2023–24 Appalachian State Mountaineers men's basketball team

The 2023–24 Appalachian State Mountaineers men's basketball team represented Appalachian State University in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Mountaineers, led by fifth-year head coach Dustin Kerns, played their home games at the Holmes Center in Boone, North Carolina as members in the Sun Belt Conference.

2023–24 Appalachian State Mountaineers men's basketball
Sun Belt regular season champions
NIT, First Round
Conference	Sun Belt Conference
Record	27–7 (16–2 Sun Belt)
Head coach	Dustin Kerns (5th season)
Associate head coach	Frank Young
Assistant coaches	Tanner Smith Bob Szorc
Home arena	Holmes Center
Seasons ← 2022–23 2024–25 →

2023–24 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Appalachian State	16	–	2		.889			27	–	7		.794
James Madison †	15	–	3		.833			32	–	4		.889
Troy	13	–	5		.722			20	–	12		.625
Arkansas State	11	–	7		.611			20	–	17		.541
Louisiana	10	–	8		.556			19	–	14		.576
Southern Miss	9	–	9		.500			16	–	16		.500
Georgia State	8	–	10		.444			14	–	17		.452
South Alabama	8	–	10		.444			16	–	16		.500
Georgia Southern	8	–	10		.444			9	–	24		.273
Marshall	7	–	11		.389			13	–	20		.394
Texas State	7	–	11		.389			17	–	18		.486
Louisiana–Monroe	6	–	12		.333			11	–	19		.367
Coastal Carolina	5	–	13		.278			9	–	22		.290
Old Dominion	3	–	15		.167			7	–	25		.219
† 2024 Sun Belt tournament winner

Previous season

The Mountaineers finished the 2022–23 season 16–16, 9–9 in Sun Belt play to finish in a tie for seventh place. The Mountaineers lost to South Alabama in the first round of the Sun Belt tournament.^[1]

Offseason

Departures

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Reason for departure
Carvell Teasett	12	G	6'1"	180	Sophomore	Baton Rouge, LA	Transferred to Angelo State[2]
Michael Eads Jr.	10	G	6'4"	200	Sophomore	Orlando, FL	Entered Transfer Portal
Zocko Littelton	4	G	6'3"	175	Freshman	Marietta, GA	Transferred to Chipola College
Quinn Hafner (Walk-on)	24	G	6'3"	170	Freshman	Centerville, OH	Unknown
Tamell Pearson	3	F	6'10"	223	Senior	Chicago, IL	Graduated
Tyree Boykin	30	G	6'1"	190	GS Senior	Clarksville, TN	Graduated
Dibaji Walker	35	F	6'9"	200	GS Senior	Columbus, OH	Graduated

Incoming transfers

2023 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Joshua Hayes PF	Gainesville, FL	The Rock School	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Sep 19, 2022
	Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Etienne Strothers PG	Newport News, VA	Menchville High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	160 lb (73 kg)	Aug 23, 2022
	Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

2024 recruiting class

Preseason

Preseason Sun Belt Conference poll

The Mountaineers were picked to finish in second place in the conference's preseason poll.^[3] Graduate forward Donovan Gregory was named to the preseason All-SBC First Team.^[3] Senior forward CJ Huntley was named to the conference preseason third team.^[3]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish	Team (1st place Votes)
1	James Madison - 176 (7)
2	App State - 159 (2)
3	Old Dominion - 154 (1)
4	Southern Miss - 148
5	Louisiana - 136 (2)
6	South Alabama - 129 (2)
7	Marshall - 119
8	Troy - 91
9	Arkansas State - 84
10	Texas State - 72
11	Georgia State - 69
12	Coastal Carolina - 59
13	Georgia Southern - 42
14	ULM - 32

Roster

2023–24 Appalachian State Mountaineers men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown G 0 Xavion Brown 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jr Sheldon Sacramento, CA F 2 Christopher Mantis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr Lowell Lowell, IN C 3 Luke Wilson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 285 lb (129 kg) Fr Augusta Christian School Augusta, GA G 4 Jordan Marsh 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Fr Moravian Prep Charlotte, NC G 5 Etienne Strothers 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Menchville HS Newport News, VA F 11 Donovan Gregory 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) GS Carmel Christian School Charlotte, NC G 12 Myles Tate 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Jr Dorman Butler Spartanburg, SC G 14 Bryant Greene (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) GS Watauga Boone, NC F 15 CJ Huntley 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 221 lb (100 kg) Sr Davidson Day School Huntersville, NC F 21 Justin Abson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) So North Broward Prep Pompano Beach, FL F 22 Josh Hayes 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Fr Gainesville HS Gainesville, FL G 23 Terence Harcum 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Granville Central Butner, NC F 24 Tre'Von Spillers 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Military Magnet Academy Moberly Area CC Charleston, SC G 32 Luke Ledford 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Broughton HS Raleigh, NC G 33 Dawson Fennema 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) So Sanderson HS Raleigh, NC	Head coach Dustin Kerns (Clemson) Assistant coach(es) Frank Young (West Virginia) Tanner Smith (Clemson) Bob Szorc (St. John's) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster Last update: 19 November 2023

