CATAMOUNT MEN'S BASKETBALL | 3 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>> 7................................ Catamount Head Coach Justin Gray 8 ........................... WCU Men's Basketball Coaches & Staff 10 ..............................................Athletics Clear Bag Policy 12 ................................... WCU Athletics AD & Senior Staff 16 ........... 2022-23 WCU Men's Basketball Schedule / Results 19, 21 ...................................................Opponent Rosters 25 2022-23 Western Carolina Men’s Basketball Roster 26 ........... 2022-23 WCU Men’s Basketball Radio / TV Roster 29 .............................. Catamount Athletics Head Coaches 30 ............. Catamount Athletics Assistant Coaches & Staff 32 .............................................Catamount Athletics Staff 34 ............................ Court at the Ramsey Center 37................. WCU Women’s Basketball – Did You Know...? 38 .............................................. the Cat House Pep Band 42 .................................................. the WCU Dance Team 44 ............................................. Catamount Cheerleaders
HEAD COACH JUSTIN GRAY
SECOND SEASON AT WCU
JUSTIN GRAY was named the 19th head men’s basketball coach at Western Carolina University on April 13, 2021. He scored his first career victory as a head coach in a thrilling overtime win over Bowling Green on Nov. 9, 2021, in his first game as Catamount head coach.
Gray came to Cullowhee after serving two seasons at Winthrop University and he had initially made the move to the College of Charleston with the staff's hiring in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Before his time in Rock Hill, Gray served as the Director of Basketball Development within the Deacon Club at his alma mater, Wake Forest, which came on the heels of a successful 12-year professional playing career overseas.
At Winthrop, Gray helped guide the Eagles to 47 victories over two seasons including a 24-10 mark in 2019-20 and a 23-2 campaign in 2020-21. Winthrop claimed the 2021 Big South tournament title and earning the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
With Gray helping coordinate the offense, Winthrop led the Big South with a 78.9 point per game average with a league-best 15.0 assists per game and 8.4 made 3-pointers per contest.
A three-time All-ACC selection in his playing career at Wake Forest (2002-06), Gray left Winston-Salem as one of the program’s most prolific 3-point shooters. He scored 1,946 career points over 120 career games for the Demon Deacons, finishing his career ranked eighth in program history in scoring while average 16.2 points per game. Gray continues to rank second on Wake’s career 3-pointers made chart with 319 treys and holds three of the top six spots among the school's single-season 3-pointers made list.
In his sophomore season, Gray and eventual first-round NBA draft pick Chris Paul teamed up to become one of the best backcourts in the ACC as Gray averaged 17.0 ppg on his way to All-ACC First Team honors.
In 2002-03, Gray played a role in helping Wake to an ACC Regular Season Championship with a 13-3 league mark.
His collegiate career plaudits also include being named to the ACC All-Freshman team, as well as a three-time USBWA All-District Team and two-time NABC All-District Team selection.
During his 12-year professional career overseas, Gray played for various teams from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Poland, Greece, Ukraine, China, Germany, France, Turkey, Lebanon, Bulgaria, Romania, and Belarus. He also had a couple of stints in the NBA Summer League. Gray won three Belarusian League Championships and three Belarusian Cup Championships. He also guided teams to a Czech Republic League and Cup championship as well as participating in the VTB United League All-Star Game in 2016.
Originally from Charlotte, N.C., Gray played at West Charlotte High before concluding his prep career at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. HE has two sons – Justin, Jr. (JJ) and Kristian – and a daughter, Jhai.
THE JUSTIN GRAY FILE
PERSONAL:
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Family: Justin Jr. (son), Kristian (son), Jhai (daughter)
EDUCATION:
Wake Forest, 2006 – 3x All-ACC selection
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
WESTERN CAROLINA Head Coach 2021–present
• 1st career victory – vs. Bowling Green in overtime (11/9/21)
Winthrop Assistant Coach 2019-21
• Eagles had 47 wins between 2019-2021
• Winthrop won the Big South tournament title in 2021
• Led the Big South in scoring (78.9 ppg) and 3-pointers made (8.4)
CATAMOUNT MEN'S BASKETBALL | 7 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>>
CATAMOUNT MEN'S BASKETBALL >>>>> COACHES & STAFF
8 | FAST BREAK POINTS
<<<<< 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS
CATAMOUNT MEN'S BASKETBALL | 11 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>>
WESTERN CAROLINA ATHLETICS – DEPARTMENT SENIOR STAFF
Alex Gary, a former student-athlete on the Western Carolina baseball team was dubbed the director of the Catamount athletics program in late February 2020 by WCU Chancellor Kelli R. Brown.
Selected following a national search conducted by a 15-member committee working with the assistance of the North Carolina-based executive search consulting firm Collegiate Sports Associates, Gary had most recently served as senior associate athletics director for development at Oregon State.
