Gaston College basketball standout back on the court after missing last 12 games of last season

While Gaston College enjoyed one of its best seasons in basketball history a year ago, the loss of starting center Jozohn Price for the final 12 games of the year may always be a 'What if?' of the year.

This fall as the Rhinos return for workouts in preparation of the 2025-26 season, Price is back on the court and eager to make an even bigger impact than he made last season.

Price, a 6-foot-10, 210-pounder, had come to Gaston College after helping Asheville Christ School to back-to-back N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association state titles.

He helped the Rhinos to a 17-2 start of the season before a car accident knocked Price out of action for the rest of the season.

"I didn't think it was that significant," Price said of an accident where he was rear-ended by another vehicle. "It was the day before a game. I woke up the next day and went to the Ashbrook gym to warm up and my head was banging.
"It didn't feel very good for the first month or so. I was having headaches all day."

Doctors instructed Price to avoid schoolwork, travel and most certainly any sort of basketball drills.

"In February, I was completely in bed," Price said. "In March, I started doing schoolwork and rehab. Around April was when I played basketball again, but without contact and I was just easing back into it.
"By May, I was up and going again."

Price did early-morning individual drills at Charlotte's Dowd YMCA before later in the summer being able to begin working out with his Gaston College teammates.

Before the car accident, Price had averaged 8.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per game in 19 starts.

This season, with more size added to the roster, Price is expected to play forward and center.

"My goal is to provide a little bit of everything - passing, shooting, dribbling, defense," Price said. "I won't have to be under the basket just guarding the big guy all the time. I'll be moving around.
"I want to play as hard as I can every day and see what happens."

As far as team goals, Price is hopeful of improving on the 22-8 record of a year ago. And he, like his teammates, have set winning the Region 10 title and earning a trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association in Hutchinson, Kansas, as a team goal.

"I want to try to go to Hutch and make some noise and get 30 wins," Price said.