2025 North Carolina Sports Network
NC Basketball Spotlight, 10-Year Snapshot:
Queens University
By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network
School: Queens University of Charlotte
Location: Charlotte, N.C.
NCAA Division One Member Since: 2022-23 (started 4-year transition period)
Conference: Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN)
ASUN Member Since: 2022-23
ASUN Ranking Among 31 Leagues (KenPom): 24th (2025), 26th (2024), 18th (2023), 21st (2022), 26th (2021), 26th (2020)
NCAA Tournament Bids: 0 (in Division One)
Conference Titles: 0 (in Division One)
Conference 1st-Place Finishes: 0 (in Division One)
Head Coach: Grant Leonard (44 years old, 3rd season)
As A Player: William Penn University, NAIA (2002-04)
Record as Head Coach (Through Jan. 15): 43-40 (.518) in 2+ seasons
Previous HC Experience: none
College AC Experience: Washington College (2005-06), Texas-Pan Am (2006-09), Flagler (2009-10), Paine (2011-13), Queens (2013-22)
Assistant Under: Rob Nugent, Bart Lundy, others
2023-24 Record: 14-19, 7-9 (8th in 12-team ASUN)
2024-25 Preseason Prediction (Coaches/Media): 9th/9th in 12-team ASUN
2024-25 Record (Through Jan. 15): 11-6, 4-0 ASUN
2024-25 Midseason Ranking (KenPom): #221 nationally (6th in ASUN)
Upcoming Schedule: at Stetson (1/16), at Florida Gulf Coast (1/18), North Florida (1/23), Jacksonville (1/25), North Alabama (1/29), West Georgia (2/1), at Central Arkansas (2/5)
More than a half-century ago, in 1973, the NCAA created three divisions, with the goal of enabling its member schools to align themselves with like-minded universities on sports-related matters.
Most North Carolina-based schools have remained at the same level they chose 52 years ago. A handful, though, have opted to make bold moves up the NCAA ladder.
In 2022, Queens University of Charlotte (that’s the full, official name), which had made seven straight appearances in the Division Two men’s basketball tournament and two trips (2003, 2018) to its Final Four, became the latest school to make the jump. The Royals are now in their third season of an NCAA-mandated four-year transition process to Division One.
Queens competes in the Atlantic Sun Conference, whose membership has changed significantly over the past two decades. Among the ASUN’s champions over the past 20 years, Belmont (Missouri Valley), East Tennessee State (Southern Conference), Kennesaw State (Conference USA), Liberty (Conference USA) and Mercer (SoCon) have departed for higher-profile leagues, while Bellarmine, Florida Gulf Coast, Lipscomb, North Florida and Stetson are among the remaining members.
Coach Bart Lundy, who led the Queens program from 1998-99 through 2002-03 and again from 2013-14 through 2021-22, left the Royals almost three years ago to take the Milwaukee job in the Horizon League, where he has had back-to-back winning campaigns.
Lundy’s long-time assistant, Grant Leonard, then was promoted to lead Queens into its exciting new era.
Leonard’s third (current) team may be his best yet, despite losing its two all-conference players (guards Dayton Albury and AJ McKee) from last season via the transfer portal. Albury jumped to Utah State; McKee now plays for Lundy at Milwaukee.
By mid-January, only two of North Carolina’s 19 Division One teams remained undefeated in conference play: Duke (the #3 team in the nation) in the ACC and Queens in the ASUN.
The Royals (11-6, 4-0 ASUN) have won eight of their last nine games, falling only at #21 Ole Miss, and their marquee victories include road wins over Gardner-Webb and preseason ASUN favorite Lipscomb.
“Road wins are huge, and it builds up confidence,” Leonard said after the triumph at Gardner-Webb. “I think our guys are comfortable and understand that these games are equivalent to league games on the road.
“More importantly, the team that won our league in the last couple of years finished 7-6 in nonconference (games). So, we don’t have to blow it out the water but just get better, and I think that’s what everyone is seeing from our guys.”
The Royals’ 10-man rotation consists of four major college transfers (Leo Colimerio, a fifth-year senior from Fresno State, has the look of an All-ASUN player), two junior college transfers, two American high school signees and two international players.
2024-25 Queens Royals
(11-6, 4-0 ASUN; through Jan. 15)
STARTERS (stats = 2024-25 numbers)
G Bryce Cash*, So. (6-5/210) — 2023 in-state HS signee (nearby Carmel Christian)
27 mpg, 6 ppg, 5 rpg, 40% FG, 59% FT, 23% threes, 65/31 ATO, 3 blocks, 21 steals
G Chris Ashby*, Sr. (6-2/185) — 2022 Paris JC transfer (starter; HM all-region)
28 mpg, 11 ppg, 1 rpg, 36% FG, 81% FT, 37% threes, 22/21 ATO, 4 blocks, 10 steals
G Kalib Mathews, r-Sr. (6-4/185) — 2020 in-state HS signee (Henderson Collegiate)
20 mpg, 6 ppg, 3 rpg, 52% FG, 78% FT, 33% threes, 44/35 ATO, 6 blocks, 15 steals
F Leo Colimerio, Gr. (6-7/195) — 2024 Fresno State transfer (3-year starter)
28 mpg, 13 ppg, 5 rpg, 51% FG, 73% FT, 40% threes, 32/22 ATO, 4 blocks, 9 steals
F Malcolm Wilson, Gr. (7-0/215) — 2023 Georgetown transfer (backup)
22 mpg, 5 ppg, 6 rpg, 64% FG, 24% FT, 0 threes, 13/27 ATO, 59 blocks, 9 steals
KEY RESERVES (stats = 2024-25 numbers)
G/F Yoav Berman, Fr. (6-6/190) — 2024 signee from Israel (U20 National Team)
18 mpg, 7 ppg, 4 rpg, 40% FG, 56% FT, 44% threes, 21/20 ATO, 4 blocks, 15 steals
F Jaxon Pollard, Sr. (6-7/225) — 2023 Salt Lake CC transfer (part-time starter)
18 mpg, 8 ppg, 5 rpg, 47% FG, 56% FT, 28% threes, 19/21 ATO, 1 block, 15 steals
G/F Nasir Mann, Jr. (6-5/190) — 2024 McNeese State transfer (backup)
15 mpg, 7 ppg, 3 rpg, 45% FG, 72% FT, 33% threes, 14/17 ATO, 1 block, 11 steals
G Asjon Anderson, Jr. (6-2/165) — 2024 Utah Tech transfer (backup)
15 mpg, 8 ppg, 1 rpg, 29% FG, 78% FT, 22% threes, 18/16 ATO, 1 block, 11 steals
G/F Maban Jabriel, Fr. (6-9/195) — 2024 HS signee (Tri-City Prep near Toronto)
11 mpg, 5 ppg, 3 rpg, 45% FG, 75% FT, 37% threes, 13/13 ATO, 6 blocks, 4 steals
Departures from 2023-24: G Dayton Albury* (Jr./transfer/Utah State), G Kobe George (Fr./transfer/Tallahassee State CC), F Luke Krawczyk (Fr./transfer/Georgia College), G AJ McKee* (Jr./transfer/Milwaukee), F BJ McLaurin* (Sr./Sweden), F Jacobi Sebock (So./transfer/Central Oklahoma), G Logan Threatt (r-Fr./transfer/MSU Denver)
*—2023-24 starter (started at least 50% of the Royals’ games last season)
Queens Royals
10-Year Snapshot
Season: Overall, League (Place), Postseason
2023-24: 14-19, 7-9 ASUN (8th), no postseason (Grant Leonard)
2022-23: 18-15, 7-11 ASUN (9th), no postseason (Grant Leonard)
2021-22: 30-4, 21-3 SAC* (t-1st*), D2 Sweet 16 (Bart Lundy)
2020-21: 16-6, 13-3 SAC (2nd), D2 1st Round (Bart Lundy)
2019-20: 24-7, 17-5 SAC (2nd), no postseason (Bart Lundy)
2018-19: 31-5, 19-1 SAC (1st*), D2 Elite Eight (Bart Lundy)
2017-18: 32-4, 18-2 SAC (2nd), D2 Final Four (Bart Lundy)
2016-17: 30-4, 19-3 SAC* (t-1st*), D2 Sweet 16 (Bart Lundy)
2015-16: 25-7, 17-5 SAC (2nd), D2 Round of 32 (Bart Lundy)
2014-15: 17-13, 13-9 SAC (2nd), no postseason (Bart Lundy)
*—conference champion (regular-season and/or tournament)
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
Western Carolina Catamounts, Southern Conference