2023-24 North Carolina Sports Network
North Carolina Basketball Spotlight:
UNC Wilmington
By Ben McCormick
North Carolina Sports Network
School: UNC Wilmington
Location: Wilmington, N.C.
NCAA DI Member Since: 1976-77
Conference: Coastal Athletic Association (CAA)
CAA Member Since: 1984-85
CAA Ranking Among 32 Leagues (KenPom): 26th (2023), 14th (2022), 19th (2021), 18th (2020)
NCAA Tournament Bids: 6 (2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2016, 2017)
Conference Titles: 6 (2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2016, 2017)
Conference 1st-Place Finishes: 9 (1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022)
Head Coach: Takayo Siddle (37 years old, fourth season)
As A Player: Gardner-Webb (2005-09)
Record As Head Coach (Through Dec. 29): 67-31 (.684) in 3+ seasons
Previous Head Coaching Experience: none
College AC Experience: Gardner-Webb (2010-14); UNCW (2014-17); NC State (2017-20)
Assistant Under: Kevin Keatts, Chris Holtmann, Tim Craft
2022-23 Record: 24-10, 12-6 (3rd in 13-team CAA)
2023-24 Preseason Prediction (Coaches): 2nd in 14-team CAA
2023-24 Record (Through Dec. 29): 9-2, 0-0 CAA
2023-24 Midseason Ranking (KenPom): #115 nationally (2nd in CAA)
Upcoming Schedule Highlights: at Arkansas (12/30), Delaware (1/14), at Elon (1/18), Charleston (1/20)
CAA Opener: at Drexel (1/4)
The Seahawks have fallen in the CAA Tournament championship game two years in a row. In this season’s preseason poll, UNCW was pegged for second place. Last year’s conference champion, Charleston, is favored to repeat, but coach Takayo Siddle’s team won’t let last year’s finale shake its resolve.
“Shortly after the (championship) game, you kind of have to remove yourself from it and start thinking about how you can get better, so it doesn’t happen again if you’re fortunate enough to get back in that position,” Siddle said. “We’re excited about the returners first and foremost. They’re going to be a huge part of the reason why we win.”
Among those returners are UNCW’s top four scorers from last season: forward Trazarien White and guards Maleeck Harden-Hayes, Shykeim Phillips and Donovan Newby.
To begin the season, White, a preseason first-team All-CAA pick, has established himself as the leader for the Seahawks, averaging a team-best 19 points per game. Veterans Harden-Hayes and Phillips have seen jumps in production during the early season, as well.
While the returners are paramount to UNCW’s success, there are some new faces who are having immediate impacts in Wilmington. New Mexico transfer KJ Jenkins might be the biggest name amongst the newcomers. The 6-foot-2 guard notched 10 points per game through the Seahawks’ first 11 contests.
UNCW lacks size. The Seahawks’ tallest player is 6-foot-9 redshirt sophomore Khamari McGriff, who averages just three points and two rebounds per game. They may struggle against teams with talented bigs this season. What the Seahawks lack in the interior, though, they often make up for with depth; Siddle plays 10 players 10-plus minutes per game.
To start the 2023-24 season, the 9-2 Seahawks have had great success, including an unforgettable 80-73 victory at #12 Kentucky, although they’ve also lost to intrastate foes Appalachian State and East Carolina.
2023-24 UNC Wilmington Seahawks
(9-2, 0-0 CAA; through Dec. 29)
Starters
PG Shykeim Phillips*, Gr. — 24 mpg, 14 ppg, 3 rpg, 54% FG, 83% FT, 13% threes, 36/11 ATO, 1 block, 20 steals
(6-2/190); 4-year starter; 2022 All-Defense; 2020 All-Rookie; South Central HS, Winterville, N.C.
G Maleeck Harden-Hayes*, Gr. — 26 mpg, 12 ppg, 5 rpg, 45% FG, 88% FT, 37% threes, 6/12 ATO, 4 blocks, 4 steals
(6-7/200); 2022 North Dakota State transfer (part-time starter); Moorhead HS, Moorhead, Minn.
