2023-24 North Carolina Sports Network
NC Basketball Spotlight, 10-Year Snapshot:
UNC Greensboro
By Evan Rogers
North Carolina Sports Network
School: UNC Greensboro
Location: Greensboro, N.C.
NCAA DI Member Since: 1992-93
Conference: Southern Conference (SoCon)
SoCon Member Since: 1997-98
SoCon Ranking Amongst 32 Leagues (KenPom): 20th (2023), 12th (2022), 14th (2021), 15th (2020)
NCAA Tournament Bids: 4 (1996, 2001, 2018, 2021)
Conference Titles: 4 (1996 in Big South; 2001, 2018, 2021 in SoCon)
Conference 1st-Place Finishes: 7 (1995, 1996 in Big South; 2002, 2017, 2018, 2021 in SoCon)
Head Coach: Mike Jones (58 years old, 3rd season at UNCG)
As A Player: Howard (1983-87)
Record At UNCG (Through Dec. 9): 44-28 in 2+ seasons
Previous Head Coaching Experience: Radford (10 seasons, 174-150)
College AC Experience: Howard (1994-97); Furman (1997-2000); Richmond (2000-02); West Virginia (2002-03); Georgia (2003-09); VCU (2009-11)
Assistant Under: Mike McLeese, Larry Davis, John Beilein, Dennis Felton, Shaka Smart
2022-23 Record: 20-12, 14-4 (3rd in 10-team SoCon)
2023-24 Preseason Prediction (Coaches/Media): 2nd/4th in 10-team SoCon
2023-24 Record (Through Dec. 9): 7-1, 0-0 SoCon
2023-24 Midseason Ranking (KenPom): #103 nationally (1st in SoCon)
Upcoming Schedule Highlights: Elon (12/10), at Marshall (12/16), at Texas (12/29)
SoCon Opener: Furman (1/3)
Now in his third season at the helm, UNC Greensboro coach Mike Jones appears poised to return the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament.
UNCG most recently appeared in the coveted postseason event in 2021, after Wes Miller (now the head coach at Cincinnati) guided the Spartans to the Southern Conference’s regular-season and tournament titles. In his playing days, Miller was a reserve guard for most of his time at North Carolina and a member of the Tar Heels’ 2005 NCAA title team.
As he did during his full decade (2011-12 through 2020-21) as the head coach at Radford, which included an NCAA Tournament appearance, a Big South championship, two first-place league finishes and two conference coach of the year awards, Jones has shown steady growth during his two-plus seasons at UNCG.
After a 17-15 record and a fifth-place SoCon finish in 2021-22, the Spartans jumped to 20-12 and third place last season. Now they’re off to an impressive 7-1 start this year.
The Spartans return two of their top three scorers from last season’s team in Keyshaun Langley (who starts alongside his twin, Kobe Langley) and Mikeal Brown-Jones. The Langley brothers are highly regarded for their defensive abilities, and Kobe brought home SoCon Defensive Player of the Year honors last season.
“I believe you can win games with good offense, but I believe you can win championships with good offense and great defense,” Jones said. “We try to build from that standpoint; defending and rebounding is the most important thing.”
In their third game this season, the Spartans secured a thrilling road win over then-No.14 Arkansas, 78-72, at Bud Walton Arena. UNC Greensboro has since continued its winning ways, with its most recent victory coming in a 87-85 overtime defeat of Eastern Kentucky as Kobe Langley connected on a floater with 0.6 seconds remaining in the extra period.
UNC Greensboro’s success depends heavily on its outside shooting and a roster filled with capable shooters.
So far this season, the Spartans have shot a tick under 40 percent from 3-point range, which ranks in the top 20 nationally. Sophomore Donovan Atwell, the team’s youngest starter, leads UNCG with 26 makes from deep at a near 43-percent shooting clip.
2023-24 UNC Greensboro Spartans
(7-1, 0-0 SoCon; through Dec. 9)
Starters
PG Kobe Langley, Gr. — 31 mpg, 10 ppg, 3 rpg, 48% FG, 62% FT, 36% threes, 54/15 ATO, 3 blocks 18 steals
(6-1/180); part-time starter; 2023 SoCon DPOY; from Southwest Guilford HS and High Point, N.C.
