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2024–25 Charleston Cougars men's basketball team

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2024–25 Charleston Cougars men's basketball
ConferenceCoastal Athletic Association
Record8–3 (0–0 CAA)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaTD Arena
Seasons
2024–25 CAA men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Hampton 1 0   1.000 7 5   .583
Charleston 0 0   8 2   .800
UNC Wilmington 0 0   9 3   .750
Elon 0 0   8 4   .667
Hofstra 0 0   8 4   .667
Northeastern 0 0   8 4   .667
Drexel 0 0   8 5   .615
Delaware 0 0   7 5   .583
William & Mary 0 0   5 6   .455
Campbell 0 0   5 7   .417
Stony Brook 0 0   4 8   .333
Towson 0 0   4 8   .333
Monmouth 0 0   2 10   .167
North Carolina A&T 0 1   .000 3 10   .231
2025 CAA tournament winner
As of December 21, 2024

The 2024–25 Charleston Cougars men's basketball team represents the College of Charleston in the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They are led by first-year head coach Chris Mack. The team play its home games at TD Arena in Charleston, South Carolina, as a member of the Coastal Athletic Association.

Previous season

[edit]

The Cougars, led by third-year head coach Pat Kelsey, finished the season 27–8, 15–3 in CAA play to win their second-straight regular season championship. The team defeated Monmouth, Towson, and Stony Brook in overtime to win their second-straight CAA tournament.[1] They lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Alabama, a team that went on to that year's Final Four.[2]

After the season head coach Pat Kelsey left the program to coach at the University of Louisville, and Chris Mack was later hired as the 25th coach in Charleston history.[3][4]

Offseason

[edit]

Departures

[edit]
Charleston departures
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Jordan Crawford 0 G 6'2" 180 FR Charlotte, North Carolina Transferred to Eastern Kentucky[5]
Frankie Policelli 1 F 6'9" 225 GS New Hartford, New York Graduated
Reyne Smith 2 G 6'2" 190 JR Ulverstone, Tasmania Transferred to Louisville[6]
Khalil London 3 G 6'3" 185 FR Wyandanch, New York Transferred to Tennessee State[7]
Bryce Butler 4 G 6'5" 205 GS Latrobe, Pennsylvania Graduated
Kobe Rodgers 11 G 6'3" 180 JR Cincinnati, Ohio Transferred to Louisville[8]
Ben Burnham 13 F 6'7" 220 JR Fort Mill, South Carolina Transferred to Virginia Tech[9]
Mayar Wol 15 F 6'8" 185 FR Raleigh, North Carolina Transferred to Eastern Kentucky[10]
James Scott 23 F 6'11" 210 FR Fayetteville, North Carolina Transferred to Louisville[11]

Incoming transfers

[edit]

Mack's new coaching staff quickly made use of the transfer portal and signed Derrin Boyd, a graduate student from Lipscomb who led his team with 17.6 points per game last season, earning an All-ASUN Second Team selection.[12] Two sophomores who had previously played for the Serbian U-19 National Team then committed to Charleston, Đorđe Ćurčić from Saint Louis and Lazar Đjoković from Xavier, reuniting on the court for the first time since the 2023 U-19 World Cup.[13] Another international player, Stef van Bussel, signed to the Cougars after playing for the Netherlands National U-18 and U-16 Teams, the Bayer Giants Leverkusen of the German pro league, and the Saint Louis Billikens.[14] That same day another sophomore, Deywilk Tavarez, transferred in from Delaware State after averaging 17.0 points per game as a freshman and winning MEAC Rookie of the Year.[15] The coaching staff then signed AJ Smith, a junior from The Citadel, who led Charleston's crosstown-rival in scoring with 16.2 points per game last season.[16][17] The transfer class was finalized with the addition of senior Elijah Jones, who led Green Bay in rebounding last season and won the NJCAA National Championship in 2023.[18]

Charleston incoming transfers
Name Number Pos Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school Years remaining Date eligible
AJ Smith 1 G 6'4" 215 JR Charlotte, North Carolina The Citadel 2 October 1, 2024
Elijah Jones 3 F 6'7" n/a SR South Holland, Illinois Green Bay 1 October 1, 2024
Derrin Boyd 4 G 6'3" 210 GS Princeton, Kentucky Lipscomb 1 October 1, 2024
Deywilk Tavarez 5 G 6'2" n/a SO Pennsauken, New Jersey Delaware State 3 October 1, 2024
Stef van Bussel 15 C 6'10" 255 SO Ommel, Netherlands Saint Louis 3 October 1, 2024
Lazar Đjoković 17 F 6'10" 230 SO Gornji Milanovac, Serbia Xavier 3 October 1, 2024
Đorđe Ćurčić 44 G 6'2" 185 SO Čačak, Serbia Saint Louis 3 October 1, 2024

