Nov. 10, 2009
The 2009-2010 version of North Carolina Central University's men's basketball team will see a lot of new faces, but a familiar one has taken over as the program moves into it's third season at the Division I level. LeVelle Moton was named Head Coach on March 25, 2009 and has immediately made his mark on the program. He is the program's third all-time leading scorer and is the only player in school history to be named CIAA Player of the Year. He led the Eagles to the "Elite Eight" during his playing career, one that garnered Hall of Fame recognition.
Since being named to head coach, he has energized a basketball crazy fan base. One thing Moton has preached to the Eagle nation is patience, because he knows full well that the road to the top will see its challenges, especially during this transition to Division I, and being his first season at the helm.
"I just take it as a blessing each day that I wake up. I embrace it, relish the opportunity. I look forward to the challenge ahead. It's pretty much been parallel and symbolic to my life as a whole," stated Moton. "I'm looking at it as a unique challenge that's ahead, and I'm just trying to embark on some new things. It's been a learning experience thus far, nothing I didn't expect, and nothing I will complain about. Right now my main focus is branding this basketball program, getting it out in the community and try to gets some fans in the seats to support this program."
The youthful Eagles boast just one senior, Joshua Worthy (Lewisville, TX), the lone player left from when NCCU's Division II days and still competing in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
Four juniors (Michael Glasker, Vincent Davis, Lamar Pittman, and Raphael McDonald), one sophomore (Nick Chasten), and one freshman (Dami Sapara) round out the returners for NCCU. Vincent Davis is the leading returning scorer after dropping in 11.2 points per contest in his first season, while Michael Glasker led the team with 80 assists and looks to do much of the same in his third season in maroon and gray.
Those seven along with Moton's first recruiting class will join together in this third Division I edition of NCCU basketball.
"I know it's sounds cliché, but to get better each day is our mantra coming into this season," said Moton. "We're not trying to make any bold projections, we're just trying to have a first class organization with a blue collar work ethic day-to-day in what we do. When you do that everything else takes care of itself, and if we do that, we'll be successful where we need to be on and off the floor."
Instant Recruiting Success
Moments after being named head coach at NCCU, Moton was on the recruiting trail trying to get the pieces to a future championship puzzle. Six players made up Moton's first class starting with local products C.J. Wilkerson (Oxford, N.C.), Landon Clement (University of North Carolina at Greensboro transfer/Raleigh, N.C.), and Dijon Manns (Raleigh, N.C.) signed to attend NCCU and don the maroon and gray uniforms of the Eagles. T.J. Granger (Richmond, Va.) Dwayne Sims (Dayton, OH), and Ryan Fleming (Alpharetta, Ga) rounded out the final three signees in the recruiting class.
Wilkerson, a 6-3 205 pound guard, played at J.F. Webb High School in Oxford, N.C. where he was named All-Conference in the Mid-State 3-A three times, along with Player of the Year honors his senior season. He was also named the "District Player of the Year" by the Henderson Daily Dispatch. Wilkerson led the Warriors to the playoffs three years in a row, and averaged 18.7 points per contest his senior year including 26.7 points per outing in the playoffs. He spent the last two years at both Clinton Junior College in Rock Hill, S.C. and Southeastern Iowa Community College in West Burlington, Iowa. In his first year at SICC he started 29 of 31 games as a freshman for the Blackhawks. After moving closer to home to Clinton Junior College, he got the nod in all 33 games for the Golden Bears and earned First Team All-Region 10 honors after pouring in 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per outing.
"One of the most important signees at NCCU," said Moton. "He is very versatile, can play and defend all three guard positions on the floor. Super athletic and will make an immediate impact on the Division I level. He was very impressive during the Greater Pro Am Summer League last year, holding his own against NBA, and ACC stars. C.J. is a great kid from a strong family background and we couldn't be happier to have him here at NCCU."
The second student-athlete played under Moton during his AAU coaching days and also at Sanderson High School for three years earning all-conference his last two seasons. Clement, a 6-2 180 pound shooting guard, left SHS second in all-time scoring along with finishing his high school career number one in career three pointers made and free throw percentage. Clement took his game to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, playing two seasons there under Head Coach Mike Dement. He contributed almost immediately playing in 27 of the 31 contests his freshman season.
