Gaston College sophomore makes college decision as Rhinos prepare for Region 10 tournament
After finishing with Gaston College's best regular season record since 1970, the Rhinos' basketball team enters this week's Region 10 tournament with a strong chance to make the school's first National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament appearance in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Gaston College also knows that its top player will have the peace of mind in knowing his future as sophomore point guard Jordan Brown committed to UNC Greensboro over the weekend.
"I'm really happy for him and his family," Rhinos coach Benny Moss said of Brown. "It's also a weight lifted off of Jordan. He can now focus on trying to help us win this Region 10 championship."
Brown chose the Spartans of the Southern Conference after also considering Marshall, Middle Tennessee State, Murray State, East Carolina and Gardner-Webb.
A 6-foot-2, 190-pound sophomore from Atlanta, Ga., Brown leads the Rhinos is scoring (14.1 average) and assists (4.4 average) and is fourth in rebounding (4.4 average).
"It shows that, as a program, we're doing things the right way," Moss said. "We're recruiting good kids who are good players and good students. That's who Jordan is. He's a really good player but he's also a really good person and a really good student."
Moss said college coaches loved Brown's leadership characteristics and work ethic when they've attended Gaston College practice or games.
Brown made the announcement on social media on Sunday:
"First I would like to thank God, my family and the coaching staff at Gaston College for believing in me. Thanks to Mike Jones and Josh Gross for giving me the opportunity. With that being said, I will be committing to the University of North Carolina Greensboro."
Other Rhinos' standouts this season have been sophomore Judah Ravenell (13.3 points, 8.5 rebounds), sophomore Tyheim Love (13.2 points), freshman E.J. Joyner (11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists), freshman Ryan Evans (8.7 points, 4.6 rebounds), freshman Spencer Breeden (5.7 points) and freshman Kyhree McAlister (3.4 points, 3.5 rebounds).
McAlister, a 6-foot-9, 220-pounder from Charlotte, has come on to start at center after Jozohn Price (8.0 points, 4.6 rebounds) suffered a season-ending injury in late January.
"I think we have really adjusted to our lineup changes," Moss said. "Kyhree has played better and come into his own and given us a post presence. And we've really adjusted to the small lineup without Jozohn when Kyhree's not in. So we're getting a feel for that."
With Cape Fear Community College forfeiting both of its wins over the Rhinos due to using an ineligible player, Gaston College's 17-game winning streak earlier this season is tied for longest in school history with a 17-game winning streak by the 1969-70 team.
That Gaston College team finished with the best regular season record (26-4) in school history as this year's 22-7 mark is second.
This week, the Rhinos are the No. 4 seed in the seven-team Region 10 tournament championship tournament at Hickory's Catawba Valley Community College. This week's winner advances to the March 22 through 29 NJCAA national tournament.
"We feel pretty good going into this," Moss said. "It's anybody's tournament. In our region, anybody can beat anybody. It's truly a 'whoever gets hot at the right time' situation in this league tournament.
"I think our guys have had a good couple of days of practice getting good at things that we need to improve on. Now we're focusing in on our opponents these next couple of days."
The pairings for the 2025 Region 10 Division I tournament at Catawba Valley Community College:
(Thursday, March 13)
-Quarterfinals
No. 1 Brunswick CC - bye
No. 4 Gaston College vs. No. 5 Richard Bland, 2 p.m.
No. 2 USC Salkehatchie vs. No. 7 Cape Fear CC, 4 p.m.
No. 3 Wake Tech vs. No. 6 Caldwell Tech, 6 p.m.
(Friday, March 14)
-Semifinals
No. 1 Brunswick vs. No. 4-5 winner, 4 p.m.
No. 2-3 winner vs. No. 3-6 winner, 6 p.m.
(Saturday, March 15)
-Championship game
Friday's winners, 2 p.m.