During his first couple of years as the Athletics Director at WCU, Gary successfully navigated the department through the COVID-19 pandemic while also overseeing the hiring of 50 employees including three high-profile sport head coaches – men's basketball head coach Justin Gray; Kerwin Bell, head football coach; and Alan Beck, head baseball coach.
Gary was appointed to both the NCAA Division I Baseball Rules Committee and the NCAA Division I Women's
Basketball Committee with terms running through 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Gary served as senior associate director of athletics and the department’s chief development officer at Oregon State from September 2017 through 2020. He previously served as associate athletics director for development and external relations at the University of Maryland from 2014 until 2017. He also has held development positions at the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Gary’s professional experience in major collegiate athletics conferences, such as the Pac-12 and Big Ten, combined with his personal familiarity with WCU as a former student-athlete make him a perfect fit to take over the helm of the Catamount athletics program, Brown said.
A native of Knoxville, Tenn., who grew up in Charlotte, Gary was an outfielder on the Catamount baseball team from 2001 until 2004, earning Southern Conference Player of the Week honors in March 2004. During his junior year of 2003, he was a member of WCU’s regular season and SoCon Tournament championship team and participated in the NCAA regionals held in Wilson, N.C. While at Oregon State, he was a member of the executive leadership team responsible for the athletics department’s $85 million budget, 150 employees
and more than 500 student-athletes. He oversaw the 16-member athletics development team, which raised nearly $26 million in 2019, a record for the Beavers’ athletics program. That fundraising effort included a $3.5 million sports performance center renovation, $2.3 million women’s locker room renovation, and $2.6 million baseball stadium expansion.
During his stint at the University of Maryland, Gary chaired a committee focused on the financial sustainability of the athletics department, and he led annual giving growth in the Terrapin Club by 22 percent in 2015 and 13 percent in 2016. As a member of the development team at the University of Michigan from 2010 until 2014, he worked closely with the university’s athletics department, raising $12.8 million to support the Wolverines’ athletics program’s capital and endowment needs. He began his career in 2009 as assistant director of annual giving at UNC Charlotte.
He earned a degree in business administration in 2005 from Virginia Commonwealth University and his master’s degree in business administration at UNC Charlotte in 2009.
Gary and the former Katie Mavis of Saint Joseph, Mich., were married in a mountain-top ceremony in Oregon on Aug. 28, 2020. The couple has a daughter, Gianna.
12 | FAST BREAK POINTS <<<<< 2022-23
BASKETBALL –
BREAK POINTS
CATAMOUNT
FAST
Daniel Hooker Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations
Julie Miller Associate Athletic Director for Development
Travis Chandler Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance
Ashleigh Simmons Associate AD for Academics & Compliance (SWA)
Kyle Pifer WCU Deputy Athletics Director
Amanda Murchie Assistant Athletic Director for Business
Chad Gerrety Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs
