Two of Gaston College's eight newcomers played against Gaston College's startup program a year ago
Like most junior college basketball programs, Gaston College lost some key parts to their startup program and had to restock its roster with newcomers.
Of those eight new players, two of them - guards Jordan Guthrie and Chaundre Bratcher - actually played against the Rhinos a year ago. Guthrie played for conference rival USC Salkehatchie before transferring to Gaston College, and Bratcher played for Lakeside Prep before becoming a Rhinos' freshman. Both players were impressed with that they saw.
"My impressions of them last year were good," said Guthrie, whose team split with Gaston College a year ago. "I loved the team they had last year and love the team even more this year with the new freshmen and the older guys we have." Guthrie scored 20 points and hit five 3-pointers in USC Salkehatchie's 92-89 win at North Gaston High School in their first meeting, then didn't play in Gaston College's 97-95 overtime win at USC Salkehatchie late last season. "I thought their chemistry was real good," said Guthrie, who averaged 13.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 20 games last season.
Said Bratcher, whose team lost an early-season game to the Rhinos a year ago: "They were looking good and playing hard and coaches were sitting over there not saying nothing because they were hooping and all on one page." Bratcher scored 14 points for Lakeside Prep in the Falcons' 108-64 early loss to Gaston College at Piedmont Community Charter.
Guthrie averaged 13.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 20 games last season for USC Salkehatchie Guthrie is one of two junior college transfers of the eight newcomers on the roster; 6-foot-8 forward Caleb McCarty averaged 5.9 points and 5.1 rebounds at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
The incoming freshmen are Bratcher of Greensboro; Michael Smith of Tallahassee, Florida; Ajaden Gray of Benton, Arkansas; Jamal Ukaegbu of Silver Spring, Maryland; and Tyree Bracey and Asil Hoyle of Charlotte.
Smith, a 6-6 guard-forward, averaged 11.9 points and 5.2 rebounds last season at Crossroad Academy of Quincy, Florida.
Gray, a 6-9 center, averaged 13.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season at Benton High.
Ukaegbu, a 6-5 guard, averaged 10.4 points and 6.0 rebounds last season at Charlotte Elite Academy.
Bracey, a 6-8 wing, led North Mecklenburg to a 27-5 record and the Western N.C. 4A championship game last season.
And Hoyle, a 5-11 guard, averaged 13.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season at Charlotte Elite Academy.
"I didn't really know much about Gaston until they recruited me at the end of my high school season," Bracey said. "They did so well for their first year back. I saw that they were hard-working guys."
Now together since late August when voluntary workouts began, and after playing in two jamborees and playing two exhibition games, the Rhinos begin their 2022-23 regular season on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Gaddis Watts Prep Academy at Gaston College's home gymnasium at Ashbrook high School.
"The main goal for us is winning a championship," Hoyle said. "And then getting everybody a college scholarship. We're all eager to get on the court and we're confident it's going to be a good season."