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LOCATION: High Point, NC
CONFERENCE: Big South
LAST SEASON: 10-16 (.384)
CONFERENCE RECORD: N/A
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 1/4
NICKNAME: Panthers
COLORS: Purple & White
HOMECOURT: Millis Center (2,565)
COACH: Jerry Steele (Wake Forest '61)
record at school 433-348 (27 years)
career record 584-422 (35 years)
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ASSISTANTS: Dee Sasser (UNC Wilmington '85)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 20-24-18-12-10
RPI (last 5 years) N/A
1998-99 FINISH: Not eligible for postseason.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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The progression into the waters of Division I basketball has been a gradual one for High Point. A year ago, the Panthers played every team in the Big South Conference twice, but the games didn't count in league standings. "We counted them," said High Point head coach Jerry Steele, whose club managed to beat conference members Liberty, Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina. This year, the games will count in the league standings, although High Point still won't be able to compete in the Big South Tournament and won't be eligible for a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers, former Division II members, will have to wait until the 2001-02 season before they can participate in postseason play. Steele, a 35-year coaching veteran who is closing in on 600 career victories, said his team held up exceedingly well last season under the circumstances. At times, the Panthers had four freshmen in the starting lineup. "I thought we got by last year without getting emotionally destroyed," said Steele, who has a career record of 584-422. "We were in quite a few games for a long period of time. I think we got through the season OK and played well at the end of the season. We were able to end on a high note."
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT C BENCH/DEPTH C
FRONTCOURT C+ INTANGIBLES C+
High Point's strong sophomore class makes it a team to be reckoned with in the future, but it's still too early to expect the Panthers to make serious noise this season. Geordie Cullen is a proven scorer who should be aided by the addition of Wilson. The other newcomer who should make a real difference is Anthony Jackson, who will help combat the fullcourt pressure that killed High Point a year ago. "If we were behind last year, we just weren't quick enough to come back, and pressure destroyed us in the second half," coach Jerry Steele said. The Lithuanian combination of Valdas Kaukenas and Mantas Ignatavicius now has a year in Steele's system and should have a better feel for the lay of the land. The Panthers will need them to provide scoring punch from the perimeter. Steele, 60, said he has given very little thought to reaching the 600-victory plateau. Rather, he is hoping to see his club take another positive step in Division I play. "If they play hard, practice hard and play smart, then I've accomplished my mission," Steele said. |
After losing seven in a row, High Point ended its first season of playing every team in the Big South with successive victories over Coastal Carolina and Elon. Heading the cast of returning sophomore starters is 6-9 center Geordie Cullen (18.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg). A Perth, Australia native, Cullen shot 56 percent from the field and was chosen to the Collegiate Hoops Insider NCAA Division I All-Freshman team. A classic low post scorer, Cullen has great hands. If he touches the ball, it's his. Steele said there's no such thing as a bad pass when Cullen is posting up inside. Cullen, a lefty, didn't become eligible until midway through December last season. Valdas Kaukenas (8.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg) returns at small forward. The 6-8 sophomore is most effective facing the basket. Steele joked that it took him a year to figure out Kaukenas wasn't a post-up player. Kaukenas started in 17 games last season. Kaukenas' Lithuanian cohort, 6-3 sophomore guard Mantas Ignatavicius, is back at the shooting-guard spot. Ignatavicius (10.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 88 assists, 57 steals) shot .523 percent last season, mostly from long range. He and Ignatavicius are two of the better shooters on the team. Steele said there was a bit of a language barrier with Kaukenas and Ignatavicius last season. "They need to be, have to be, and I think, will be better players this year," Steele said. "Their overall vocabulary has improved by leaps and bounds, so their comfort zone has to be better. You could tell a difference at the end of practice last year. They both should be sound players for us." Splitting time with Ignatavicius at guard last season was 6-0 sophomore Brooks Lee, the son of Campbell head coach Billy Lee. The younger Lee will face his father's team this season in a Nov. 30 game. Lee (5.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 50 assists) made 22 of 53 three-point shots. "We found out last year that other players were better when he was in the game," Steele said. "He knows how to get the ball to the right people." Steele is optimistic the Panthers will be more athletic in the backcourt, especially with the addition of 6-2 sophomore point guard Anthony Jackson. A transfer from Cumberland (Ky.) College, Jackson previously served in the military and is 25 years old. He practiced with High Point last season. He was clearly one of the quickest and most athletic players on the team. "The guards in our league were much quicker than I had any idea they would be," Steele said. "Jackson will help us fill that void." Two returning backcourt players are 6-2 sophomore Teddy Hart (7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and 6-5 senior Billy Anderson (1.3 ppg, 0.9 rpg). Hart only played in one game. Steele said Anderson probably should have been redshirted. The only senior in the starting lineup this season will be 6-5 forward Myron Stewart (7.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 33 assists). Steele has great confidence in Stewart. "He's one of the players over the course of last season that gave us everything he had," Steele said. Stewart could share time at one of the forward spots this season with 6-4 sophomore Derek Van Weerdhuizen, yet another member of the Panthers' returning sophomore class. Van Weerdhuizen (10.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 62 assists, 38 steals, 15 blocks) is High Point's most versatile player. He also made 31 three-point shots last season while starting in 23 games. The key this season for Van Weerdhuizen will be consistency. As a freshman, he was too up and down for Steele's liking. "He has more ball skills than anybody we have," Steele said. "He can put it on the floor, pass it a little bit and shoot it. He had some great games last year, and a few that were not very good." Tim Wilson, a 6-7 sophomore transfer from The Citadel, should help take some of the pressure off Cullen in the middle. Steele envisions using Wilson and Cullen in the lineup together in certain situations. Playing a reserve role inside will be 6-5 junior Jimmy Bennett (5.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 25 assists, 21 steals). Bennett is also capable of playing on the perimeter. The Panthers signed two freshmen 6-6 forward Fletcher Farmer of Apex, N.C., and 6-9 center John Stonehocker of Metuchen, N.J. Both will have to work to earn playing time this season.
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