Gaston College basketball returnees eager and ready for improvement

A year ago this time, Gaston College basketball coaches weren't sure what they had after having to hurriedly fill out a roster for the 2023-24 season due to the departure of the head coach.

With a challenging schedule facing them, it's not surprising the Rhinos struggled by finishing 11-20 overall and 3-13 in Region 10 of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

This season with the team holding informal workouts until Tuesday's official opening day of practice, three of the top performers from that team are back and eager to perform for new head coach Benny Moss and 2023-24 interim head coach Jermaine Williams (now associate head coach) and assistant coach Blan Hodges (Williams' assistant last season).

"I learned a lot last year," said guard Tyheim Love, a sophomore from Petersburg, Va.. "It was my first year playing juco and we didn't have a really good season. But I learned some things about my game and learned how to play against other guards.
"I'm ready to take everything I learned and put it to good use this year."

Adds Charlotte sophomore guard Judah Ravenell: "We were disappointed we lost but after they hired the new head coach, for me it was about being comfortable. I was happy with coach Hodges and coach J (Williams) returning and with coach Moss coming in.
"Coach Moss provided a great statement to me about why he was here, what he was trying to do and it was definitely along the lines of what the rest of us were thinking. I'm glad I stayed. It was definitely the best decision."

Finally, Charlotte sophomore guard Kush Carter summed up what has already happened with the team so far in nearly a month of informal workouts.

"We all know what the competition level is," Carter said. "I definitely think I'll be able to attack it better this year. And I definitely love that my two coaches are back from last year that the addition of coach Moss will only make us better."

Love was the leading scorer of the 2023-24 team with a 13.7 scoring average. He also added 2.2 rebound and 1.9 assist averages in 31 games (eight starts).

Ravenell averaged 9.0 points, 5.6 rebounds (third on the team) and 1.5 assists in 31 games (21 starts). And Carter averaged 8.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 31 games (21 starts).

Jaylon Craig, a sophomore guard from Queens, N.Y., who averaged 2.1 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 20 games (four starts) is the only other returnee as Moss and his staff brought in 14 newcomers.

Love sees the difference in talent already.

"We're going to have a good year," said Love, who has received recruiting attention from Arkansas Pine Bluff, Chowan and others.

Carter says he's worked to improve on his shooting and rebounding and has already received interest from several NCAA Division II schools.

And Ravenell has already received a scholarship offer from six-time NCAA Division II national champion Kentucky Wesleyan and gotten interest from Mars Hill and other NCAA Division II schools.

"I worked on getting in better shape and making sure my body is ready for the length of the season," Ravenell said. "I think we all did. That's why we're so excited about starting this season."

Gaston College opens its 2024-25 regular season at No. 1-ranked NJCAA Division II Davidson-Davie Community College on November 2 at 3 p.m.