His sophomore campaign began strong after getting the nod in the first three games. Clement poured in 13 points in the season opener at Charlotte, going three-for-six from three-point range, and exploding for a game-high 26 points against Webber International, hitting a season-high five treys in UNCG's first win of the season. Clement showed flashes of his shooting ability throughout the season with 15 points in a home loss to The Citadel, and 17 points against NCAA Tournament participant Chattanooga. In that contest on January 22, he went three-for-nine from the perimeter for the Spartans. When asked about bringing Clement in to NCCU, Moton compared him to former Duke standout J.J. Redick.
"I have had the fortune of coaching this young man since he was 12 years old so obviously, there is a lot of emotion involved here", said Moton. "I have said this from day one, he is the best shooter that I have ever coached and we welcome that ability here at NCCU."
Per NCAA Transfer rules, Clement will have to sit-out the 2009-10 season.
The third signee to the 2009 class, Dijon Manns, a 6-8, 230-pound power forward from down the road in Knightdale, N.C., was one of just three players in Knightdale High School's short history to play all four years of varsity basketball under Head Coach Battle Watkins. In his senior campaign, Manns scored in double figures 11 times, including a season-high 20 points in an 87-48 win over Southeast Raleigh High School. He also put up a double-double against Athens Drive in the conference tournament with 14 points and 12 rebounds in the win.
Manns was named to the Greater Neuse River All-Conference team in the 2007-08 season and was a key contributor of 73 wins during his time at KHS. Manns was also a vital member of both a regular season and tournament championship in the Greater Nuese River Conference while piling up 614 points and grabbing 250 boards in four seasons.
"Dijon is a very skilled big man," said Moton. "He reminds me of Sean May with his hands, feet, and ability to shoot the ball and also post. He comes from a winning program at Knightdale High and we were able keep an eye on him throughout the season because he was a local kid."
"His parents (Teresa and Al) have done a tremendous job of instilling their core values which makes him an exceptional kid," Moton said of Manns. "I look forward to him contributing to our program immediately."
Terrance "T.J." Granger, the fourth signee of the 2009 class, transfers from Allegany College of Maryland in Cumberland, Md., where the 6-9, 270-pound center played a crucial role for the Trojans, who finished the 2008-2009 season 29-7 overall and 14-2 in the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference under Head Coach Mike Baker.
Granger averaged 9.4 points per game and was third on the team with 5.4 rebounds a game. He was also second on the squad shooting 56.2 percent from the field.
He stepped up his game in the postseason for the Trojans as he was named to the Region XX All-Tournament team after putting up a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds. That all-star performance helped vault the program to its 20th Region XX Division I tournament championship, which qualified Allegany for the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. In the first game of the District 3 National Tournament, Granger was one of three Allegany players in double-figures putting up 12 points in a 70-66 win over Monroe.
He is originally from Richmond, Va., where he starred at Thomas Jefferson High School before moving on to ACM, the same institution that former University of Maryland star, Steve Francis, attended. Numerous reports had Granger being sought after by many mid-major programs before expressing his desire to wear the maroon and gray.
"We obviously wanted to address our interior needs and Terrance provides us with that," said Moton. "He is a skilled player with good hands, feet, and touch that will give us an immediate inside presence to compete at the highest level. When you think of Terrance, not only do you think of a skilled big man, but you think of a high-character kid with a strong family background. We are fortunate that this kid has chosen to become an Eagle."
The fifth signee for NCCU transfers in with teammate C.J. Wilkerson, who both came from Clinton Junior College in Rock Hill, S.C. Dwayne Sims, a 6-6, 180-pound forward originally from Dayton, Ohio, averaged 10.0 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per outing in his second season with the Golden Bears. Sims also recorded six double-doubles during his second season at CJC and tickled the twine to the tune of 33 percent from the perimeter.
In his freshman season at the college, he poured in 11.0 points a game and grabbed 5.6 boards a contest for Head Coach Donald Payton's squad. The Buckeye State product was a teammate of University of Dayton star Chris Wright at Trotwood-Madison High School and Moton feels his game fits perfectly to the style of play he will implement here at NCCU.