ALEX GARY DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
PRESENTED BY EDWARD JONES: JUSTIN CASTLE
6 Home Baseball Games
Interested in joining? Please contact the Catamount Ticket office
Working
- New investors
- Military professionals and veterans
- Business retirement plans
- Entrepreneurs & business owners
- Portfolio reviews
- Retirement income strategies
CATAMOUNT MEN'S BASKETBALL | 15 MEMBERS RECEIVE:
- Free Admission to: 1 Home Football Game 4 Home Basketball Games
$25 FOR CATAMOUNT FANS OVER 55 YEARS OLD
- Free “Silver Cats” T-Shirt ONLY
with a Financial Advisor
Help create a better future with a financial advisor who puts you at the center
CATAMOUNT MEN'S BASKETBALL
2022-23 SCHEDULE / RESULTS
16 | FAST BREAK POINTS
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME/RESULT Nov. 7 at Georgia Athens, Ga. L, 68-55 Nov. 10 at Maryland College Park, Md. L, 71-51 NOV. 13 BRESCIA CULLOWHEE W, 112-45 Nov. 18 at McNeese State ^ Lake Charles, La. W, 88-69 Nov. 19 vs. Lamar ^ Lake Charles, La. W, 98-91 (OT) Nov. 19 vs. Lindenwood ^ Lake Charles, La. W, 90-88 (OT) Nov. 26 at UNC Asheville Asheville, N.C. L, 73-61 NOV. 30 GARDNER-WEBB CULLOWHEE L, 71-55 DEC. 3 USC UPSTATE ( DH) CULLOWHEE L, 79-64 USC Dec. 7 at Davidson Davidson, N.C. L, 72-64 N.C DEC. 10 BREVARD CULLOWHEE W, 99-55 Dec. 17 at Tennessee Tech Cookeville, Tenn. W, 75-65 DEC. 20 TOCCOA FALLS CULLOWHEE W, 117-50 DEC. 29 UNCG * CULLOWHEE L, 72-47 DEC. 31 FURMAN * CULLOWHEE W, 79-67 Jan. 4 at ETSU * Johnson City, Tenn. W, 71-60 Tenn. JAN. 7 MERCER * CULLOWHEE W, 73-45 Jan. 11 at Chattanooga * Chattanooga, Tenn. L, 95-76 Jan. 14 at The Citadel * Charleston, S.C. L, 65-61 S.C JAN. 18 WOFFORD (Blackout Game) * CULLOWHEE W, 76-71 Jan. 21 at Samford * Birmingham, Ala. L, 74-65 JAN. 25 THE CITADEL * CULLOWHEE L, 81-70 * Jan. 28 at VMI * Lexington, Va. W, 71-65 FEB. 1 SAMFORD * CULLOWHEE 7 PM FEB. 4 CHATTANOOGA (DH) * CULLOWHEE 2 PM Feb. 8 at Wofford * Spartanburg, S.C. 7 pm S.C Feb. 11 at Furman * Greenville, S.C. 2 pm FEB. 15 ETSU (Beat the Bucs Night) * CULLOWHEE 7 PM Feb. 18 at Mercer * Macon, Ga. 2 pm Feb. 22 at UNCG * Greensboro, N.C. 7 pm FEB. 25 VMI * (Senior Day / Pack the RAC) CULLOWHEE 4 PM MAR. 3-6 @ SoCon Championships Asheville, N.C. TBA – Dates & Times are subject to change | HOME = ALL CAPS ^ – denotes McNeese State MTE event | * denotes Southern Conference game
<<<<< 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS
TYLER HARRIS
RUSSELL JONES JR.
VONTERIUS WOOLBRIGHT
COLIN GRANGER
SAMFORD BULLDOGS
Danny Young (Grand Canyon, 1990) • 1st season
ENROLLMENT: 5,758 Neb Exantus (Southern New Hampshire, 2017) • 3rd season PRESIDENT: Dr. Beck Taylor
ATHLETIC TRAINER: Brad Montgomery (North Alabama, 1989) • 3rd season
CHATTANOOGA MOCS
ATHLETICS DIRECTOR: Martin Newton
WEBSITE: SamfordSports.com
HEAD COACH: Dan Earl (Penn State, 1997) • 1st season
ASSISTANT COACHES: Ander Galfsky (Birmingham–Southern, 2015) • season
QUICK FACTS:
Chattanooga, Tenn. Scott Greenman (Princeton, 2006) • 1st season ENROLLMENT: 11,489
Kenneth White (North Carolina, 2001)
DIRECTOR OF OPS: Tom Kiely (Seton Hall, 2018) • 1st season
CHANCELLOR: Dr. Steve Angle
ATHLETICS DIRECTOR: Mark Wharton
ATHLETIC TRAINER: Brenda Rademacher (Wisconsin, 2014) • 6th season WEBSITE: GoMocs.com
CATAMOUNT MEN'S BASKETBALL | 19 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>>
