Flynn Clayman takes over as head coach of High Point basketball looking to keep the expectations of this program very high – heading back to the NCAA Tournament.
The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: High Point basketball.
The last few seasons at High Point basketball were some of the program’s best. Alan Huss built a consistent winner, going 56-15 over the last two seasons, earning a 13 seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Huss is now gone and back on the Creighton sidelines, figuring to take over for Greg McDermott once he retires. That means Flynn Clayman, an assistant at HPU, got the promotion to head coach.
And boy does Clayman have his work cut out for him.
Double digit scorers Kezza Giffa, Kimani Hamilton, and D’maurian Williams have moved on. Leading rebounder Juslin Bodo Bodo is also gone, among other key rotation players from last years team. That only leaves Clayman with three returning players who had any substantial court time last year, the best of which is Chase Johnston who started and averaged just under seven points per game.
So for Clayman, it’ll be about the transfer portal. He brings over a solid group of mid-major guys in Rob Martin, Vincent Brady, and Scotty Washington, all scoring guards who should be able to hold down the fort in the backcourt. Swingman Babacar Diallo comes in from Kansas City and was a good passer there, so could be an interesting fit here for HPU. Finally, UConn transfer Youssouf Singare, Arizona transfer Conrad Martinez, and journeyman Cam’Ron Fletcher all have Power Five experience and could be looking for bigger roles here in the Big South.
There are a lot of lineups Clayman can use, a lot of spots up for grabs, and a roster that has about 10-12 guys who could wind up earning key minutes. But right now in August, it’s all up in the air for a new era of High Point basketball.
Head coach: Flynn Clayman (1st season overall)
2024-25 record: 29-6 (14-2)
2025 postseason finish: Lost to Purdue (75-63) in first round of NCAA Tournament
Notable departures:
- Kezza Giffa (14.6 PPG, 2.5 APG, 2.5 RPG)
- Kimani Hamilton (13.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 52.0 FG%)
- D’maurian Williams (13.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 40.5 3P%)
- Bobby Pettiford (8.8 PPG, 3.4 APG, 2.5 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 58.2 FG%)
- Abdoulaye Thiam (6.0 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 0.4 APG)
- Juslin Bodo Bodo (5.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 0.2 APG, 1.4 BPG, 64.3 FG%)
- Simon Hildebrandt (5.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.4 APG)
- Trae Benham (4.2 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.3 APG, 37.4 3P%)
Notable non-conference games:
- vs. Furman (Nov. 3) – Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon
- at UAB (Nov. 14)
- vs. La Salle (Dec. 19)
Projected Rotation
PG: Rob Martin (5-10, 170, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 14.8 PPG, 4.5 APG, 2.5 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 40.4 3P% (SEMO)
SG: Chase Johnston (6-3, 180, Gr.-Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 6.9 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 42.5 3P%
SF: Babacar Diallo (6-6, 197, Gr.-Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 7.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 50.5 FG%, 35.7 3P% (Kansas City)
PF: Owen Aquino (6-8, 230, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 8.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.1 BPG, 58.3 FG% (Liberty)
C: Youssouf Singare (6-10, 230, Jr.)
2024-25 stats: 0.4 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.1 APG, 16 GP (UConn)
6: Vincent Brady II (6-3, 195, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 13.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 38.0 3P% (Missouri State)
7: Josh Ibukunoluwa (6-10, 219, So.)
2024-25 stats: 3.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 0.4 APG, 57.9 FG%, 9.5 MPG
8: Scotty Washington (6-4, 180, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 14.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 35.1 3P% (CSUN)
9: Terry Anderson (6-6, 202, Gr.-Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 4.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.9 APG, 53.6 FG%
10: Cam’Ron Fletcher (6-7, 220, Gr.-Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 1.3 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 0.3 APG, 11 GP (Xavier)
11: Conrad Martinez (6-0, 175, Jr.)
2024-25 stats: 1.6 PPG, 1.0 APG, 0.3 RPG, 5.0 MPG (Arizona)
12: Caden Miller (6-9, 220, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #306 overall ranked recruit
High Point Basketball team MVP: Chase Johnston
As the top returner, Johnston earns the title of team MVP. This doesn’t mean he’ll be their best player or leading scorer, but he has experience in the program, and more importantly, as a starter, On a team with so many new pieces from all over the country, Johnston will bring his coach consistency, a player to rely on, and a leader in the locker room.
This also isn’t a knock on his game – he’s a lethal three point shooter and should be a key scorer with so many of his teammates gone. It’ll be an interesting role to have – one where Johnston likely won’t be called upon to lead the team in any one department statistically – but certainly the leader to bring the whole group together. And with so much to sort through, that’s what the Panthers need.
High Point Basketball make-or-break player: Cam’Ron Fletcher
Fletcher has played five season of college basketball – one at Kentucky, three at Florida State, and one at Xavier. But injuries have put a halt on his career, as Fletcher has just appeared in 66 total games, with just one season even close to being a full one.
With that being said, if (fingers crossed) he can put together a healthy season, he all of the sudden raises the talent pool at High Point. Fletcher showed lots of promise as a Seminole, averaging 10.8 points and 7.5 rebounds in 10 games as a junior. But he’s only played in 18 games since then and there’s virtually no guarantee we should expect anything different.
Still, when healthy, he’s certainly a top five player on this team and on a different level than most Big South players. He’s a good player to roster if you’re coach Clayman.
Key analytic: FG%
Under Alan Huss, High Point scored the basketball – and the biggest reason was their efficiency from the field. The Panthers ranked 8th in field goal percentage in the country last year – one of the scariest and most lethal teams to guard.
How might that change with all new players and a new coach (albeit in the same program)? Clayman brings in some good scoring talent – but the challenge will be getting them to all buy into his system and get chemistry together. It’ll be fun to watch and see how this new High Point team works together as a squad in 2025-26.
High Point Basketball 2025-26 projections
Projected conference finish: 1st in the Big South
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Round of 64 Exit