G Donovan Newby, Sr. — 25 mpg, 7 ppg, 2 rpg, 44% FG, 85% FT, 35% threes, 22/7 ATO, 0 blocks, 5 steals
(6-4/200); 2022 UW-Milwaukee transfer (starter); Bloom HS, Chicago Heights, Ill.
F Trazarien White*, Jr. — 27 mpg, 19 ppg, 6 rpg, 57% FG, 70% FT, 45% threes, 16/19 ATO, 5 blocks, 12 steals
(6-7/190); 2021 Collin CC transfer; 2nd-team All-CAA; Timberview HS, Mansfield, Texas
F Khamari McGriff, r-So. — 13 mpg, 3 ppg, 2 rpg, 72% FG, 60% FT, 4/6 ATO, 7 blocks, 4 steals
(6-9/260); 2023 UNCW reserve; 2022 redshirt; Rickards HS, Tallahassee, Fla.
*—returning starter (started at least 50% of current team’s games last season)
Key Reserves
G KJ Jenkins, Gr. — 20 mpg, 10 ppg, 3 rpg, 41% FG, 60% FT, 40% threes, 11/5 ATO, 0 blocks, 3 steals
(6-2/180); 2023 New Mexico transfer (backup); also NMSU, Kilgore JC; Creekview HS, Atlanta, Ga.
G Nolan Hodge, So. — 16 mpg, 4 ppg, 2 rpg, 35% FG, 46% FT, 28% threes, 8/5 ATO, 1 block, 7 steals
(6-4/175); 2023 UNCW reserve; 2nd-team all-state at Northern Guilford HS, Greensboro, N.C.
G Noah Ross, So. — 15 mpg, 3 ppg, 3 rpg, 33% FG, 100% FT, 38% threes, 7/6 ATO, 2 blocks, 8 steals
(6-4/175); 2023 part-time UNCW starter; 2x NCISSA all-state at Trinity Academy, Apex, N.C.
G Shemar Rathan-Mayes, Sr. — 12 mpg, 3 ppg, 1 rpg, 46% FG, 77% FT, 56% threes, 15/7 ATO, 0 blocks, 4 steals
(6-4/175); 2023 Youngstown State transfer (3-year starter); Orangeville Prep, Scarborough, Ontario
F Nick Farrar, Sr. — 15 mpg, 7 ppg, 3 rpg, 49% FG, 75% FT, 53% threes, 15/9 ATO, 1 block, 6 steals
(6-10/225); 2022 Charleston transfer (backup); Apex Friendship HS, Apex, N.C.
UNC Wilmington Seahawks
10-Year Snapshot
2022-23 — 24-10, 12-6 CAA (3rd), no postseason (Takayo Siddle)
2021-22 — 27-9, 15-3 CAA (t-1st), CBI champion (Takayo Siddle)
2020-21 — 7-10, 1-6 CAA (10th), no postseason (Takayo Siddle)
2019-20 — 10-22, 5-13 CAA (9th), no postseason (C.B. McGrath)
2018-19 — 10-23, 5-13 CAA (10th), no postseason (C.B. McGrath)
2017-18 — 11-21, 7-11 CAA (6th), no postseason (C.B. McGrath)
2016-17 — 29-6, 15-3* CAA (1st), NCAA 1st round (Kevin Keatts)
2015-16 — 25-8, 14-4* CAA (t-1st), NCAA 1st round (Kevin Keatts)
2014-15 — 18-14, 12-6 CAA (t-1st), CIT 1st round (Kevin Keatts)
2013-14 — 9-23, 3-13 CAA (9th), no postseason (Buzz Peterson)
*—conference champion
Appalachian State Mountaineers, Sun Belt Conference
Campbell Camels, Coastal Athletic Association
Charlotte 49ers, American Athletic Conference
Davidson Wildcats, Atlantic-10 Conference
East Carolina Pirates, American Athletic Conference
Elon Phoenix, Coastal Athletic Association
Gardner-Webb Runnin’Bulldogs, Big South Conference
High Point Panthers, Big South Conference
NC Central Eagles, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
North Carolina A&T Aggies, Coastal Athletic Association
Queens Royals, Atlantic Sun Conference
UNC Asheville Bulldogs, Big South Conference
UNC Greensboro Spartans, Southern Conference
UNC Wilmington Seahawks, Coastal Athletic Association