No. Name (Pronunciation) Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown (Previous School / High School) 0 Ques Glover G 6-0 180 Jr. Knoxville, Tenn. / Bearden HS / Florida 1 Bubba Parham (PAR–uhm) G 5-11 165 Sr. Snellville, Ga. / Brookwood HS / Georgia Tech 2 Jaden Campbell G 6-5 205 Jr. Brampton, Ontario (Florida Southwestern / The Rock School) 3 Jaron Rillie (JAIR–uhn RILL–ee) G 6-3 165 So. Sydney, Australia / Link Year Prep (Mo.) 4 Jermaine Marshall F 6-6 225 Jr. Brighton, Ala. / Hueytown / Akron 5 A.J. Staton-McCray (STATE–uhn muh–CRAY) G 6-5 190 So. Delray Beach, Fla. / West Oaks, Academy (Fla.) 10 Owen LaRocca (la–ROCK–uh) G 6-1 150 So. Sugar Land, Texas / Fort Bend Christian 11 Marcellus Vail G 6-2 195 So. Shelbyville, Ky. / Martha Layne Collins HS 12 Daniel Lobach (LOW–bock) F 6-7 190 R-So. Durham,. N.C. / Moravian Prep / Rutgers 13 Quinn Richey G 6-5 205 Jr. Johns Creek, Ga. / James Madison 14 Achor Achor (uh–CHORE uh–CHORE) F 6-9 222 So. Melbourne, Australia (Chipola College / Greenforest McCalep Academy) 15 Grayson Walters F 6-5 210 So. Mountain Brook, Ala. (Link Year Prep (Mo.)) 21 Britton Johnson G 6-4 185 Sr. Mountain Brook, Ala. (Alabama / Mountain Brook HS) 22 Logan Dye F 6-9 240 Sr. Haleyville, Ala. (Haleyville HS) 23 Cooper Kaifes (KAY–fuss) G 6-4 205 R-Jr. Shawnee, Kansas (Loyola-Chicago / Mill Valley HS) 24 Brody Boyer G 6-4 210 Jr. Palm Bay, Fla. (Eastern Florida State / Bayside HS) 25 Nathan Johnson F 6-7 205 Sr. Adel, Iowa (UMBC / Sunrise Christian Academy) 31 Joshua Hughes F 6-5 200 Fr. Woodstock, Ga. (Etowah HS) 32 Clay Holmes G 6-2 235 So. Brentwood, Tenn. (Brentwood Academy) 33 Charlie Morrison G 6-0 190 So. Athens, Ala. (Lindsay Lane Christian) 35 Paulie Stramaglia (struh–MAG–lee–uh) G 5-11 180 Fr. Mountain Brook, Ala. (Mountain Brook HS) HEAD COACH: Bucky McMillan (Birmingham Southern, 2006) • 3rd season QUICK FACTS: ASSOC. HEAD COACH: Mitch Cole (Montana State–Billings, 1992) • 2nd season LOCATION: Birmingham, Ala. ASSISTANT COACHES:
No. Name (Pronunciation) Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown (Previous School / High School) 0 A.J. Caldwell G 6-5 200 R-Sr. Sarasota, Fla. (South Alabama / Riverview HS) 1 KC Hankton F 6-7 215 Sr. Charlotte, N.C. (St. Louis / Arts & Sciences HS) 2 Jamaal Walker G 6-5 194 R-So. Chattanooga, Tenn. (East Hamilton HS) 3 Honor Huff G 5-10 155 So. Brooklyn, N.Y. (VMI / Perekiomen HS) 4 Sam Alexis F 6-9 190 Fr. Apopka, Fla. (Apopka HS) 5 Jamal Johnson G 6-4 195 Sr. Birmingham, Ala. (Auburn / UAB / Spain Park HS) 10 Dalvin White G 5-10 162 Gr. Norcross, Ga. (USC Upstate / Norcross HS) 11 Ashton Smith G 5-8 163 Jr. Memphis, Tenn. (Southwind HS) 12 Johnny Taylor, Jr. G 6-3 184 R-Fr. Ocoee, Fla. (Ocoee HS) 13 Khristion Courseault (KRIS–chun COR–salt) G 6-2 180 Jr. Los Angeles, Calif. (Nevada / Houston Baptist / Loyola HS) 22 Demetrius Davis (duh–ME–tree–us) F 6-9 185 Jr. Atlanta, Ga. (Lawson State CC / McEachern HS) 33 Jake Stephens C 7-0 275 Gr. Bunker Hill, W.Va. (VMI / Musselman HS) 34 Randy Brady G / F 6-4 215 R-Fr. Chattanooga, Tenn. (Hamilton Heights HS) 35 Grant Ledford G / F 6-5 215 Jr. Knoxville, Tenn. (Grace Christian HS) 55 Brody Robinson G 5-10 150 Fr. Houston, Texas (Houston Christian HS)
LOCATION:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
ETSU BUCCANEERS
HEAD COACH: Desmond Oliver (Dominican College, 1992) • 2nd season
Joe Hughley (Central Connecticut State, 2019) • 1st season
Vince Martin (Young Harris) • 1st season
DIRECTOR OF OPS: Aaron Jones • 2nd season
ATHLETIC TRAINER: Brett Lewis • 1st season
VMI KEYDETS
LOCATION: Johnson City, Tenn.