G Keyshaun Langley*, Gr. *— 26 mpg, 13 ppg, 3 rpg, 39% FG, 86% FT, 33% threes, 14/6 ATO, 1 block, 13 steals
(6-1/175); 2023 1st-team All-SoCon; 2020 FOY; from Southwest Guilford HS and High Point, N.C.
G/F Donovan Atwell, So. — 29 mpg, 14 ppg, 3 rpg, 44% FG, 93% FT, 43% threes, 3/5 ATO, 1 block, 7 steals
(6-5/187); only 8 mpg, 4 ppg in 2022-23; from Providence Day School and Huntersville, N.C.
F Mikeal Brown-Jones, Sr. — 26 mpg, 19 ppg, 7 rpg, 59% FG, 74% FT, 60% threes (few), 9/11 ATO, 7 blocks, 3 steals
(6-8/220); 2022 VCU transfer (reserve); from IMG Academy and North Philadelphia, Pa.
F Jalen Breath, r-So. — 20 mpg, 5 ppg, 5 rpg, 52% FG, 53% FT, 6/4 ATO, 2 blocks, 3 steals
(6-8/225); minimal PT in 2022-23; from Booker T. Washington HS and Oklahoma City, Okla.
Key Reserves
G Joryam Saizonou, Jr. — 21 mpg, 6 ppg, 3 rpg, 39% FG, 64% FT, 35% threes, 10/14 ATO, 0 blocks, 4 steals
(6-3/188); 2022 St. Bonaventure transfer (reserve); from Beckley Prep and Almere, Netherlands
G Akrum Ahemed, r-Sr. — 19 mpg, 5 ppg, 3 rpg, 44% FG, 63% FT, 33% threes, 9/5 ATO, o blocks, 4 steals
(6-3/190); 2022 Canisius transfer (reserve); from Scotland Campus HS and Hackensack, N.J.
F Tim Ceaser, Gr. — 14 mpg, 4 ppg, 3 rpg, 48% FG, 44% threes (few), 2/6 ATO, 1 block, 0 steals
(6-9/205); 2023 Utah Valley transfer (part-time starter); from Marion HS and Marion, Ark.
F Domas Kauzonas, Fr. — 9 mpg, 3 ppg, 2 rpg, 69% FG, 0% FT (few), 2/3 ATO, 1 block, 2 steals
(6-10/240); 2023 signee from Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Ga.) School and Vilnius, Lithuania
*—returning starter (started at least 50% of current team’s games last season)
UNC Greensboro Spartans
10-Year Snapshot
Season — Overall, League (Place), Postseason
2022-23 — 20-12, 14-4 SoCon (3rd), no postseason (Mike Jones)
2021-22 — 17-15, 9-9 SoCon (5th), CBI 1st Round (Mike Jones)
2020-21 — 21-8, 13-5* SoCon (1st), NCAA 1st Round (Wes Miller)
2019-20 — 23-8, 13-5 SoCon (3rd), no postseason (Wes Miller)
2018-19 — 29-7, 15-3 SoCon (2nd), NIT 2nd Round (Wes Miller)
2017-18 — 27-7, 15-3* SoCon (1st), NCAA 1st Round (Wes Miller)
2016-17 — 25-10, 14-4 SoCon (t-1st), NIT 1st Round (Wes Miller)
2015-16 — 15-19, 10-8 SoCon (5th), CBI Quarterfinals (Wes Miller)
2014-15 — 11-22, 6-12 SoCon (7th), no postseason (Wes Miller)
2013-14 — 14-18, 7-9 SoCon (6th), no postseason (Wes Miller)
*—conference champion
NOTE: Please visit the North Carolina Sports Network’s 2023-24 profiles and 10-year snapshots for all 19 Division One men’s basketball programs in North Carolina.
Appalachian State Mountaineers, Sun Belt Conference
Charlotte 49ers, American Athletic Conference
Davidson Wildcats, Atlantic-10 Conference
East Carolina Pirates, American Athletic Conference
High Point Panthers, Big South Conference
UNC Wilmington Seahawks, Coastal Athletic Association
