Coach LaVelle Moton enters his 14th season at NCCU with a 228-172 record. Following a rough start to last season, the Eagles won 10 of their final 16 games and finished in third place in the MEAC.
2021-22 record: 16-15 (8-5 MEAC)
Top players: Junior guard Justin Wright returns after averaging team bests in points (13.7) and 3-point shooting (40.7%). The Greenville, N.C., native was named to the preseason All-MEAC first-team, while redshirt senior forward Eric Boone and senior forward Kris Monroe received second-team honors.
Key additions: Seven-foot-1 center Brendan Medley-Bacon will transfer back to the MEAC after stints at Coppin State, VCU and McNeese State. The third-team MEAC preseason pick averaged 9.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game with 39 blocks last season with the Cowboys.
Departed players: The biggest loss will be guard Randy Miller Jr, who appeared in 73 games and started 71, the fifth most all-time at NCCU. Last season, Miller averaged 10.8 points and played in the HBCU All-Star Game in New Orleans.
Expectations: The league’s coaches and media picked the Eagles to finish in second place in the conference. With NCCU’s roster largely intact from last season, the team has a shot to return to the top of the conference and fight for an NCAA berth.