FACTS: ASSISTANT COACHES: Mark Bialkoski (Georgia Southern, 2008) • 2nd season
ENROLLMENT: 14,400
PRESIDENT: Dr. Brian Noland
ATHLETICS DIRECTOR: Dr. Richard Sander (interim)
WEBSITE: ETSUBucs.com
HEAD COACH: Andrew Wilson (Florida State, 2004)
1st season
FACTS: ASSISTANT COACHES: Dave Davis (Warren Wilson, 1983)
1st season ENROLLMENT: 1,575
Va. Keith Chesley (Maine-Augusta, 2016)
DIRECTOR OF OPS: Luke Colwell (South Carolina, 2022) • 1st season
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT: Ryan King (Virginia Union, 2010) • 1st season
ATHLETIC TRAINER: Lance Fujiwara • 35th season
SUPERINTENDENT: Major Gen. Cedric T. Wins
DIRECTOR: Jim Miller
VMIKeydet.com
CATAMOUNT MEN'S BASKETBALL | 21 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>>
No. Name (Pronunciation) Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown (Previous School / High School) 0 Jeremy Gregory F 6-6 230 Fr. Charlotte, N.C. (Oak Hill Academy) 1 Jamarius Hairston (jah–MARE–ee-us) G 6-4 193 Gr. Salisbury, N.C. (Lees-McRae / Davidson County CC / Carson HS) 2 Jordan King G 6-0 172 So. Albany, N.Y. (Siena / Christian Brothers Academy) 3 DeAnthony Tipler G 5-10 170 Sr. Ashland, Miss. (Coastal Carolina / NE Mississippi / Ashland HS) 5 Allen Strothers G 6-1 170 R-Fr. Newport News, Va. (Menchville HS) 10 Josh Taylor F 6-8 205 Jr. Atlanta, Ga. (Georgia / Norcross HS) 11 Jalen Haynes F 6-8 255 So. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Virginia Tech / Montverde Academy / Dillard HS) 12 Justice Smith G 6-6 215 R-So. Lyons, N.Y. (Mansfield Univ. / Lyons HS) 13 Brock Jancek (JAN–sick) F 6-8 225 Gr. Knoxville, Tenn. (Tennessee / Knoxville Catholic HS) 15 Cameron George G 6-3 185 So. Knoxville, Tenn. (William Blount HS) 20 Kordell Charles F 6-8 205 So. Ontario, Canada (IMG Academy) 22 Jaden Seymour F 6-8 205 So. Charlotte, N.C. (Wichita State / Northside Christian) 23 Braden Ilic (ILL–ick) F 6-9 225 Fr. Morristown, Tenn. (Morristown East HS)
QUICK
No. Name (Pronunciation) Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown (Previous School / High School) 0 Louis Tang (like Lewis) G 6-4 195 Sr. Kaohsiung, Taiwan (St. Mary’s Ryken (Md.)) 1 Brennan Watkins G 5-11 162 So. Kearney, Mo. (Kearney HS) 2 Taeshaud Jackson II (TAY–shawd) G 6-4 210 Fr. Denver, Colo. (Southern California Academy ) 3 Asher Woods G 6-3 180 Fr. Newnan, Ga. (Parkview HS) 4 Rickey Bradley, Jr. G 6-2 185 Fr. Milwaukee, Wis. (PHH Prep (Ariz.)) 10 Tony Felder, Jr. G 5-10 165 Fr. Boston, Mass. (Malden Catholic HS) 11 Devin Butler G 6-2 195 Jr. Ridgeland, S.C. (Ridgeland-Hardeeville HS) 14 Sam Wolfe F 6-8 214 Sr. Charlotte, N.C. (United Faith HS) 15 Cooper Sisco G 6-5 185 So. Frisco, Texas (Wakeland HS) 24 Tanner Mans G 6-6 187 Jr. Wichita, Kansas (Bishop Carroll HS) 30 Sean Conway G 6-5 215 Sr. Fairfield, Conn. (Fairfield Warde / Cushing Academy) 35 KC Etienne (EH–tee–en) C 6-8 225 So. Newburgh, N.Y. (St. John Paul the Great HS) 42 DJ Nussbaum (NUSS–bahm) C 6-9 230 Jr. Houston, Texas (Episcopal HS) 44 Tyler Houser (HOW–zer) C 6-9 235 Fr. Camp Hill, Pa. (Cedar Cliff
HS)
LOCATION:
•
QUICK
• 1st season
Lexington,
•
ATHLETICS
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
WEBSITE:
Good Luck, WCU! ingles-markets.com
WESTERN
CATAMOUNT MEN'S BASKETBALL | 25 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>> No Name (Pronunciation) Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown (Previous School / High School) 0 Tyzhaun Claude (TY–jion) F 6-8 235 R-Jr Goldsboro, N.C. (Morehead State / Moravian Prep) 1 Russell Jones Jr G 5-8 167 R-Jr Blythewood, S.C. (Winthrop / Westwood HS) 2 Vonterius Woolbright (von–TARE–e–us) G 6-5 208 R-Jr Albany, Ga. (Lawson State CC / Thomasville HS) 3 Tre Jackson G 6-1 181 R-Jr Columbia, S.C. (Iowa State / Blythewood HS) 4 Tyler Harris G / F 6-7 199 Sr. Charlotte, N.C. (Independence