2024 recruiting class

[edit]
College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Joey Scarpitti
G
Lakewood, OH St. Edward (OH) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Apr 25, 2024 
Star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 0
Justas Stonkus
G
Plungė, Lithuania BC Žalgiris-2 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Apr 26, 2024 
Star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 0
Jaxon Prunty
SF
Lexington, SC Lexington High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 170 lb (77 kg) May 2, 2024 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN grade: 78
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2024 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

Preseason

[edit]

In the conference's preseason poll, the Cougars were picked to finish in second place.[19]

Despite the change in head coach, 2024 First Team All-CAA member Ante Brzovic decided to return for his senior season, as did Irish National Team guard CJ Fulton.[20][21]

Roster

[edit]
2024–25 College of Charleston Cougars men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Jaxon Prunty 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Lexington HS Lexington, SC
G 1 AJ Smith 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jr The Citadel Charlotte, NC
F 3 Elijah Jones 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sr Green Bay South Holland, IL
G 4 Derrin Boyd 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sr Lipscomb Princeton, KY
G 5 Deywilk Tavarez 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Delaware State Pennsauken, NJ
G 6 CJ Fulton 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sr Lafayette Belfast, Northern Ireland
G 7 Evan Kilminster 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) RS So Australian Institute of Sport Newcastle, Australia
G 8 Justas Stonkus 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr BC Žalgiris-2 Plungė, Lithuania
F 10 Ante Brzovic 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Sr Southeastern Oklahoma State Zagreb, Croatia
G 14 Cade Higgins 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr IMG Academy Fort Worth, TX
C 15 Stef van Bussel 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 250 lb (113 kg) So Saint Louis Asten, Netherlands
F 17 Lazar Đjoković 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) So Xavier Gornji Milanovac, Serbia
G 31 Jack Miller 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Sr Ocean Township HS Ocean Township, NJ
G 33 Joey Scarpitti 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr St. Edward HS Cleveland, OH
G 44 Đorđe Ćurčić 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Saint Louis Čačak, Serbia
F 50 Adam Comer 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Sr Broome HS Spartanburg, SC
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: September 4. 2024