"Dwayne's ability to shoot the basketball will extend the floor for us offensively," said Moton"He is able to play three positions on the floor because of his length and toughness and we certainly welcome those abilities into our program."
The sixth and final recruit in Moton's class is Fleming, a 5-11, 160-pound guard from Centennial High School in Alpharetta, Ga. Fleming was the point guard for one of the top teams in the Peach State. Leading the Knights to no. 1 ranking in the 5-A Coaches Poll. CHS finished 25-5 during his senior season, as he was named Team Defensive Player of the Year, while earning All-County and Co-MVP honors in his junior season. Centennial won the GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Classic Championship while also taking first place and the Prep All-Stars Classic Championship. Was a high school teammate of N.C. State recruit Lorenzo Brown.
16,846 is the Magic Number
The first schedule under new head coach LeVelle Moton sees 15 contests inside state lines, and trips to eight different states (Florida, Colorado, Iowa, New York, Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Ohio) in the Eagles third season at the Division I level.
NCCU is set to travel approximately 16,846 miles to complete its basketball schedule. The Eagles will take on opponents from 14 different conferences, including four Atlantic Coast Conference opponents and two from the Big Ten Conference.
The 2009-2010 season starts off with a Nov. 11, 9:00 p.m. tipoff against the defending national champion North Carolina Tarheels. That contest marks the beginning of the 2009 2KSports Classic benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer.
Three days later, NCCU will head down south and take on the University of Miami for the second year in a row down in Coral Gables, Fla. Last season, the Eagles trailed Miami by 2 points with 17 minutes to play only to fall 76-42 in the contest on Jan. 3, 2009. The home opener for NCCU comes the following Wednesday on Nov. 18 when the Eagles welcome the Battling Bishops from North Carolina Wesleyan College into McDougald-McLendon Gym. These two teams met up on Nov. 27, 1995 with the Eagles victorious in the contest 93-69.
On Nov. 20, NCCU ventures back down to the sunshine state to finish competition in the 2KSports Classic with a Friday evening tilt with Florida International University at US Century Bank Arena in Miami, Fla. FIU is coached by NBA Hall-of-Famer Isiah Thomas, was introduced as head coach last spring. This will be NCCU and FIU's first meeting.
After a day off on Saturday, NCCU gets back to action taking on perennial NCAA Tournament participant Murray State on Sunday night at 6:00 on Nov. 22. The Racers have made 13 appearances in "The Big Dance" and are coming off their 22nd straight winning season. The Eagles will end tournament play with an afternoon affair on Monday, Nov. 23 against Colonial Athletic Association member James Madison University. Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m.
After a five-day layoff, NCCU heads to the midwest to take on its first of two Big Ten opponents of the season as the University of Iowa Hawkeyes welcome the Eagles into Carver-Hawkeye Arena for a 12:35 p.m. (CST) tipoff on Saturday, Nov. 28. This will be the first of two appearances for the Eagles on the Big Ten Network. NCCU was on the Big Ten Network last season when it took on the University of Michigan.
Following that battle of the birds, the Eagles head further out west to Colorado Springs, Colo. to battle the Air Force Academy for a 7:00 p.m. (MT) tip on Wednesday Dec. 2.
The Eagles will then fly back to the nest for two straight contests at home, starting with a "Legends Weekend" affair against Carver Bible College at 7:00 p.m. on Dec. 5. After an 11-day layoff due to exams, the Eagles face Florida Gulf Coast University in a rematch from last season where FGCU held on to beat NCCU 66-58 in Fort Myers, Fla. That game tips off at 7:00 p.m. on Dec. 16 from McDougald-McLendon Gym.
Three days after that two-game homestand, NCCU heads to the Hoosier state for a pair of contests, the first of which is against Indiana University at legendary Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind. on Dec. 19. With a 8:30 tipoff set for the game, the Eagles will make its third appearance on the Big Ten Network, its second of the 2009-2010 season.
"The trip out to the midwest to Indiana will serve as an homage to Chancellor Nelms," said NCCU head coach LeVelle Moton. "This is going to be a big trip for our university and program."
NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms served as Vice President of Insitutional Development and Student Affairs at Indiana University prior to becoming Chancellor at NCCU in August of 2007.