HS) 5 DJ Campbell G 6-2 200 Fr Hampton, Va. (Kecoughton HS) 11 Cam Bacote (BAY–coat) G 6-3 176 Gr Hampton, Va. (Indiana State / Bethel HS) 12 Cinque Lemon (SIN–que) W 6-7 203 Fr. Spring Lake, N.C. (Liberty Heights Athletic Institute) 13 Marcus Kell F 6-8 206 Fr Rock Hill, S.C. (Legion Collegiate Academy) 21 RaSheed Jones (rah–SHEED) G 6-6 178 Fr Marion, Ind. (Marion HS) 23 Marlow Gilmore (MARR–low) F 6-5 195 Sr Norway, S.C. (Dodge City CC / Hunter-Kinard-Tyler HS) 24 Bernard Pelote (pell–OAT) F 6-8 217 So Savannah, Ga. (Catawba College / Woodville HS) 32 Colin Granger (GRAIN–jurr) F 6-9 247 Jr. Suwanee, Ga. (Ohio / Lambert HS) 41 Miles McClure (MICK-cloor) G 6-4 227 Fr Franklin, N.C. (Franklin HS) 42 Jalen Higgins G 6-4 186 Fr Raeford, N.C. (Freedom Christian Academy) 45 Elijah Cupples (CUP–puhls) G 6-2 200 R-Jr Harrisburg, N.C. (Bob Jones / Hickory Ridge HS) HEAD COACH: Justin Gray (Wake Forest, 2006) • Second season at WCU ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH: .......................... Jayson Gee (University of Charleston, 1988) • Second season at WCU ASSISTANT COACH: Ryne Lightfoot (Bethel (Ind.) University, 2010) • First season at WCU ASSISTANT COACH: .................................... Zack Freesman (North Florida, 2016) • Second season at WCU DIRECTOR OF BASKETBALL OPS: Molly Bachand (Kansas, 2007) • Second season at WCU VIDEO COORDINATOR: ................................... Cody Cohen (Florida Atlantic, 2014) • Second Season at WCU ATHLETIC TRAINER: Kaylyn Norville (North Carolina, 2020) • First Season at WCU SPORTS PERFORMANCE: ........................................ Austin Davis (Michigan, 2020) • First Season at WCU
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 2022-23
Statistics
CAROLINA CATAMOUNTS 2022-23 MEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER
Western Carolina Men's Basketball – Updated
26 | FAST BREAK POINTS <<<<< 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS WESTERN CAROLINA MEN’S BASKETBALL – 2022-23 Radio / TV Chart Bernard PELOTE 6-8 | 217 lbs. | So. Tyzhaun CLAUDE 6-8 | 235 lbs. | R-Jr. Jalen HIGGINS 6-4 | 186 lbs. | Fr. Russell JONES JR. 5-8 | 167 lbs. | R-Jr. Elijah CUPPLES 6-2 | 200 lbs. | R-Jr. Vonterius WOOLBRIGHT 6-5 | 208 lbs. | R-Jr. 24 0 42 1 45 2 Tre JACKSON 6-1 | 181 lbs. | R-Jr. Tyler HARRIS 6-6 | 199 lbs. | Sr. DJ CAMPBELL 6-2 | 200 lbs. | Fr. Cam BACOTE 6-3 | 176 lbs. | Gr. 3 4 5 11 Cinque LEMON 6-7 | 203 lbs. | Fr. Marcus KELL 6-8 | 206 lbs. | Fr. RaSheed JONES 6-6 | 178 lbs. | Fr. Marlow GILMORE 6-5 | 195 lbs. | Sr. 12 13 21 23 Colin GRANGER 6-9 | 247 lbs. | Jr. Miles McCLURE 6-4 | 227 lbs. | Fr. 32 41
WESTERN CAROLINA ATHLETICS >>>>> CATAMOUNT HEAD COACHES
CATAMOUNT MEN'S BASKETBALL | 29 2022-23
>>>>>
CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS
ALAN BECK baseball
JUSTIN GRAY mens basketball
KILEY HILL womens basketball
CAITLIN DAVIS cheerleading
KERWIN BELL football
TIM ECKBERG mens golf
COURTNEY GUNTER womens golf CHAD MILLER soccer
JIM CLIFT softball BRET BEAVER tennis
JESSE NORMAN xc / track and field
KAREN GLOVER volleyball
30 | FAST BREAK POINTS <<<<< 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS WESTERN CAROLINA ATHLETICS >>>>> COACHES & STAFF Jeff Korte Assistant Coach Baseball Derek Beasley Assistant Coach Baseball JD Mundy Volunteer Assistant Coach Baseball Kendra Samuels-Eaton Associate Head Coach Women's Basketball Megan Brown Assistant Coach Women's Basketball Eileen Van Horn Assistant Coach Women's Basketball Jordan Worrell Director of Women's Basketball Operations Madison Pack Video Coordinator Women's Basketball Seth Graves Director of Player Development Baseball Hailey Schenk Assistant Coach Cheerleading Lauren Brooks Assistant Coach Cheerleading Kade Bell Assistant Coach / OC Football Chazmon Scales Assistant Coach / DC Football Chris Norris