Summer School: High Point Panthers
A look at other Big South programs because how else are we going to pass the time?
Last Season: 15–16 (9–9), 5th Big South
The post-John Brown era brought Scott Cherry and High Point there first losing season since 2011–12 last year.
The Panthers were the definition of “middle of the road” last season. They entered Big South play at 6–6 with three non-Division I wins. That was dampened by a 1–4 start in conference play before rattling six straight wins to bring their record to 7–4. It’s about how you finish though and the Panthers closed the season losing six out of their last eight games, including back-to-back losses to Gardner-Webb to close the season. Most telling of all, HPU played in four overtime games in conference play last season.
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High Point ranked seventh in the conference last year in offensive efficiency, defensively they ranked sixth. Like we said…middle of the road.
Gone from last year’s squad are Miles Bowman, Anthony Lindauer, and Tarique Thompson, a trio that averaged over half of the Panthers scoring a year ago. With that much offense (and defense) gone, the natural question is will the Panthers be better this year?
HPU’s outlook depends on two transfers, Brandonn Kamga (Northeastern) and Jahaad Proctor (Iona). Kamga is a 6'5 guard who played sparingly at Northeastern after graduating from South Lakes High School in northern Virginia. Proctor played more under Tim Cluess at Iona averaging 5.3 points per game for the Gaels.
Proctor and Kamga are both guards, HPU’s top returning pieces Austin White and Andre Fox are also guards… so how does all of this come together and, more importantly, do the Panthers have any semblance of a frontcourt?
High Point won games last year by living and dying by the three and that will probably continue with Andre Fox, Jamal Wright, and others. But the Panthers have to get better inside if they want to improve their status in the league. Last year HPU ranked 323rd in the nation when it came to two-point field goal percentage.
There is much optimism on paper with what Scott Cherry has added to remedy the situation. The Panthers only inside presence, Miles Bowman, is gone and unless Ricky Madison becomes more of a back to the basket player it will be bombs away in Millis again. Perhaps Kamga, a bruising guard, adds more of a slasher role to Cherry’s lineup or Proctor excels getting to the bucket? Beyond that it comes down to unproven youngsters Justyn Mutts, Caden Sanchez, Clifford Thomas, and Luke Vargo to bolster the frontcourt.
