High Point has been one of the best mid-major programs over the last few seasons. In that span, the Panthers have totaled 56 wins – 13 more than the previous four seasons combined. Before their 27-win season in 2023-24, the Panthers had not won 20 games since 2016. During that eight-year window, they had only one winning season entering the 2023-24 season.
Alan Huss was hired in 2023 and significantly altered the program’s trajectory. He led the Panthers to 29 wins last year (school and conference record), a Big South Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance. The level of talent he recruited and retained at High Point is also something rare for a mid-major team. That says a great deal about the culture that was established during his brief tenure.
All good things come to an end, and this process is accelerated even further when involving mid-major schools. Huss is now reunited with Greg McDermott at Creighton, as he is set to succeed him when the time comes. He leaves the Panthers in a better position than they were in before his arrival. The big question is – can they continue to ascend in the right direction?
The Flynn Clayman Era Begins
The Panthers wasted no time promoting Flynn Clayman after the departure of Alan Huss. Clayman played a pivotal role in the Panthers’ success over the past few seasons. He served as the offensive coordinator for one of the nation’s best offenses, not just among mid-major teams. Players and staff members rave about Clayman’s ability to develop, recruit and game plan for opponents. He will have high expectations and a chance to prove why he was the right man for the job from the outset.
For those unfamiliar with Clayman and his background, one word comes to mind – winner. Before arriving in High Point, he served as an associate head coach for Southern Utah, helping them reach the WAC title game and a semifinal appearance in the CBI. Obviously, this is a step up from being an associate, but Clayman is familiar with the players and what it takes to win at a high level, as he has shown throughout his coaching career.
Stylistically, there will be little to no change, especially on offense. Huss constantly credited his staff with great game plans, and Clayman was the engineer behind a lot of that, especially on offense. There are still some challenges that Clayman will have to overcome, starting with a complete roster turnover and being the hunted for the third consecutive year.
Rebuild or Reload
Sustainability and continuity are essential elements in sports, particularly at the mid-major level. In this era of NIL and the transfer portal, it is nearly impossible to sustain success with the same roster and coaching staff. That is no different for the Panthers as they enter the season. Answering the question of whether this team is rebuilding or reloading is subjective, but there is no doubting the amount of talent that was brought in by Clayman and his staff.
Last year, the Panthers retained and reloaded. They returned five of their top six contributors and added a few key contributors to help get them over the top. The continuity, combined with the newcomers, led to another successful year. It is the complete opposite this year, as the Panthers lose seven key contributors, including their points, rebounds, assists, and blocks leaders.
Replacing the first three team Big South players would hurt most programs, but High Point adds one of the best transfer portal classes at the mid-major level. This team is deeper than last year and will also be more versatile. The front-line rotation is very intriguing and contains excellent positional size. Cam Fletcher (Xavier), Owen Aquino (Liberty) and Youssouf Singare (UConn) possess the ability to guard multiple positions as well as score in a variety of ways. Not to mention the excellent guard transfers they brought in, who all averaged 13-plus points per contest.
Returning Production
Losing 71 points per game in production will not just be replaced by transfers. The Panthers also have a nice blend of returning veterans who are familiar with the system and are poised to take a significant step forward. Terry Anderson, Chase Johnston and Josh Ibukunoluwa played vital roles in last year’s success. Anderson is a player who can be an all-Big South member with his versatility on both ends and the ability to shoot the ball from deep. He was battling injuries last year, but is now healthy and ready for a breakout year, similar to what we saw from Kimani Hamilton in his transition from Year 1 to Year 2.
Johnston is one of the best shooters in the country and will continue to knock down shots from all over the floor. He is the perfect role player who can play with any lineup and with their upgrade in size. Johnston will see even more wide-open looks from drive and kick opportunities. Ibukunoluwa may not have the counting stats, but his impact was felt every time he was on the floor and with an uptick in minutes. Expect him to anchor the defense while cleaning up the offensive glass.
Schedule
Last year’s schedule was not the best when considering the quality of the opponents. According to KenPom, the Panthers’ strength of schedule was outside the top 275. That will be up a few notches with teams like UNCW, Bryant, UAB and Furman. They will play in Daytona for an MTE, which could include other premier mid-major teams.
With High Point’s success, not many high-major teams are willing to take that risk in scheduling them. High Point won back-to-back Big South regular-season titles for the first time in the conference since 2011. There has not been a three-peat champion since Winthrop from 2005-07. The Panthers could accomplish that feat this year, however, as their roster remains the best in the conference despite losing significant production.
They upgraded from a size and depth perspective while also getting in players who fit their scheme. It may take a month to get the chemistry down and for Clayman to adjust, but look for another 20-plus win season and a Big South title for the Panthers.
Season Prediction
All depth is not created equal. High Point can play nearly 11 players without having a significant drop-off. Some Power Five schools lack the depth the Panthers possess. Although it will be interesting to see how Clayman uses certain pieces, he has a bevy of options to piece together a steady rotation. The pace at which they play may warrant all 11 players to play in certain matchups, while at other times, a tighter rotation could be used.
Injuries are a part of the game, and if the bug hits the Panthers, they will be more than equipped to handle it. The questions about how Clayman handles being the head man, as well as the roster meshing, are fair. I would like to see the defense be more aggressive and defend ball screens more effectively.
The drop coverage and how poorly they defended the pick-and-roll is what ultimately led to their demise against Purdue. The positional size and versatility of this group should vastly improve the defense from that perspective, and if it does, watch out because the offense will be fine. An upgrade in defensive metrics could result in the Panthers taking another leap, even if the win total is not surpassed from last year’s team.
