Pirates Hold First Official Practice Of 2024-25 Season
September 23, 2024 | Men's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina men's basketball team took to the floor of Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum on Monday morning with a renewed sense of energy and excitement as the team held its first official practice of the 2024-25 season.
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Head coach Michael Schwartz enters his third season with seven returners, including three starters from last year's team, headlined by All-AAC senior guard RJ Felton, who led ECU with 17.3 points per game in 2023-24. Felton became the 34th Pirate to score 1,000 career points and was only the fourth player in program history to be named to an NABC All-District Team. Cam Hayes and Cyr Malonga bring back some playing experience for the Pirates as the duo combined for 30 starts last season. Callum Richard, Bencao Vungo, Evan Montanari and Grant Smith round out the rest of the returners for ECU.
East Carolina brings in six new but experienced faces to its roster in transfers Jordan Riley (Temple), C.J. Walker (UCF), Julien Soumaoro (Gardner-Webb), Yann Farell (St. Bonaventure), Jayshayne Woodard (Indian River State CC) and Trevion LaBeaux (Indian Hills CC). The quartet of Walker, Riley, Soumaoro and Farell have combined for 215 starts and 7,710 minutes played in their collegiate careers. Woodard and LaBeaux were both NJCAA All-Americans at their previous institutions as Woodard set a program record for triple doubles in a single season and LaBeaux led Indian Hills to back-to-back Final Fours.
The Pirates also welcome in three freshmen in Reid Cason (Kingston HS), Tybo Bailey (Winston-Salem Christian) and Ladontae Felton (South Aiken HS). Cason averaged a double-double in his senior year at Kingston and was a four-time all-conference player. Bailey was tabbed as a four-star player by Rivals.com and averaged 16.8 points per game in his senior year. Felton was named Class 4A All-Region and was selected to compete in the 2024 Aiken County All-Star Game as a senior.
East Carolina will tip-off the 2024-25 season on Monday, November 4 when the Pirates host North Carolina Wesleyan.
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Head coach Michael Schwartz enters his third season with seven returners, including three starters from last year's team, headlined by All-AAC senior guard RJ Felton, who led ECU with 17.3 points per game in 2023-24. Felton became the 34th Pirate to score 1,000 career points and was only the fourth player in program history to be named to an NABC All-District Team. Cam Hayes and Cyr Malonga bring back some playing experience for the Pirates as the duo combined for 30 starts last season. Callum Richard, Bencao Vungo, Evan Montanari and Grant Smith round out the rest of the returners for ECU.
East Carolina brings in six new but experienced faces to its roster in transfers Jordan Riley (Temple), C.J. Walker (UCF), Julien Soumaoro (Gardner-Webb), Yann Farell (St. Bonaventure), Jayshayne Woodard (Indian River State CC) and Trevion LaBeaux (Indian Hills CC). The quartet of Walker, Riley, Soumaoro and Farell have combined for 215 starts and 7,710 minutes played in their collegiate careers. Woodard and LaBeaux were both NJCAA All-Americans at their previous institutions as Woodard set a program record for triple doubles in a single season and LaBeaux led Indian Hills to back-to-back Final Fours.
The Pirates also welcome in three freshmen in Reid Cason (Kingston HS), Tybo Bailey (Winston-Salem Christian) and Ladontae Felton (South Aiken HS). Cason averaged a double-double in his senior year at Kingston and was a four-time all-conference player. Bailey was tabbed as a four-star player by Rivals.com and averaged 16.8 points per game in his senior year. Felton was named Class 4A All-Region and was selected to compete in the 2024 Aiken County All-Star Game as a senior.
East Carolina will tip-off the 2024-25 season on Monday, November 4 when the Pirates host North Carolina Wesleyan.
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