shot 33.3% from beyond the arc with a 64th-percentile 3 Point Attempt Rate.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 32 Games (32 Starts) 13 PPG - 4.4 RPG - 1.9 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 62.4% - 33.7% - 83.6%
2025-26 Southland All-Conference Second Team
F: Issac Garrett - Oakland
Transferring in from Oakland after spending 2 seasons at Snow College is Isaac Garrett. Last season at Oakland, Garrett averaged 13.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG, and 2.3 APG, starting all 28 games in which Garrett appeared. Before committing to Oakland, Garrett held offers from Florida State and Cal, among others, after averaging 14 PPG at Snow College.
Issac Garrett replaces an ability at High Point that Owen Aquino used heavily last season: a playmaking 5. Last season at Oakland, Garrett had a 14.6% Assist Percentage, placing him in the 90th percentile of all D1 forwards and giving him a positive assist-to-turnover percentage.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 28 Games (28 Starts) 13.7 PPG - 7.1 RPG - 2.3 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 55.8% - 26.1% - 80.4%
The Freshmen (and Jared Grey):
G: Trey Pearson - Pope John Paul II (TN)
The highest-ranked incoming freshman in Big South history is now Trey Pearson. Trey Pearson enters High Point after helping lead his AAU team to back-to-back Peach Jam titles in 2024 and 2025. Pearson averaged over 5 APG in both 2024 and 2025 title runs.
Trey Pearson is just an undeniable playmaking PG. Trey Pearson led the entire league with over 5 APG for two seasons in a row in the toughest AAU circuit, bar none. Trey Pearson ended his EYBL with a series of accolades, including the single-game record of 15 assists.
HS Accolades/Recruiting Info:
145th Ranked Player according to 247Sports, 4th Ranked Player in the State of Tennessee
2x Peach Jam Champion (2024 U16, 2025 U17)
Peach Jam Single-Game Assist Record (15)
Other Offers: Murray State, Arkansas State, Tulsa, DePaul, among others
G: Alexandros Alexakis - SoCal Academy (CA)
SoCal Academy has been a place High Point has targeted for talent, most recently with Alexandros Alexakis. Last season at SoCal Academy after making the move from Greece, Alexakis averaged 13.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 3 APG. Alexakis represented Greece at the U16 and U18 EuroBasket events before his time at SoCal Academy.
Alexakis provides a very fun scoring option as a freshman. In his U16 EuroBasket campaign with Greece, Alexakis averaged 16.7 PPG. That 16.7 PPG tied for 3rd with Arkansas commit Miika Muurinen and just below 4-star Northwestern commit Jayden Hodge.
HS Accolades/Recruiting Info:
Earned 3SSB All Breakout Honors
Appeared for Greece National Team in U16 and U18 EuroBasket play.
F: Jared Grey - Hamburg Towers
The lone European professional addition for High Point this season is Germany’s Jared Grey. Grey most recently played for Hamburg in Germany’s top professional league, where Grey averaged 2.3 PPG and 1.6 RPG. Grey averaged 14 PPG for Germany’s U20 EuroBasket team in 2025.
Jared Grey adds something we’re seeing more and more: professional experience. Grey has played over 50 games in one of the toughest European leagues and put up decent stats given his playing time and age.
HS Accolades/Recruiting Info:
Jared Grey enters as a 3rd-year player due to his overseas experience.
Overall Thoughts:
Last season, High Point got on the national radar after beating Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament. High Point parlayed that attention and their resources into a potentially even better roster in many people’s eyes. Matthew Winick of Basket Under Review had High Point as the #1 transfer class (ranked by expectations), not just #1 in the Big South but #1 IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL. EvanMiya ranked High Point’s class 37th and 2nd among all mid-majors. Even according to more “Main Stream” CBB news sources like 247Sports, High Point class with 247Sports having HPU ranked as the 79th class.
The talent just doesn’t come for the Panthers in the transfer portal class, though. Alongside their portal class, High Point returns one of their two star PGs from a season ago, a 20+ start player from a season ago, a former 5-star recruit coming off 13 PPG, and two other very young pieces who have shown abilities conducive to success. High Point also brings in the highest-ranked freshman in Big South history, along with two Europeans, both with National Team experience, with one having over 50 games of professional experience. The talent is abundant for the Panthers entering a season with a very strong, experienced staff around them.
Looking at the guard room, it is very similar to a season ago, except this season’s backcourt has more size and athleticism than last year. Last season, High Point had primarily two point guards: Conrad Martinez, who returns this season, and their main starter, Rob Martin. CJ Brown and Trey Pearson at least haven’t proven to be an offensive workhorse with scoring the ball; they have proven their elite playmaking, with Brown having a 99th percentile Assist Percentage and Trey Pearson entering CBB after leading EYBL in Assists. CJ Brown is also one of the most athletic PGs in CBB, with a reported 45-inch vertical and 4 inches on Rob Martin.
Looking at your traditional “shooting guards,” that is one area where I think many are sleeping on High Point. You have a mainline starter last season return for the Panthers in Braden Hausen. A lot of people view Hausen as simply a very good shooter who helps spacing, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Last season, Braden Hausen was a 90th-percentile steal player who didn’t turn the ball over himself and, yes, also hit 35% from beyond the arc. Joining Hausen in the backcourt is almost a carbon copy of Liam Campbell. Campbell was another elite disruptor at Saint Mary’s and hit 52% from beyond the arc coming off the bench last year.
The wings/forwards are where the bulk of the stat-stuffing and elite talent lives on this roster. No player is a bigger example than Cam’ron Fletcher, a 5-star coming off his best season to date, averaging 13 PPG and 7 RPG, with 3 big games to end the season. Joining Cam’ron Fletcher as an elite HS talent is Jason Rivera Torres, who was the entire package at Monmouth, averaging over 15 PPG, 8 RPG, and 2.5 APG, and is one of only 6 players to do so alongside two lottery picks in Caleb Wilson and Cameron Boozer. Curtis Williams and Frankquon Sherman both enter as stat stuffers, with Williams averaging over 12 PPG at Tulane and Sherman averaging 10.4 PPG and 8.5 RPG on an NCAA Tournament Team.
The center position has improved significantly in both skill and depth since last season. Last season, High Point trotted Owen Aquino, Youssouf Singare, Joshua Ibukunoluwa, and Caden Miller at the center position. Of those players, only Owen Aquino has substantial D1 experience, and that showed with Aquino needing to be on the floor for High Point. Caden Miller returns after a very respectable freshman campaign. Miller is joined by two solid MM centers: Issac Garrett from Oakland and Filip Brankovic from UTRGV. Both players averaged over 10 PPG last season for their respective teams, with Garrett being the vastly better rebounder (over 7 RPG) and Brankovic the better offensive weapon, able to stretch the floor with over 33% from 3.
This season’s High Point team is solid and better on paper than last season’s team. This team has so many players who can make an impact I didn’t even get to mention them all, like Jared Grey and Alexandros Alexakis, to name two. The one limiting factor for High Point will be their ability to handle everyone on that team. I think High Point wins the league like most, but I see a ton of conjecture about HPU going undefeated through conference. I don’t see it; HPU slipped up once last season against Winthrop and left the door open at times. That said, I also wouldn’t be shocked if it happened.