Since 2005, when Dr. Nido Qubein took the helm as President of High Point University, the institution has experienced a remarkable transformation. The university has grown fourfold, both in terms of enrollment and campus size, and has made substantial investments in state-of-the-art facilities, as well as an expanded array of undergraduate and graduate programs. Concurrently, High Point’s athletic programs have also witnessed a resurgence.

Despite being a smaller private school competing in a region with collegiate behemoths, High Point University has managed to build an exceptional athletics department, consistently out punching its weight. The university’s men’s and women’s teams in Track & Field, Cross Country, Volleyball, and Soccer have often led the way in the Big South conference. This success has extended to the national stage, with victories against nationally ranked opponents, top tier recruiting classes, the development of All-American athletes, and impressive wins in NCAA tournaments.

High Point has also found success in lacrosse, despite the relative newness of its programs. In 2017, the women’s lacrosse team secured the school’s first-ever victory in an NCAA tournament. The men’s team has also secured program-defining wins, such as in 2019 when they defeated both #2 Duke and #9 UVA on the road. Both teams have claimed multiple conference championships and received bids to the NCAA tournament. Several men’s players have even been drafted into the Premier Lacrosse League, making significant contributions. Tim Troutner won Rookie of the Year in 2019 and was named the All-Star Game’s MVP in 2021, while Asher Nolting was a finalist for MVP in the most recent season.

However, the outlier among these successes has been the men’s basketball program. Despite a four-year run of regular-season conference championships led by program legend John Brown (2012-2016), the university has yet to secure a spot in the March Madness tournament. In fact, over the last 15 years, High Point has experienced only one winning season without John Brown playing.

For many fans and supporters, basketball is the premier sport at High Point, especially with the absence of a football program. College basketball is akin to a religion in North Carolina, and despite the school’s significant growth and its location in a talent-rich region, the men’s basketball program hasn’t achieved sustained or ultimate success. Expectations were high with the return of National Championship-winning head coach Tubby Smith, a High Point alumnus, and the construction of the new Qubein Arena. However, this anticipated success never fully materialized under either Tubby, or his son, GG.

HPU’s lack of basketball success has largely been attributed to the challenge of recruiting top-tier talent. While various factors have been cited over the years, one major issue was the outdated Millis Center. This is no longer a concern with the new state-of-the-art arena, which is one of the finest venues in all of college basketball.

What the program now desperately needed was a top-tier recruiter and an exciting brand of basketball to promote.

Enter Coach Alan Huss.

Coach Huss, formerly a top-ranked recruiter at Creighton, played a pivotal role in securing a top-10 recruiting class in 2021, which culminated in an Elite Eight run this past season. He succeeded in attracting multiple 4-star players to a small private school in Iowa and has started just as impressively at High Point.

During the off-season, Huss and his staff completely revamped the roster, adding 11 new players to the squad. Some of the standout additions include 4-star recruits Pavlo Dziuba and Kimani Hamilton, as well as 3-star talents like Liam McChesney, Cade Potter, and Juslin Bodo Bodo, rankings courtesy of 247 Sports. This marks a significant improvement, as the program struggled to secure any players with official 247 rankings in the past. Additionally, other players like Kezza Giffa, Duke Miles, and Trae Benham are expected to make meaningful contributions to the team after playing well for their former schools.

One noteworthy aspect of these recruits is their diverse geographic backgrounds. Huss’s staff’s international connections have been fruitful in recruiting international players, but he has also successfully attracted talented domestic players. Recently, Braden Hausen, a sharp-shooting forward from Texas, committed to High Point, earning a 3-star rating from 247 for the 2024 class. As of now, Hausen is the highest-rated recruit to commit to the Panthers out of high school since John Brown.

While this off-season has seen a significant influx of talent, the program’s restructured roster and new coaching staff may encounter growing pains and initial challenges in the upcoming season. However, it is evident that Huss possesses the skills to recruit top-end talent to the Panthers, and with his exciting style of play, coupled with High Point’s attractive campus, facilities, and amenities, it’s safe to say that this sleeping giant in North Carolina’s triad is on the verge of a remarkable awakening.