Only the ACC can boast as many teams from North Carolina as the Colonial Athletic Association. We take a look at the prospects for Campbell, Elon, UNCW and NC A&T, as well as the state’s lone MEAC team—A&T’s old rival, NC Central.
Campbell Fighting Camels
Led by 12th-year coach Kevin Geehan, the Campbell Fighting Camels (1-2) are now in their second season as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. The team is hoping to upgrade from its conference debut last season, where the Camels finished in the middle of the pack with a 14-18 (8-10 CAA) record.
Campbell was recently picked second to last (13th) in the 2024-25 CAA preseason poll.
The program’s top two scorers from the 2023-24 season — junior guard Anthony Dell’Orso and senior forward Laurynas Vaistaras — have exited the program, transferring to Arizona and Mercer, respectively.
In the wake of their leave, senior guard Jasin Sinani has now stepped in to run the Camels’ offense and do his part in replacing the 19.5 points per game averaged by Dell’Orso last season.
Along with Sinani, the team will need junior guard Elijah Walsh, senior guard Nolan Dorsey, and DII transfer Caleb Zuerleine (Campbell’s tallest projected rotational player at 6-foot-8) to each elevate their game in order to chase the school’s first winning season since the 2021-22 campaign.
Elon Phoenix
Landing at 12th in the 2024-25 CAA preseason poll, it’s now been eight years since the Elon Phoenix (1-1) put together a winning season.
While last year’s team finished with a 13-19 (6-12 CAA) record, the squad does have some familiarity, returning—three of its top five scorers who collectively accounted for just under half of the team’s scoring in conference matchups.
Third-year coach Billy Taylor will once again be relying on junior guard TK Simpkins — an All-CAA Preseason Second Team selection — to boost the Phoenix offensively, along with Charlotte native Nick Dorn and senior forward Sam Sherry.
Simpkins’ twin brother, TJ, transferred into the program during the offseason and is currently averaging a team-high 19.5 points in Elon’s first two games of the year. Last season, he helped lead Northwest Florida State College to a 29-6 record and an appearance in the NJCAA quarterfinals.
Elon will also benefit from the addition of 7-foot-4 Matthew Van Komen, a graduate transfer from Hawaii Pacific University who is the tallest player to ever take the court for the Phoenix.
North Carolina A&T Aggies
Now five years removed from their last winning season, the North Carolina A&T Aggies (1-1) enter Year 3 as a CAA member, as well as their third year under coach Phillip Shumpert. The team is hoping to wipe its memory of last season’s 7-25 (5-13 CAA) campaign that ended on a 10-game losing streak.
The Aggies were picked 10th in the 2024-25 CAA preseason poll.
On a brighter note, junior guard Landon Glasper was a unanimous All-CAA Preseason First Team selection, coming on the heels of the 2022-23 season where he averaged a team-best 20.9 points.
Additionally, sophomore Maryland transfer Jahnathan Lamothe has impressed in his early-season performances, posting averages of 18 points, 5.5 rebounds, and four assists.
Keep an eye on NC A&T center Will Felton, a redshirt sophomore who transferred to Greensboro from Arizona State but has missed the past two seasons due to injuries. The Raleigh native finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds in his long-awaited collegiate debut on Nov. 4 against Cheyney.
UNC Wilmington Seahawks
With three consecutive seasons of 20-plus wins — including a 2021-22 CAA regular-season title — fifth-year coach Takayo Siddle’s UNC Wilmington Seahawks (2-0) have solidified themselves as North Carolina’s top program in the CAA.
Picked third in the 2024-25 CAA preseason poll, the Seahawks are coming off a 21-10 (12-6 CAA) season that landed them in fourth place in the conference.
However, UNCW’s top four scorers (Trazarien White, Shykeim Phillips, KJ Jenkins, Maleeck Harden-Hayes) have all exited the building, leaving guard Donovan Newby as the clear-cut leader of this revamped roster. Newby has embraced his role with poise, averaging 24 points and 4.5 assists in the first two games of his senior season.
Utilizing the transfer portal, Siddle brought in veteran additions like Fairleigh Dickinson’s Sean Moore, Robert Morris’ Josh Corbin, and Holy Cross’ Bo Montgomery to complete returning pieces like juniors Khamari McGriff and Nolan Hodge.
In the Seahawks’ season debut against Mount Olive, the team exploded for 143 points (81 points in the first half) as eight UNCW players landed in double figures.
North Carolina Central Eagles (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Over in the MEAC, coach LeVelle Moton has entered his 16th leading the North Carolina Central Eagles (0-2), who have garnered a winning overall record in 11 of their 13 seasons as a MEAC member.
Last season, Moton became the all-time winningest coach at NCCU as the Eagles finished their campaign with a record of 18-13 (9-5 MEAC). The team led the MEAC in points per game, scoring margin, and opposing three-point field goal percentage during the 2023-24 season.
NC Central was selected third in the 2024-25 MEAC preseason poll, and junior guard Po’Boigh King was named an All-MEAC Preseason First Team selection; senior guard Keishon Porter was included in the Third Team roster.
King and Porter will look to make up in productivity for the loss of Fred Cleveland Jr. and Ja’Darius Harris, who combined for an average of nearly 30 points last season.
Junior guard Josh Smith has indicated an improvement in the team’s first games of the season, while the squad aims at large to integrate eight new players in the Eagles’ system.
