UNC Asheville:
Background and 25-26 Recap:
Despite losing a ton of their core from their 24-25 roster, UNC Asheville kept three key pieces: Justin Wright, Kameron Taylor, and eventual Preseason Big South Player of the Year Toyaz Solomon. For UNC Asheville, all 3 star returners played amazingly alongside CSU transfer DJ Patrick. The limiting factor was depth, due in part to early injuries and offseason departures the decimated it. That lack of depth caused Asheville to fall from 2nd to 4th, but they faced the same result as the prior season, losing in the Big South Semifinals.
After the final buzzer sounded in Johnson City, Toyaz Solomon, Justin Wright, and DJ Patrick all ran out of eligibility. After Kameron Taylor left for Florida State, UNC Asheville entered a rebuilding phase. Asheville did return key young pieces from one season ago in Myles Mayfield and Daniel Thomas alongside experienced big man Sage Tolentino and guard Corey Jones. Through the portal and HS class, Asheville brought in 8 new players, including 5 who will receive their first D1 minutes this season.
The Returners:
G: Corey Jones
The lone returning guard with significant playing time last season for the Bulldogs is Corey Jones. Last season, Jones was thrust into 18 games, including 1 start against Kentucky Christian. Jones averaged 0.7 PPG, 0.5 RPG, and 0.5 APG while playing 8.7 MPG.
After being thrust into the fold last season for the first time in his career, Corey Jones proved he could hold his own. Jones even played some of his most minutes against Asheville’s toughest opponents in St. Thomas and Miami OH, ending the game +2 and -1, respectively.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 18 Games (1 Start) 0.7 PPG - 0.5 RPG - 0.5 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 75% - 14.3% - 0%
G: Connor Dubsky
You would be hard-pressed to find a better single game as a lone game of the season, and you can for Connor Dubsky this season. In Dubsky’s lone game against Bryan, Dubsky scored 15 points, going 5-for-9 from beyond the arc and leading Asheville in scoring.
Dubsky’s 24-25 season at Asheville showed his potential as a shooter. During that 24-25 season, Dubsky shot 38% from beyond the arc on over 2.5 3PT Attempts Per Game.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2024-25 Stats: 28 Games (5 Starts) 4.5 PPG - 0.5 RPG - 0.4 APG
2024-25 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 33,3% - 38.2% - 86.5%
F: Myles Mayfield
One of Asheville’s two returning All-Big South freshmen is Myles Mayfield. Last season, Myles Mayfield made 15 starts and appeared in all 32 Bulldog games. Mayfield averaged 4.5 PPG and 4.3 RPG over 22 MPG.
Mayfield was one of Asheville’s better offensive options aside from their Big 4 from last season. Mayfield had the 3rd-highest true shooting percentage on Asheville last season and ranked 1st among players with over 250 MPG.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 32 Games (15 Games) 4.5 PPG - 4.3 RPG - 0.8 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 61.3% - 66.7% - 42.1%
2x Big South Freshman of the Week
2025-26 Big South All-Freshman Team
F: Daniel Thomas
After entering the transfer portal, Daniel Thomas returns to UNC Asheville after earning Big South All-Freshman Team honors last season. Last season, Thomas appeared in 30 games, making 19 starts. In those 30 games, Thomas averaged 2.8 PPG and 4.9 RPG.
Last year, Daniel Thomas really broke out after redshirting his 1st season at New Mexico. Thomas finished last season with a 12.2 ORB%, placing him in the 86th percentile; he also had a 62nd DRB% at 16.6%.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 30 Games (19 Starts) 2.8 PPG - 4.9 RPG - 0.4 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 48.5% - 0% - 54.3%
1x Big South Freshman of the Week
2025-26 Big South All-Freshman Team
F: Sage Tolentino
Entering his 3rd year in Asheville, Sage Tolentino is coming off his most active and productive season to date. Sage Tolentino appeared in 27 games, including 3 starts, averaging 1.1 PPG and 1.8 RPG while playing about 8 MPG.
