UNCG’s Donovan Atwell Voted to SoCon Men’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
SoCon Announces Preseason Coaches’ Poll and Preseason All-Conference Team
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Junior Donovan Atwell of the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men’s basketball team was voted to The 2024-25 Southern Conference (SoCon) Preseason All-Conference team, as voted on by the league’s 10 coaches and announced by the SoCon on Wednesday.
Atwell is the returning leading scorer for the Spartans, as he averaged a career-best 11.2 points totaling 359 during his sophomore year. He was the only Spartan last season to start and play in all 32 games. He drained a team-best and career-high 89 three-pointers for a 41.98 three-point percentage from behind the arc. He also was impressive behind the charity stripe, shooting 94.74-percent.
On the defensive end, the Huntersville, North Carolina, native grabbed a career-high 90 total rebounds. Atwell also had career bests in total steals (26) and total assists (19).
Nationally, Atwell concluded the season 17th in three-point percentage, 39th in three pointers per game and 55th in total three-point field goals made.
The Spartans were voted to finish sixth in the 2024-25 SoCon Preseason Coaches’ Poll earning 41 points. Samford was voted to finish first, earning six first-place votes, while Chattanooga and ETSU followed in second and third, respectively, each earning two first-place votes.
Head Coach Mike Jones will lead the Spartans during his fourth year with the Blue & Gold. Jones and UNCG went 21-11 overall and 12-6 in the SoCon at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.
This was the seventh year out of eight with 20 or more wins for the Spartans and second year out of three under Coach Jones winning 20 or more games.
The Spartans won the 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship in November and the 2023-24 squad made history as a team, defeating then-ranked No. 14 Arkansas, 78-72, in Fayetteville for the programs’ first ranked win.
Nationally, UNCG was ranked fourth in three-point percentage (39.7), 12th in three pointers per game (10.1), 32nd in field goal percentage defense (41.0), 34th in effective field goal percentage (.546) and 42nd in three-point attempts per game (25.4).
With nine returners and seven newcomers, five of them transfers, UNCG will showcase some familiar faces from last season.
UNCG begins its 2024-25 season against Atlantic Sun Conference foe Florida Gulf Coast on Monday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. inside the First Horizon Coliseum.
UNCG Men’s Basketball Ticket Information
To secure your tickets for UNCG men’s basketball home games click HERE for options including single games and group discounts, flex plans, and full season ticket options. The home basketball schedule includes eight (8) home games at First Horizon Coliseum and Six (6) home games at Fleming Gymnasium. To learn more about upcoming ticket promotions or to purchase over the phone call the UNCG Ticket Office at 336-334-3250.
2024-25 Southern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes)
Total
1. Samford (6)
77
2. Chattanooga (2)
73
3. ETSU (2)
67
4. Wofford
58
5. Furman
47
6. UNCG
41
7. Mercer
35
8. Western Carolina
25
9. The Citadel
17
10. VMI
10
2024-25 Preseason Southern Conference Player of the Year
Trey Bonham, Sr., G, Chattanooga
2024-25 Preseason All-Southern Conference team
Quimari Peterson, Sr., G, ETSU
Jaden Seymour, R-Sr., F, ETSU
Pjay Smith, Sr., G, Furman
Donovan Atwell, Jr., G/F, UNCG
Collin Holloway, Sr., F, Samford
Rylan Jones, Gr., G, Samford
Honor Huff, Jr., G, Chattanooga
Trey Bonham, Sr., G, Chattanooga
Kyler Filewich, Sr., C, Wofford
Corey Tripp, Sr., G, Wofford
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro