2024-25 North Carolina Sports Network
NC Basketball Spotlight, 10-Year Snapshot:
Gardner-Webb
By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network
School: Gardner-Webb University
Location: Boiling Springs, N.C.
NCAA DI Member Since: 2000-01
Conference: Big South Conference
Big South Member Since: 2008-09
Big South Ranking Among 31 Leagues (KenPom): 17th (2025), 18th (2024), 22nd (2023), 24th (2022), 28th (2021), 30th (2020)
NCAA Tournament Bids: 1 (2019)
Conference Titles: 1 (2019 in Big South)
Conference 1st-Place Finishes: 1 (2005 in Atlantic Sun)
Head Coach: Jeremy Luther (51 years old, 1st season as Gardner-Webb HC)
As A Player: Robert Morris (1992-93), Liberty (1993-95), Covenant College/NAIA (1995-97); two years professionally
Record At Gardner-Webb (through Jan. 31): 9-12 (.429) in partial season
Previous HC Experience: Newberry/D2 (2007-09), Armstrong Atlantic/D2 (2009-13)
College AC Experience: Mercer (2002-07), Gardner-Webb (2013-24)
Assistant Under: Mark Slonaker, Tim Craft
2023-24 Record: 17-16, 11-5 (3rd in 9-team Big South)
2024-25 Preseason Prediction (Coaches/Media): 6th in 9-team Big South
2024-25 Record (through Jan. 31): 9-12, 4-4 Big South
2024-25 Midseason Ranking (KenPom): #230 nationally (6th in Big South)
Upcoming Schedule: at Winthrop (2/1), at UNC Asheville (2/5), Charleston Southern (2/8), at USC Upstate (2/15), at Longwood (2/19), High Point (2/22)
From 2013-14 through 2023-24, coach Tim Craft led Gardner-Webb on its greatest streak of consistent success during its time as a Division One program.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs finished .500 or better in Big South competition during every single season of Craft’s 11-year tenure. They also posted four top-three finishes in the conference standings, and they earned their first NCAA Tournament bid by winning the Big South Tournament in 2019.
When Craft left to take the Western Carolina job last March, Gardner-Webb president Dr. William M. Downs quickly turned to long-time assistant coach Jeremy Luther, a former Division Two head coach who had been Craft’s right-hand man for the entirety of their lengthy tenure together in Boiling Springs.
“I couldn’t be happier to have Jeremy Luther take the helm as head men’s basketball coach at Gardner-Webb,” Downs said. “Coach Luther emerged as the top choice from a national pool of truly outstanding applicants, and he earned the job by conveying his passion for our school, by authentically articulating his hunger for taking our program to the next level, and by mapping out his plan for developing student-athletes into great men.
“Jeremy Luther will be relentless, and he will do it the right way. That combination, I firmly believe, will lead to championship basketball and a very proud Runnin’ Bulldog Nation. Let the new era begin!”
Although Gardner-Webb lost its top five scorers from last year’s team — three to graduation, two to the transfer portal (please see details below) — the promotion of Luther contributed to significant roster continuity. Six of the 10 players in this year’s rotation played for the Bulldogs prior to this season.
Two of this year’s key contributors actually transferred back to Gardner-Webb during the 2024 offseason after previously playing in the program.
Starting guard Anthony Selden played three seasons for the Runnin’ Bulldogs, including the 2022-23 campaign as a starter and double-digit scorer, before spending last season at Rice. Starting forward Jamaine Mann was a part-time starter for the Bulldogs as a freshman in 2020-21; he’s back after one year at Vanderbilt and two at Georgia State.
The Bulldogs’ top player so far this season has been diminutive sophomore guard Darryl Simmons II, an electrifying performer who is averaging 16 points per game while shooting 41 percent on 3-pointers and 94 percent from the free throw line.
2024-25 Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs
(9-12, 4-4 Big South; through Jan. 31)
STARTERS (stats = 2024-25 numbers)
G Darryl Simmons II, So. (5-11/160) — 2023 HS signee (Putnam Academy in Conn.)