Assistant Coach / SPTM Football JJ Laster Assistant Coach Football Brian Cochran Assistant Coach Football Jeremy Darveau Assistant Coach Football Todd Shealy Director of Football Operations Jeff Burger Volunteer Assistant Coach Football Larry Murphy Assistant Coach Football Trent Turknett Director of Player Personnel Football Sydney Spears Director of On-Campus Recruiting Football Rudi Small Assistant Coach Football Nick Whiting Associate Head Coach Women's Soccer Rylan Wells Assistant Coach Football Daniel Haakenson Assistant Coach Track & Field Greg McGruder Quality Control – Offense Football DeAirus Whitney Quality Control – Defense Football Ashley Gasaway Assistant Coach Volleyball Cody Edwards Assistant Coach Football Taylor Svehla Assistant Coach Volleyball Gillian Urycki Assistant Coach Track & Field Madison Armstrong Assistant Coach Softball Maryanne Kilgore Assistant Coach Women's Soccer Rob Sidwell Volunteer Assistant Coach Softball
32 | FAST BREAK POINTS <<<<< 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS Denise Gideon Director of Media Relations Denise Gideon Director of Media Relations WESTERN CAROLINA ATHLETICS >>>>> DEPARTMENT STAFF MEMBERS Tyler Pope Director of Athletics Marketing & Fan Engagement Jonathan Sessoms Director of Athletics Ticket Operations Michael Gilbert Athletics Ticketing Operations & Marketing Assistant Ric Sisler Director of Corporate Sponsorships Evan Ellis Director of Video Operations Patrick Mullaney Assistant Director of Video Operations Mark Conlin Director of Athletic Facilities Arman Jones Assistant Director of Academics for Football Haley Mitchell Assistant Director of Academic Support Matt Sawyer Senior Academics Advisor Rory Jimerson Director of Game Operations & Facilities Trey Fisher Game Operations & Facilities Assistant Kim Jamison Athletics Department Administrative Assistant Lauren Rhyne Assistant Director of Development, Events & Stewardship Rob Reyburn Associate Head Athletic Trainer (FB) Julia Daniel Assistant Athletic Trainer (XC/T&F) JP Hill Assistant Director of Development / Catamount Club Taylor Holman Assistant Director of Development / Catamount Club Steven Honbarger Director of Sports Medicine (FB) Mike Taylor Head Equipment Manager Todd Lawing Director of the Ramsey Center Kaylyn Norville Assistant Athletic Trainer (MBK) Haley Bennington Athletic Training Intern (WSOC / WTEN) Cody Jones Sports Performance Intern Jacob Topple Assistant Sports Performance Coach Aurora Goujon Assistant Athletic Trainer (WBK) Tyler Spain Assistant Athletic Trainer (BASE) LeeAnn Grayson Assistant Athletic Trainer (SB) Ben Jacobs Director of Sports Performance & Nutrition Austin Davis Assistant Director of Sports Performance Mark Warren Director of Development / Catamount Club Connor Owens Assistant Sports Performance Coach Nick Mashburn Assistant Director of Operations – Ramsey Center
RAMSEY CENTER QUICK FACTS:
DEDICATION: December 6, 1986
First Game / First Women’s Basketball Game: Western Carolina 65, Mars Hill 61 (12/4/86)
First
34 | FAST BREAK POINTS
Men’s Basketball Game: N.C. State 96, Western Carolina 75 (12/6/86)
Men’s Basketball Attendances: 1. 8,114 North Carolina State (12/6/86) 2. 6,024 Appalachian State (2/06/10) 3. 4,765 College of Charleston (1/25/10) 4. 4,603 No. 16 Kansas (12/3/87) 5. 4,577 Appalachian State (2/26/96) 6. 4,343 Chattanooga (1/14/06) 7. 4,217 Georgia Southern (2/10/07) 8. 4,178 Davidson (1/24/13) 9. 4,121 Appalachian State (2/28/04) 10. 4,107 Appalachian State (1/28/02) Top Women’s Basketball Attendance: 2,178 - vs. Chattanooga (02/10/07) FOLLOW CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ALL SEASON LONG FB.COM/CATAMOUNTSPORTS @CATAMOUNTS | WCU_CATAMOUNTS
First Men’s Basketball Win: Western Carolina 90, Tusculum 58 (1/5/87) Top
CATAMOUNT MEN'S BASKETBALL >>>>> DID YOU KNOW...?
