Big South Preview: Awards
Preseason POY, First, Second and Third Teams, and Misc Awards and Predictions
Big South Preview: Awards
This preview includes:
Preseason POY
First, Second and Third Teams
Coach, Newcomer and Freshman of the Year
Big South Regular Season Champion Prediction
Big South Hoops Hub Preseason Player of the Year:
Kimani Hamilton- High Point
Picking a player for this award is difficult, I think there is a list of around 5-10 players that can win this award, but when it came down to who I should pick I looked at the analytical numbers and who moved the needle the most for their roster. The person who did that last season was Kimani Hamilton.
Kimani was ranked in the 94th percentile overall net rating gain when on the court, 88th percentile in defensive net rating gain, and the 89th percenitle in offensive net rating gain. This was undoubtedly the biggest returning impact on both sides of the ball in the Big South. Kimani can both take the ball up and be the main facilitator while also being your main scorer which is what I think will lead him to winning Big South Player of the Year.
Big South Hoops Hub Preseason First Team
PG: Kezza Giffa - High Point
Kezza will likely in my eyes be a shoe in for the first team if High Point lives up to expectations, while I don’t think he is the best point guard/guard in the conference and probably not even the best on his own team. His role on the team alone should get him in the role unless Bobby Pettiford jumps him in the lineup.
SG- Kasen Harrison - Winthrop
One of the most underrated keeps in the Big South, Kasen Harrison was in the 99TH percentile in NET Rating Gain at 23.9. While that should revert lower this year, his impact is UNDENIABLE, if Winthrop does good this year, I think Kasen Harrison will be a bigger part of that than Talford or Doucet.
SF- Kimani Hamilton - High Point
Simple answer, picked him as Player of the Year. If he wins that, he will be First Team. Even if he doesn’t win POY, he should make First Team if High Point lives up to preseason expectations.
PF- KJ Doucet - Winthrop
This spot was truly between either Winthrop Big Man and I took Doucet, who was massively better analytically. Doucet had a +12 Net Rating gain, compared to Talford’s -5 Net Rating loss. Doucet should be starting, and if not he could very well take over that role with these stats in his corner.
C- Juslin Bodo Bodo - High Point
The most shocking return from last year’s High Point roster, Bodo Bodo is back and should take another leap forward. Bodo Bodo had similar NET Rating stats as Kimani and with him only being a freshman, the ceiling is VERY much elevated. The lack of size with some of the teams in the conference should be of advantage to him and should help him solidify this spot come end of year.
Big South Hoops Hub Preseason Second Team
PG- A’lahn Sumler - Charleston Southern
One of the best returning offensive guards in the Big South, if not the country, A’lahn Sumler should be a pivotal part of this offense this upcoming season. With all the built chemistry with this current roster, Charleston Southern should be able to hit the ground running unlike some of the other transfer filled teams.
SG- Justin Wright - UNC Asheville
One of the best incoming players to the conference, with one of the more proven coaches in Mike Morrell. Justin Wright comes from LMU in the WCC, and was very successful at Loyola Marymount averaging 11.1 PPG. While I don’t think all of that 11.1 will move with him, I think his assist numbers and overall impact will increase leading him to this 2nd Team nod.
SF- David Early - Radford
One of the other good incoming players to the Big South, David Early was a critical piece of Tennessee Tech last season averaging 14.3 PPG. While that will certainly dip it like Wright should at least transfer enough to make him an important part of this roster and get him an All Conference nod.
PF- Kelton Talford - Winthrop
The other returning Winthrop big, while Talford might play more, his impact statsically will be less if last season was any indication. While he should fill the stat sheet, last season that was to the detriment of the whole roster. Those stats alone will likely get him an All Conference spot, no matter his impact to the team.
C- Taje Kelly - Charleston Southern
Taje Kelly much like Talford, we actually a NET negative for his roster, but a lot of that can be contributed to the lack of depth and lack on chemsity, both of which was changed massively during the off-season. If Taje can keep his stats up, he should be All Conference maybe not 1st team, but he should win some hardware from the Big South.