32 mpg, 16 ppg, 3 rpg, 43% FG, 94% FT, 41% threes, 42/43 ATO, 2 blocks, 21 steals
G Anthony Selden, Gr. (6-6/220) — 2024 Rice transfer (backup)
30 mpg, 15 ppg, 4 rpg, 48% FG, 63% FT, 30% threes, 49/55 ATO, 21 blocks, 10 steals
G Pharrell Boyogueno, Jr. (6-6/215) — 2024 Caldwell CC transfer (all-region, DPOY)
23 mpg, 8 ppg, 4 rpg, 43% FG, 81% FT, 36% threes, 13/25 ATO, 18 blocks, 12 steals
F Jamaine Mann, Gr. (6-6/225) — 2024 Georgia State transfer (backup)
29 mpg, 11 ppg, 5 rpg, 54% FG, 64% FT, 36% threes, 34/50 ATO, 6 blocks, 11 steals
F Ademide Badmus*, Sr. (6-7/245) — 2021 HS signee (Lynn English HS near Boston)
18 mpg, 4 ppg, 5 rpg, 55% FG, 52% FT, few threes, 20/23 ATO, 1 block, 9 steals
KEY RESERVES (stats = 2024-25 numbers)
F Isaiah Richards, r-Sr. (6-10/225) — 2023 Louisiana transfer (backup)
22 mpg, 6 ppg, 7 rpg, 50% FG, 67% FT, 23% threes, 25/28 ATO, 25 blocks, 15 steals
G Shahar Lazar, r-So. (6-2/215) — 2023 New Mexico State transfer (redshirt)
16 mpg, 6 ppg, 2 rpg, 51% FG, 96% FT, 37% threes, 17/23 ATO, 1 block, 6 steals
G Colin Hawkins, Fr. (6-3/225) — 2024 HS signee (Sunrise Christian in Kan.)
12 mpg, 2 ppg, 1 rpg, 27% FG, 79% FT, 29% threes, 13/22 ATO, 0 blocks, 7 steals
G Brendan Mykalcio, r-Jr. (6-7/208) — 2021 HS signee (Patrick School in N.J.)
11 mpg, 3 ppg, 3 rpg, 59% FG, 59% FT, 0% threes, 12/22 ATO, 3 blocks, 8 steals
G Jacob Hudson, Fr. (6-2/185) — 2024 HS signee (Phelps School in Pa.)
11 mpg, 4 ppg, 1 rpg, 44% FG, 53% FT, 9% threes, 12/9 ATO, 0 blocks, 8 steals
Departures from 2023-24: G Quest Aldridge* (Sr.), G DQ Nicholas* (Ss./Bosnia), G Caleb Robinson (Sr./transfer/Nicholls State), F Cheickna Sissoko (Sr.), G Julien Soumaoro* (Jr./transfer/East Carolina), G Lucas Stieber* (Sr./grad assistant at Colorado State)
*—2023-24 starter (started at least 50% of the Bulldogs’ games last season)
Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs
10-Year Snapshot
Season: Overall, League (Place), Postseason
2023-24: 17-16, 11-5 Big South (3rd), no postseason (Tim Craft)
2022-23: 15-16, 10-8 Big South (4th), no postseason (Tim Craft)
2021-22: 18-13, 11-5 Big South (3rd), no postseason (Tim Craft)
2020-21: 11-15, 10-10 Big South (5th), no postseason (Tim Craft)
2019-20: 16-16, 11-7 Big South (3rd), no postseason (Tim Craft)
2018-19: 23-12, 10-6* Big South (3rd), NCAA 1st Round (Tim Craft)
2017-18: 14-18, 9-9 Big South (5th), no postseason (Tim Craft)
2016-17: 19-14, 11-7 Big South (4th), no postseason (Tim Craft)
2015-16: 17-16, 10-8 Big South (5th), no postseason (Tim Craft)
2014-15: 20-15, 10-8 Big South (6th), CBI 1st Round (Tim Craft)
*—conference champion
NOTE: In the coming weeks and months, please visit the North Carolina Sports Network’s 2024-25 profiles and 10-year snapshots for all 19 Division One men’s basketball programs in North Carolina and all 18 Atlantic Coast Conference programs. The items below will become “live links” as new articles are posted.
Appalachian State Mountaineers, Sun Belt Conference
Boston College Eagles, Atlantic Coast Conference
California Golden Bears, Atlantic Coast Conference
Campbell Camels, Coastal Athletic Association
Charlotte 49ers, American Athletic Conference
Clemson Tigers, Atlantic Coast Conference
Davidson Wildcats, Atlantic-10 Conference
Duke Blue Devils, Atlantic Coast Conference
East Carolina Pirates, American Athletic Conference
Elon Phoenix, Coastal Athletic Association
Florida State Seminoles, Atlantic Coast Conference
Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs, Big South Conference
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Atlantic Coast Conference
High Point Panthers, Big South Conference
Louisville Cardinals, Atlantic Coast Conference
Miami Hurricanes, Atlantic Coast Conference
North Carolina Tar Heels, Atlantic Coast Conference
North Carolina A&T Aggies, Coastal Athletic Association
North Carolina Central Eagles, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
North Carolina State Wolfpack, Atlantic Coast Conference
Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Atlantic Coast Conference
Pitt Panthers, Atlantic Coast Conference
Queens Royals, Atlantic Sun Conference
SMU Mustangs, Atlantic Coast Conference
Stanford Cardinal, Atlantic Coast Conference
Syracuse Orange, Atlantic Coast Conference
UNC Asheville Bulldogs, Big South Conference
UNC Greensboro Spartans, Southern Conference
UNC Wilmington Seahawks, Coastal Athletic Association
Virginia Cavaliers, Atlantic Coast Conference
Virginia Tech Hokies, Atlantic Coast Conference
Wake Forest, Atlantic Coast Conference