In Sage’s limited action at Asheville, he has shown flashes of what many expected at Cincinnati. Last season, Sage had a 95th-percentile true shooting percentage on his limited attempts per game and an 87th-percentile block percentage.\
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 27 Games (3 Starts) 1.1 PPG - 1.8 RPG - 0.3 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 61.1% - 0% - 80%
F: Brayden Rivers
Brayden Rivers returns to Asheville after a redshirt freshman season. Before Asheville, Rivers spent all four seasons at Huntsville HS in Alabama as a starter, including winning Al.com Fans Player of the Year during his senior season.
Rivers enters as one of the best-rated freshman talents in Asheville. Rivers was a 3-star recruit according to 247 Sports, ranking as Asheville’s 3rd-highest HS commit ever.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: Redshirted
2024-25 AL.com Fans Player of the Year
The Transfers:
G: Jermaurhiyun Anderson - LA Tech
UNC Asheville technically announced its addition of Louisiana Tech transfer guard Jermaurhiyun Anderson midway through last season. Anderson only appeared in 3 games at Louisiana Tech before entering the transfer portal. Anderson began his career at East Mississippi Community College where he averaged 15.1 PPG as a freshman.
When Anderson left East Mississippi, he was a hot commodity. Anderson held offers from Bowling Green, CSU Bakersfield, and Arkansas Pine Bluff, and was set to return to EMCC until LA Tech landed him as a JUCO transfer freshman.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 3 Games (0 Starts) 1.7 PPG - 3.3 RPG - 0 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 28.6% - 0% - 33.3%
2024-25 All-MACCC Honorable Mention
G: Tylon Chatman - Lee (D2)
After spending 3 seasons at Lee, including starting most of the past two seasons, Tylon Chatman now joins UNC Asheville. Last season at Lee, Chatman appeared in all 28 games, starting all but one, and averaged 14.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 3.7 APG.
Chatman was one of the most well-rounded offensive guards in D2 last season. Chatman was above the 50th percentile in all but one offensive category, including ranking above the 50th percentile in all offensive statistical categories on CBBAnalytics.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 28 Games (27 Starts) 14.1 PPG - 3.1 RPG - 3.7 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 52% - 37.4% - 70.8%
G: Ja’Corey Lipkins - Purdue Fort Wayne
After spending one season at Purdue Fort Wayne and redshirting, Ja’Corey Lipkins comes to UNC Asheville after a solid D2 freshman season at Charleston (WV). At Charleston in 2024-25, Lipkins averaged 14.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 0.9 APG.
Coming out of Charleston (WV), Lipkins was one of the best offensive players in the MEC. Lipkins ranked 11th in ORAPM in the MEC and 18th in RAPM as a freshman, while being the highest-ranked freshman in ORAPM and 3rd in RAPM.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2024-25 Stats: 28 Games (16 Starts) 14.3 PPG - 3.1 RPG - 0.9 APG
2024-25 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 35.4% - 40.9% - 82.6%
2024-25 MEC Freshman of the Week
2024-25 All MEC Second Team
G: Kelcy Phipps - Portland State
Coming off his best-of-three season at Portland State, Kelcy Phipps hopes to thrive in an Asheville system where guards like him have thrived. Last season, Phipps appeared in 31 games with 4 starts, averaging 4.7 PPG, 1.7 RPG, and 1 APG in just 17.6 MPG.
Last season at Portland State, Phipps was one of the best shooters in program history. Last season, Phipps shot 43% from beyond the arc, ranking him 9th all-time at Portland State for single-season 3PT Percentage.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 31 Games (4 Starts) 4.7 PPG - 1.7 RPG - 1 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 53.2% - 43.1% - 47.7%
2024-25 Academic All-Big Sky
G: Khayri Dunn - Georgia Southern
After scoring 8 points against UNC Asheville in his second college game last season, Khayri Dunn is playing for UNC Asheville. At Georgia Southern last season, Dunn averaged 7.4 PPG, 1.7 RPG, and 0.9 APG playing over 17 MPG off the bench.
