In the 2024-25 season, App State men’s and women’s basketball both finished with long losing streaks — 17-14 and 17-13 respectively — despite starting the season at the top of the Sun Belt Conference. However, since basketball season began Nov. 3, there are chances for the Mountaineers to rebound.
Women’s Basketball
“I’m so excited about the season,” second-year head coach Alaura Sharp said at women’s basketball media day Oct. 23. “From the bottom of my heart, I am so thrilled to rep the ‘A’ next year, ready to go into year two.”
Senior forward Elena Pericic is the Black and Gold’s top returning scorer, averaging 8.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season, which earned her third-team All-Sun Belt honors.
“I think we’ve been doing a really good job with stacking days,” Pericic said. “The energy is just different.”
Senior guard Emma Smith has the potential to be an impactful transfer from the University of Denver, averaging 9.6 points and 5.6 rebounds last season.
In the Sun Belt preseason poll, App State was picked to finish ninth and will play top ranked James Madison University twice, at home on Feb. 11 and on the road on Feb. 21. The Dukes are led by preseason player of the year Peyton McDaniel, who returns to James Madison after averaging 16 points per game last season.
The Mountaineers will need to capitalize on their first five conference games, which are against teams predicted to finish near them in the standings.
“We want to win at a high level, and it goes bigger than wanting to build our program to Sun Belt Champions,” Sharp said. “We want to be top of the mid-major; we want to be in the AP polls. There are so many things that this program has never done that we feel motivated to do.”
Men’s Basketball
The men’s team is led by head coach Dustin Kerns, who is in his seventh season in command of the Mountaineers. Kerns said depth will be key and expects the team to rely on it throughout the season at men’s basketball media day Oct. 23.
Junior guard Eren Banks has an opportunity to be a large contributor to App State’s offense this year. The Georgia Southern University transfer averaged 9.4 points last season, earning him second-team All-Sun Belt honors.
“Seeing their past, they win a lot, so I want to show that I can win too, so why not come to a school that’s gonna get me there,” Banks said.
Transfer junior forward Chad Moodie provides an important versatility to the frontcourt, averaging 10.8 points per game last season with Alabama A&M University and also winning Southwestern Atlantic Conference freshman of the year in his first season.
The Black and Gold have added junior guard KJ Vasser and graduate student guard Jalen Tot to bring experience and improved shooting at the position.
“Jalen has had a really good college career,” Kerns said. “When we made calls about him, it just seemed like a great fit.”
The non-conference slate features seven games against teams located in North Carolina. The last of those is a neutral site matchup against High Point University on Dec. 14, which qualified for the NCAA tournament last year.
“That’s important; it’s important to our fans, and it’s important for us to play those in state teams,” Kerns said.
The Mountaineers take on Old Dominion on Dec. 31 and Jan. 17. The Monarchs are led by preseason player of the year, guard Robert Davis Jr., who averaged 16 points in three games against App State last year. The two games this season will be a challenge for the Black and Gold.
App State ends the regular season with games against Marshall University, Georgia Southern University and Texas State University, three teams that are projected to finish near the Mountaineers in the standings.
“I think that we have created a really difficult place to play and a difficult place for someone to come in here and get a win,” Kerns said. “We appreciate all the support and let’s keep building on it.”