The Eagles will head 117 miles northeast to Muncie, Ind to take on Ball State University from the Mid-American Conference for the final game before the semester break. That contest is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start inside Worthen Arena.
After the eight-day break, the Eagles will stay inside the borders of the Tar Heel state for two straight games with road affairs at High Point University and East Carolina University. High Point owns a 2-0 series advantage after beating NCCU in its home opener 73-64 last season. The Panthers will host the Eagles at the Mills Center for the final game in 2009 on Dec. 29, and the first game of a home-and-home series between the two. NCCU will ring in the New Year with a Sunday afternoon contest on Jan. 3 at 3:00 p.m. against ECU at Minges Colisuem. East Carolina also owns a 2-0 series lead with the last meeting coming on Jan. 5, 2008.
NCCU will head up north on Jan. 6, 2010 when NCCU collides with Colgate University for the third straight season. Colgate upended NCCU last season in Durham 68-58, and defeated the Eagles in its first meeting 77-69 on Feb. 23, 2008. This marks the second contest in Hamilton, N.Y. at Cottrel Court, where tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.
NCCU heads to the Lonestar state for a Jan. 9, contest against SMU in Dallas, TX. The Mustangs are coached by former Tar Heel great, Matt Doherty.
The Eagles return back to the Old North State for a three-game homestand from Jan. 11-16. NCCU has a return game with High Point University on Jan. 11 to wrap up the home-and-home with the Panthers. NCCU will take on two first time opponents inside the friendly-confines of McDougald-McLendon Gym, while hosting the 2010 B.C. Powder Classic. The Eagles battle Tennessee Temple University on Friday Jan. 15 at 8:00 p.m. following the Chowan University/ The Apprentice School contest at 5:30 p.m. The following evening, NCCU goes toe-to-toe with The Apprentice School for a Saturday night affair, starting immediately after the Chowan/Tennessee Temple matchup.
After the conclusion of NCCU's stretch of three games at home, the Eagles hit the road for four straight games over a 12-day span that includes two ACC teams. January 18 sees NCCU head to the Commonwealth of Virginia to test their mettle against head coach Seth Greenberg and his Virginia Tech Hokies. That Monday night contest is set for an 8:00 tipoff.
Two days later, the Eagles make the 348 mile jaunt down to Savannah, Ga. for the first of a home-and-home with the Tigers of Savannah State University. SSU swept the Eagles in two matchups last season, moving the series record to 4-3 in favor of NCCU. Tipoff from Tiger Arena is set for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday Jan. 20.
The final two contests in that nearly two-week span takes place at Youngstown State University on Jan. 27 at 7:00 p.m. and another Saturday afternoon affair against N.C. State. The Penguins of Youngstown State from the Missouri Valley Conference mark the third straight year that NCCU will make the trek to the Buckeye state for a basketball contest. The Jan. 30 matchup against N.C. State marks the schools' third straight meeting since NCCU made the transition to Division I. N.C. State leads the series 2-0.
The final stretch of the 2009-2010 season will see the Eagles inside the nest for five of the final six games.
Coming to McDougald-McLendon Gym for the first time the Fighting Leathernecks of Western Illinois University from the Summit League start off the Eagles final home stretch with a Tuesday night game scheduled for a 7:00 tipoff on Feb. 2. The next four contests are a Saturday night rematch with Savannah State on Feb. 6, a Wednesday night affair with soon-to-be conference foe Maryland Eastern Shore on Feb. 10, the first of two contests against Longwood on Saturday Feb. 14, and a first ever basketball matchup between NCCU and Coastal Carolina University on Monday Feb. 15 will also be "Senior Night" where the Eagles will honor the lone upperclassman on the squad, Joshua Worthy.
NCCU ends the 2009-2010 season with a return matchup against Longwood in Farmville to conclude its third Division I schedule.
"Although we decreased the states that we are going to, the challenge of the teams that we play are still intact," said Moton. "Overall its a nice challenging, vigorous schedule and we definitely look forward to it."
All in all, the pieces are in place for NCCU to start building its basketball program to the same level it saw back in the late 80's when NCCU won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1989. With Hall-of-Famer LeVelle Moton at the helm and the changes being made at NCCU. That's a recipe for success that Eagle Fans will be proud of.