Dunn transferred to Georgia Southern after a strong JUCO freshman season. At College of Southern Idaho, Dunn averaged 13.1 PPG on much better shooting than his percentages at Georgia Southern.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 36 Games (0 Starts) 7.4 PPG - 1.7 RPG - 0.9 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 48.3% - 34.3% - 81.8%
2024-25 Region 18 First Team
G: Jaylon Johnson - Radford
After receiving a 5th year via a state injunction in Tennessee, Jaylon Johnson returns to the Big South to use it, this time in Blue and White at UNC Asheville. Johnson averaged 11.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, and 3.4 APG across 29 games, starting all but two.
Jaylon Johnson is a player who could turn out to be a steal for Asheville, as Johnson was forced to play 3rd fiddle for the Radford for most of last season behind the breakouts of Del Jones and Dennis Parker Jr. At Tennessee Tech in 2024-25, Johnson averaged more points, rebounds, and assists than he did at Radford, with better efficiency.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 29 Games (27 Starts) 11.9 PPG - 2.8 RPG - 3.4 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 42.5% - 32.4% - 80%
2025-26 Big South Preseason All Conference First Team
2024-25 All OVC First Team
2024-25 All OVC Newcomer Team
F: Abou Magassa - Wyoming
The lone frontcourt transfer portal addition for the Bulldogs is former Wyoming big man, Abou Magassa. Last season at Wyoming, Magassa appeared in 29 games for the Cowboys, including 11 starts, averaging 3.1 PPG and 3 RPG.
Playing up talent-wise is important,, and Abou Magassa does it well. Last season at Wyoming, Magassa averaged more PPG and RPG against Q1 + Q2 opponents while remaining an 80th-percentile rebounder.
Most Recent Player Stats + Awards:
2025-26 Stats: 29 Games (11 Starts) 3.1 PPG - 3 RPG - 0.2 APG
2025-26 Percentages (2PT/3PT/FT): 57.6% - 0% - 51.2%
The Freshmen:
G: Ian Bailey - Asheville Christian Academy (NC)
One of two local freshman talents for the Bulldogs, Ian Bailey, comes from Asheville Christian Academy. As a junior at Asheville Christian, Bailey averaged 19.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 3.9 APG, earning First Team All-WNC honors and NCISAA 3A All-State honors.
Ian Bailey has been Asheville through and through, which obviously culminated in his commitment to UNC Asheville. Bailey played both HS and travel ball with Asheville-area-based teams and could be a long-term fit.
HS Accolades/Recruiting Info:
Ranked as the 28th player in the State of North Carolina according to Prep Hoops.
Other Offers: Stetson and Western Carolina
G: Logan Johnson - Carmel Christian (NC)
The second local talent of Mike Morrell’s freshman class is guard Logan Johnson. Johnson comes from a place that has produced really nice Asheville talent: Carmel Christian, the same HS Kameron Taylor played for. As a senior, Johnson averaged 17.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 2.2 APG at Carmel Christian.
Logan Johnson and Ian Bailey actually faced each other in 2025 with their respective team. Johnson and Bailey combined for 59 points in that game, with Johnson scoring 27 points to lead his team to a win.
HS Accolades/Recruiting Info:
Ranked as the 13th player in the State of North Carolina according to Prep Hoops.
Other Offers: Western Carolina, Radford, Towson, La Salle, Duquesne and NC A&T.
F: Quintin Mansfield - Gainesville HS (GA)
When Scott Cross left Troy for Georgia Tech, Quintin Mansfield reopened his commitment and ended up at UNC Asheville. Last season, Mansfield helped lead Gainesville HS to a 30-1 record and finished the season as the 64th-ranked HS in the country.
Mansfield is used to winning. In his 4 seasons of high school basketball, Mansfield compiled a 103-17 record at Grayson and Gainesville HS in Georgia.