Schedule and results

[edit]
Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 4, 2024*
12:00 pm, YouTube
vs. Southern Illinois
Field of 68 Opening Day Showcase
W 90–80  1−0
 27  Brzovic   9  Brzovic   7  Fulton  Sanford Pentagon (2,300)
Sioux Falls, SD
November 8, 2024*
7:00 pm, FloHoops
South Florida W 86–71  2−0
 34  Brzovic   9  Brzovic   6  Fulton  TD Arena (5,457)
Charleston, SC
November 15, 2024*
7:00 pm, YouTube
Florida Atlantic
Field of 68 Tip-Off
W 119–116 2OT 3−0
 39  Brzovic   13  Brzovic   6  Tied  TD Arena (4,963)
Charleston, SC
November 17, 2024*
4:00 pm, YouTube
Liberty
Field of 68 Tip-Off
L 47–68  3−1
 15  Đjoković   8  Đjoković   4  Fulton  TD Arena (4,858)
Charleston, SC
November 20, 2024*
6:00 pm, ESPN+
at The Citadel
Rivalry
W 76–61  4−1
 22  Brzovic   14  Brzovic   6  Brzovic  McAlister Field House (3,231)
Charleston, SC
November 24, 2024*
1:00 pm, ESPN+
at Rhode Island L 53–91  4–2
 10  Smith   6  Brzovic   4  Boyd  Ryan Center (3,778)
Kingston, RI
November 27, 2024*
1:00 pm, FloHoops
Northern Kentucky W 79–64  5–2
 22  Boyd   13  Brzovic   6  Tied  TD Arena (4,718)
Charleston, SC
December 3, 2024*
7:00 pm, FloHoops
Tusculum W 94–71  6–2
 17  Đjoković   6  Smith   7  Fulton  TD Arena (4,388)
Charleston, SC
December 10, 2024*
7:00 pm
at Saint Joseph's W 78–75  7–2
 18  Smith   5  Tied   9  Fulton  Hagan Arena (2,062)
Philadelphia, PA
December 16, 2024*
7:00 pm, FloHoops
Wofford W 77–67  8–2
 21  Brzovic   7  Brzovic   8  Fulton  TD Arena (4,748)
Charleston, SC
December 22, 2024*
3:00 pm, ESPNU
vs. Oregon State
Diamond Head Classic Quarterfinals
L 65–74  8–3
 13  Tied   8  Djokovic   4  Fulton  Stan Sheriff Center 
Honolulu, HI
December 23, 2024*
5:30 pm, ESPNU
vs. Loyola Chicago
Diamond Head Classic Consolation 2nd Round
      Stan Sheriff Center 
Honolulu, HI
December 25, 2024*
vs. TBD
Diamond Head Classic 5th/7th Place Game
      Stan Sheriff Center 
Honolulu, HI
CAA regular season
January 2, 2025
7:00 pm, FloHoops
Hampton       TD Arena 
Charleston, SC
January 4, 2025
2:00 pm, FloHoops
Towson       TD Arena 
Charleston, SC
January 9, 2025
7:00 pm, FloHoops
at Hofstra       Mack Sports Complex 
Hempstead, NY
January 11, 2025
2:00 pm, FloHoops
at Monmouth       OceanFirst Bank Center 
West Long Branch, NJ
January 16, 2025
7:00 pm, FloHoops
at Campbell       Gore Arena 
Buies Creek, NC
January 18, 2025
5:00 pm, FloHoops
Northeastern       TD Arena 
Charleston, SC
January 23, 2025
7:00 pm, FloHoops
UNC Wilmington       TD Arena 
Charleston, SC
January 25, 2025
7:00 pm, FloHoops
at Elon       Schar Center 
Elon, NC
January 30, 2025
6:00 pm, CBS Sports
Stony Brook       TD Arena 
Charleston, SC
February 3, 2025
8:00 pm, CBS Sports
at William & Mary       Kaplan Arena 
Williamsburg, VA
February 6, 2025
6:00 pm, CBS Sports
North Carolina A&T       TD Arena 
Charleston, SC
February 8, 2025
6:00 pm, FloHoops
Elon       TD Arena 
Charleston, SC
February 13, 2025
7:00 pm, CBS Sports
at UNC Wilmington       Trask Coliseum 
Wilmington, NC
February 15, 2025
6:00 pm, FloHoops
at North Carolina A&T       Corbett Sports Center 
Greensboro, NC
February 20, 2025
7:00 pm, FloHoops
at Northeastern       Matthews Arena 
Boston, MA
February 22, 2025
12:00 pm, CBS Sports
at Drexel       Daskalakis Athletic Center 
Philadelphia, PA
February 27, 2025
7:00 pm, FloHoops
Delaware       TD Arena 
Charleston, SC
March 1, 2025
6:00 pm, FloHoops
Campbell       TD Arena 
Charleston, SC
CAA tournament
TBD
vs. TBD
Quarterfinals
      Entertainment and Sports Arena 
Washington, D.C.
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Cougars Reyne Supreme Again in CAA". College of Charleston Athletics. 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  2. ^ "Cougars End Season in NCAA First Round". College of Charleston Athletics. 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  3. ^ McGavic, Matthew. "Louisville Officially Hires Pat Kelsey as Men's Basketball Head Coach". Sports Illustrated Louisville Cardinals News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  4. ^ "Chris Mack Named Next Head Charleston Men's Basketball Coach". College of Charleston Athletics. 2024-03-28. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  5. ^ "Defending ASUN Champion Colonels Announce Additions For 2024-25 Title Run". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. 2024-04-19. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  6. ^ McGavic, Matthew. "What Reyne Smith and James Scott Bring to Louisville". Sports Illustrated Louisville Cardinals News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  7. ^ "Men's Basketball Inks Four Transfers for Upcoming Season". Tennessee State University. 2024-04-23. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  8. ^ McGavic, Matthew. "Report: Charleston Transfer Guard Kobe Rodgers Commits to Louisville". Sports Illustrated Louisville Cardinals News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  9. ^ Miller, Andrew (2024-04-04). "Former CofC forward Ben Burnham commits to Virginia Tech". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  10. ^ "Colonels Add Former Top-100 National Recruit". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  11. ^ McGavic, Matthew. "Charleston Transfer Center James Scott Commits to Louisville". Sports Illustrated Louisville Cardinals News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  12. ^ "Derrin Boyd Signs with Charleston Men's Basketball". College of Charleston Athletics. 2024-04-19. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  13. ^ Miller, Andrew (2024-04-13). "College of Charleston coach Chris Mack gets 3 verbal commitments to program". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  14. ^ "van Bussel Joins Cougar Roster". College of Charleston Athletics. 2024-04-30. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  15. ^ "Mack Inks MEAC Rookie of the Year". College of Charleston Athletics. 2024-04-30. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  16. ^ Miller, Andrew (2024-04-18). "Citadel basketball's top scorer transfers to crosstown rival College of Charleston". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  17. ^ "Mack Signs AJ Smith to Cougar Roster". College of Charleston Athletics. 2024-05-01. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  18. ^ "Jones Signs with Cougars". College of Charleston Athletics. 2024-05-08. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  19. ^ McQuiggan, Miles. "Towson Tabbed as CAA Men's Basketball Favorite; Charleston's Brzovic Selected as Preseason Player of the Year". caasports.com. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
  20. ^ Hartsell, Jeff (2024-04-03). "CofC big man to return to Cougars; Charleston Southern nabs 2 transfers". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  21. ^ Miller, Andrew (2024-04-02). "College of Charleston 'right fit' for new coach Chris Mack". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-04-16.