Big South Hoops Hub Preseason Third Team
PG- Kory Mincy - Presbyterian
One of the stronger bench pieces last year for the Blue Hose, Mincy should have a clear path to the starting job. Analytically one of the best guards in the Big South with a +15.3 NET Rating gain when on the court, and being in the 85th percentile on both sides of the ball. Mincy should be poised to have a sophomore breakout season and hopefully make this list at the end of the season.
SG- RJ Johnson - Charleston Southern
Technically not solely a SG but too good to leave off the list, RJ Johnson was one of the better ball secure guards causing the team to be in the 93rd percentile in TOV% while on the court, also in his last 5 games of last season RJ was in the 99th percentile in AST/TOV ratio. RJ also gets to the line with the best of them.
SF- Michael Christmas - Longwood
One of the most instrumental parts of Longwood’s amazing run in the Big South tournament to make the NCAA Tournament, Christmas is back in Farmville. Christmas in the last two games of the Big South tournament had 12 and 18 in each of those two contests. While that scoring probably won’t sustain, he should be a big piece especially early in the season.
PF- Kobe Stewart - Presbyterian
While his name isn’t Bryant, Kobe Stewart was one of the best retentions by Coach Ferrell and the Blue Hose, much like Mincy who was mentioned above, he was analytically amazing, being ranked in the 81st percentile in NET Rating Gain, and the 87th percentile in offensive NET Rating gain. If Presbyterian makes a step forward, Stewart like Mincy will take a leap forward.
C- Xavier Foster - Radford
The main unknown for Radford is Xavier Foster, he hasn’t seen the court at Iowa State and SMU but if you look back at High School the skill is undeniable. Coach Nichols has been able to find these diamond in the rough players who had talent in HS, I think Xavier Foster is the diamond this season.
Big South Hoops Hub Preseason Coach of the Year
Alan Huss - High Point
Usually the regular season championship winning coach takes home this award, I don’t think that changes this year. Huss has moved High Point into potenially an at large position if they win the right games. I think if High Point wins the Regular Season title or gets an at large Huss should be a shoe-in for the award.
Two coaches I do want to mention to win the award that might not be getting talked about Mark Prosser, and Griff Aldrich.
Big South Hoops Hub Preseason Newcomer of the Year:
Justin Wright - UNC Asheville
This award was really between Justin Wright and David Early in my opinion. In my opinion Wright likely leads his team farther than Early (not saying Radford is worse than Asheville). Wright was a solid scorer at Loyola Marymount and that higher competition should put Wright in the best position to succeed at his role.
Two players I didn’t mention that should impress are KJ McClurg and Brit Harris.
Big South Hoops Hub Preseason Freshman of the Year:
Carmelo Adkins - USC Upstate
I don’t know if too many freshman will play impactful minutes in the conference this season. One of the freshman with the easier paths to the minutes is Adkins. Carmelo coming from the Diamond Doves in OTE was a solid player for them last OTE season. Adkins was originally headed to West Virginia but chose to decommit when the coaching staff left and then chose to follow Coach Richter to USC Upstate. If Adkins can find a role in the lineup he should have a pretty easy path to Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Two more players who could win are Braden Hausen and Iverson King.
Big South Hoops Hub Preseason Regular Season Champion Prediction:
High Point Panthers
As I have hinted throughout this whole article, High Point SHOULD win the regular season title. They have the most talented roster in the Big South in a VERY LONG TIME.
Having Giffa, Thiam, Brenham, Hamilton and Bodo Bodo all coming back would be big on it’s own, but with the addition of high major players like D’ Maurian Williams, Bobby Pettiford, All Conference Stars like Chase Johnston, and international talent like Simon Hildebrandt, Ivan Matlekovic, and Joshua Ibukunoluwa. That brings the team to a whole nother level.
Two sleeper teams (since High Point is almost consensus #1 team) are Longwood and Winthrop.