HS Accolades/Recruiting Info:
Ranked as the 48th player and 11th-ranked forward in the State of Georgia, according to Prep Hoops.
Other Offers: Troy
Overall Thoughts:
Last season, UNC Asheville had all the star power you could ask for. They had an elite big man in Toyaz Solomon, a talented guard in Justin Wright, a strong shooter and off-ball defender in DJ Patrick, and an elite superstar athlete in Kameron Taylor. The issue for Asheville is that outside those four, they had little to no production, coupled with injuries and early departures. UNC Asheville ranked 347th in bench points; that 347th is boosted by having had Taylor or Solomon coming off the bench in select games.
This season, there is no overwhelming star power, but this team is much deeper on paper. The Bulldogs return almost their entire frontcourt from one season ago, including Sage Tolentino, Myles Mayfield, and Daniel Thomas, while also bringing back guard Corey Jones. UNC Asheville also brought back Connor Dubsky and Brayden Rivers, both of whom saw little or no action last season. Mike Morrell has a history of getting breakouts from players who have stayed and played multiple seasons, and I would expect nothing less this season.
The guard room in Asheville is full of questions. The first BIG question is the eligibility of Jaylon Johnson. As of the time of writing, Johnson is ineligible because his TRO was stayed by the Tennessee Court of Appeals. You also have the questions of the D2 transfers in Tylon Chatman and Ja’Corey Lipkins, who didn’t play last season. Finally, the questions for the players who haven’t played in nearly 1 year or over 1 year, with Lipkins, Dubsky, and Anderson all having limited action in the past season. Asheville also has two more known commodities in Khayri Dunn and Kelcy Phipps, both with solid D1 experience from last season.
While the guard room does have those concerns, you also have the elite upside of these players. Jaylon Johnson can be a Big South Player of the Year candidate if ruled eligible. Ja’Corey Lipkins and Tylon Chatman are both guards with 10-15 PPG upside, plus elite, uber-athletic explosiveness. The rest of the backcourt also has strong potential, with both Phipps and Dubsky being elite shooters in their college careers. Khayri Dunn and Jermaurhiyun Anderson both come in after being 13 PPG and 15 PPG JUCO freshmen and spending their sophomore season at D1 programs like Georgia Southern and LA Tech, respectively.
The forward room at Asheville is filled with returners. Daniel Thomas and Myles Mayfield both return after All-Big South Freshman Honors last season, and they basically split starts. Sage Tolentino also returns after his best season to date, and I believe he still has something we haven’t seen at the D1 level yet. Brayden Rivers returns after redshirting last season and was one of the best players out of Alabama coming out of high school, shooting over 35% for his career. Joining that core of returners is one lone transfer, Abou Magassa, who enters Asheville after two seasons at Wyoming and seasons overseas in his home country of France.
Last season during Field of 68 Media Day, Mike Morrell spoke very highly of this season’s freshman class, and that was only with two of their three freshman commits. At the time, Mike Morrell had only Ian Bailey and Logan Johnson committed, and both have very high upside for Asheville. Ian Bailey enters ranked as the 28th player in NC, and Logan Johnson enters as the 13th, both of which earned high comments from the likes of Paul Biancardi and others. Joining the two early commits is Quintin Mansfield, who was committed to Troy, which had just made the tournament before Scott Cross’ departure to Georgia Tech, a team Asheville will face in early November.
This Asheville team is REALLY REALLY difficult to get a read on. I believe this can be a contender in the league, but it could also finish much like last season and have a down season compared to Asheville’s seasons at the start of the decade. Asheville has a guard core that, if they play to their abilities, can be one of the best in MM basketball, but it could also really disappoint depending on court rulings and actual performance. The frontcourt has a ton of nice returners, but not much proven production at this level. I do think Asheville has a decent amount of success this season, but with a ton of the league also trending up, I think they finish similarly to last season.