• Western Carolina’s HENRY LOGAN – the program’s all-time leading scorer – helped break the color barrier in college basketball when he signed with WCU in 1964 becoming the first African-American collegiate athlete in the history of North Carolina and perhaps at any predominantly white institution in the southeastern United States ... Logan scored an astounding 3,290 points – an average of 30.7 points per game –during his WCU career and was a four-time NAIA All-America selection ... One of 11 in WCU’s initial Athletics Hall of Fame Class in 1990, Logan was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2000;
• WCU gave birth to the 3-point shot in the NCAA as former Catamount RONNIE CARR buried the first 3-pointer in WCU’s 77-70 victory over Middle Tennessee State on Nov. 29, 1980 … the ball he used is on display at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. … The shot was made from the left corner with 16:09 left in the first half (7:06 pm) ... Carr, who is in the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame, actually took and missed a 3-pointer from the top of the key at the 18:15 mark of the first half;
• WCU finished as the 1963 NAIA National Runner-Up under head coach Jim Gudger
... With a 28-7 overall record, WCU won the Carolina’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAC) tournament and the NAIA District title ... the Catamounts then rattled off wins on consecutive days over Eastern Montana, Miles, Lewis & Clark and Fort Hayes State before falling in the championship game to Texas Pan American;
• In its only NCAA tournament appearance, the 1996 Catamounts led by WCU Hall of Famer ANQUELL McCOLLUM nearly pulled off the most improbable of upsets as the No. 16 seed fell by two, 73-71, to No. 1 seed Purdue in Albuquerque, N.M. ... the game was tied 71-71 with under three minutes to play with Purdue’s Brandon Brantley scoring the game’s final bucket with 1:30 showing on the clock at “The Pit” ... WCU had two looks at both a game-winning and a game-tying shot inside the closing seconds but both attempts missed ... the 1995-96 Catamount men's basketball team was inducted into the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022;
• WCU’s bid to play in the CollegeInsider.com Post-Season Tournament (CIT) following the 2009-10 season represented the Catamounts’ return to post-season play for the first time since 1996 ... WCU made its third post-season appearance all-time in 201516 when it traveld to Burlington, Vt., in the first-ever meeting against the Vermont Catamounts in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI);
• WCU’s most recent former player to play in the NBA is KEVIN MARTIN, who played for the Catamounts from 2001-04 ... Martin, a 2019 inductee into the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame and the first-round pick of the Sacramento Kings in ‘04, was the FIRST Catamount to ever be selected in the first round of the NFL, NBA or MLB Draft;
• KEVIN MARTIN (2001-04) and FRANKIE KING (1993-95) were both named to the Southern Conference's 100th Anniversary Men's Basketball team at the end of the year-long celebration in 2021.
CATAMOUNT MEN'S BASKETBALL | 37 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>>
RONALD ROGERS
HENRY LOGAN
RONNIE CARR
FRANKIE KING
ANQUELL McCOLLUM
KEVIN MARTIN
CAT HOUSE PEP BAND
38 | FAST BREAK POINTS
CATAMOUNT MEN'S BASKETBALL | 41 2022-23 CATAMOUNT BASKETBALL – FAST BREAK POINTS >>>>>
42 | FAST BREAK POINTS 2022-23 WCU DANCE TEAM 1211009 Friends. Family. Community. We’re all in this together. Get to a better State ® State Farm, Bloomington, IL Charles Wolfe, Agent 180 Webster Road Sylva, NC 28779 Bus: 828-586-4026 charles w wolfe bwll@statefarm com State Farm® has a long tradition of being there. That's one reason why I'm proud to suppor t Western Carolina Universit y
FRONT ROW (L-R): Skylar Poulos, Naidelyn Cruz and Nicole Stauffer
MIDDLE ROW (L-R): Matigan Rowe, Alex Henry, Kenzie Davis, Kimberly Hydrick, Alyssa Malgrat and Megan Normandin
BACK ROW (L-R): Liv Wiesenhart, Samantha Harp, Bailey Burk, Julia Gerrer, Ashley Avant, Michelle Davis and Madison Tadlock
2022-23 CATAMOUNT CHEERLEADERS
44 | FAST BREAK POINTS
FRONT ROW (L-R): Hannah Wing, Airica Anderson, Caroline Lopp, Molly McAvoy, Sara, Grace Smith, Olivia Hawkins and Sarena Burrell
MIDDLE ROW (L-R): Riley Ledford, Lindsey Mendzoa, Emma Shue, Kate Ammend, Marissa Clontz, Becca Kilpatrick, Kamdyn Anderson, Scotting Branning and Tiana Scarchilli
At United Community Bank, we keep our eye on the ball to bring you the best financial solutions. Member FDIC. © 2018 United Community Bank | ucbi.com UNITED WE PLAY. UNITED WE WIN. SYLVA 1640 East Main Street 828-631-9166
BACK ROW (L-R): Isabella Fazio, Savannah Jones, Catie Osborne, Nathan Campbell, Riley Sanz, Kasi Jones and Makenna Shipley