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 7, 2023* 6:30 p.m., ESPN+		Oakland City	W 87–49	1–0	16 – Spillers	12 – Abson	5 – Tied	Holmes Center (2,010) Boone, NC
November 11, 2023* 3:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Northern Illinois MAC-SBC Challenge	L 78–91	1–1	16 – Mantis	9 – Spillers	4 – Brown	Convocation Center (1,071) DeKalb, IL
November 14, 2023* 10:00 p.m., P12N		at Oregon State	L 71–81 OT	1–2	18 – Harcum	10 – Abson	4 – Tied	Gill Coliseum (2,766) Corvallis, OR
November 21, 2023* 12:00 p.m.		vs. UNC Wilmington Fort Myers Tip-Off Event	W 86−56	2–2	15 – Spillers	13 – Abson	6 – Marsh	Suncoast Credit Union Arena (512) Fort Myers, FL
November 22, 2023* 12:00 p.m.		vs. Murray State Fort Myers Tip-Off Event	W 67–57	3–2	16 – Gregory	7 – Spillers	3 – Tied	Suncoast Credit Union Arena (310) Fort Myers, FL
November 26, 2023* 1:00 p.m., ESPN+		Austin Peay	W 78–58	4–2	20 – Spillers	7 – Tied	5 – Brown	Holmes Center (1,298) Boone, NC
November 29, 2023* 6:30 p.m., ESPN+		East Tennessee State	W 72–61	5–2	15 – Spillers	11 – Spillers	5 – Tate	Holmes Center (1,813) Boone, NC
December 3, 2023* 1:00 p.m., ESPN2		Auburn	W 69–64	6–2	18 – Tate	6 – Gregory	4 – Gregory	Holmes Center (7,037) Boone, NC
December 5, 2023* 8:00 p.m., ESPN+		Central Penn	W 111–35	7–2	18 – Hayes	16 – Brown	7 – Greene	Holmes Center (1,978) Boone, NC
December 13, 2023* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Queens	W 93–81	8–2	22 – Tied	10 – Spillers	5 – Tied	Curry Arena (1,532) Charlotte, NC
December 16, 2023* 4:00 p.m.		vs. Gardner–Webb	W 80–59	9–2	16 – Spillers	8 – Huntley	5 – Tied	Novant Health Fieldhouse (423) Greensboro, NC
December 21, 2023* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		UNC Asheville Hickory Hoops Classic	L 63–76	9–3	18 – Gregory	7 – Spillers	3 – Tied	Tarleton Complex (1,825) Hickory, NC
Sun Belt Conference regular season
December 30, 2023 4:00 p.m., ESPN+		Louisiana–Monroe	W 67–55	10–3 (1–0)	18 – Spillers	9 – Spillers	4 – Tate	Holmes Center (2,065) Boone, NC
January 4, 2024 8:00 p.m., ESPN+		at South Alabama	W 91–84 OT	11–3 (2–0)	23 – Spillers	9 – Spillers	4 – Tied	Mitchell Center (1,646) Mobile, AL
January 6, 2024 4:30 p.m., ESPN+		at Troy	L 62–66	11–4 (2–1)	13 – Huntley	10 – Abson	4 – Tate	Trojan Arena (2,673) Troy, AL
January 11, 2024 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Coastal Carolina	W 70–45	12–4 (3–1)	13 – Tate	9 – Abson	3 – Tied	HTC Center (1,838) Conway, SC
January 13, 2024 4:00 p.m., ESPN+		at James Madison	W 59–55	13–4 (4–1)	15 – Tate	10 – Spillers	4 – Tate	Atlantic Union Bank Center (7,761) Harrisonburg, VA
January 17, 2024 6:30 p.m.		Georgia State	W 76–68	14–4 (5–1)	23 – Spillers	13 – Spillers	6 – Tate	Holmes Center (2,534) Boone, NC
January 20, 2024 4:30 p.m., ESPN+		Coastal Carolina	W 88–59	15–4 (6–1)	18 – Spillers	9 – Spillers	6 – Gregory	Holmes Center (3,174) Boone, NC
January 25, 2024 6:30 p.m, ESPN+		Georgia Southern	W 84–74	16–4 (7–1)	23 – Harcum	9 – Tied	3 – Marsh	Holmes Center (3,136) Boone, NC
January 27, 2024 6:00 p.m., ESPN2		James Madison	W 82–76	17–4 (8–1)	21 – Spillers	11 – Abson	6 – Gregory	Holmes Center (8,052) Boone, NC
February 1, 2024 7:00 pm, ESPN+		at Georgia State	W 81–71	18–4 (9–1)	22 – Harcum	16 – Abson	6 – Brown	Georgia State Convocation Center (3,127) Atlanta, GA
February 3, 2024 3:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Georgia Southern	W 85–84 OT	19–4 (10–1)	26 – Harcum	11 – Spillers	5 – Tate	Hanner Fieldhouse (2,412) Statesboro, GA
February 7, 2024 8:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Texas State	L 56–63	19–5 (10–2)	13 – Harcum	9 – Spillers	5 – Tate	Strahan Arena (1,498) San Marcos, TX
February 10, 2024* 1:00 p.m., ESPN+		Toledo MAC-SBC Challenge	W 109–104 OT	20–5 (10–2)	24 – Gregory	7 – Tied	4 – Tied	Holmes Center (5,437) Boone, NC
February 15, 2024 6:30 p.m., ESPN+		Marshall	W 73–58	21–5 (11–2)	19 – Gregory	14 – Spillers	5 – Tate	Holmes Center (3,804) Boone, NC
February 17, 2024 4:30 p.m., ESPN+		Louisiana	W 85–73	22–5 (12–2)	23 – Marsh	8 – Spillers	4 – Tate	Holmes Center (6,587) Boone, NC
February 22, 2024 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Old Dominion	W 82–67	23–5 (13–2)	22 – Harcum	11 – Tied	5 – Tate	Chartway Arena (6,157) Norfolk, VA
February 24, 2024 6:00 p.m., ESPN2		at Marshall	W 65–58	24–5 (14–2)	25 – Tate	11 – Spillers	5 – Tate	Cam Henderson Center (5,711) Huntington, WV
February 28, 2024 6:30 p.m., ESPN+		Old Dominion	W 89–64	25–5 (15–2)	18 – Spillers	16 – Spillers	4 – Gregory	Holmes Center (4,785) Boone, NC
March 1, 2024 6:30 p.m., ESPN+		Arkansas State	W 80–57	26–5 (16–2)	15 – Tied	15 – Spillers	4 – Gregory	Holmes Center (7,074) Boone, NC
Sun Belt tournament
March 9, 2024 12:30 p.m., ESPN+	(1)	vs. (9) Georgia Southern Quarterfinals	W 85–80 OT	27–5	22 – Gregory	12 – Abson	4 – Tied	Pensacola Bay Center (1,763) Pensacola, FL
March 10, 2024 6:00 p.m., ESPN+	(1)	vs. (4) Arkansas State Semifinals	L 65–67	27–6	15 – Harcum	7 – Abson	4 – Gregory	Pensacola Bay Center (1,621) Pensacola, FL
NIT
March 20, 2024 8:00 p.m., ESPN+		at (1) Wake Forest First Round - Wake Forest Bracket	L 76–87	27–7	16 – Huntley	10 – Spillers	5 – Tate	LJVM Coliseum (6,733) Winston-Salem, NC
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern.

Source^[4]

References

1. "2022-23 Appalachian State Mountaineers Men's Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
2. "Ram Basketball Adds Combo Guard Carvell Teasett to Incoming Class". Angelo State University. July 14, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
3. "James Madison Tops Sun Belt Men's Basketball Preseason Poll". sunbeltsports.org. October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
4. "2023–24 Men's Basketball Schedule". App State Athletics. Retrieved October 24, 2023.