The UNCW Seahawks are embarking on their offseason with aspirations common to many collegiate programs: strengthening their foundation and culture while addressing gaps for the upcoming season. The team has already faced two departures, Nick Farrar and Eric Van Der Heijden deciding to enter the transfer portal. Additionally, the team bids farewell to impactful graduates such as Shykeim Phillips, KJ Jenkins and Maleeck Harden-Hayes, among others. As they navigate these transitions, the Seahawks will undoubtedly focus on recruiting and development to ensure continued competitiveness.
Nonetheless, the Seahawks have wasted no time in making moves within the transfer portal. They’ve already secured commitments from two graduate transfers, Sean Moore and Bo Montgomery. Moore is a 6 feet 5 inches tall foreward, hailing from Fairleigh Dickinson, with one year of eligibility remaining. Moore was a member of the 2023 NCAA Tournament team that took down the Purdue Boilermakers. On the other hand, Montgomery, a 6 feet 5 inches tall guard from Holy Cross, boasts an impressive four-year tenure with the Crusaders. He amassed 105 career games played and averaged 9.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. With their wealth of experience and versatility, both Moore and Montgomery are anticipated to seamlessly integrate into UNCW’s rotation, bolstering the teams’ capabilities from the outset.
Currently, the Seahawks have nine scholarship players on their roster including the new transfers. Things could change, but as of right now, they have nine scholarship players. That leaves two more slots. The nine players are below, and then there will be prospective targets to fill the other four spots. The targets listed below are not listed in any specific order.
Jordan Pyke, 6’7” F, Union University (D2) – Three years eligibility
Stats
2023-2024 Season
26 GP, 19 GS, 25.6 MPG
14.0 PPG 6.0 RPG 2.3 APG, GSC Freshmen of the Year.
Mix
(Courtesy: MADE Scouting)
Pyke is a 6 feet 7 inches tall wing player that played at Union University (D2) in Jackson, Tenn. Pyke graduated from high school though, from Shining Light Academy, based in Greensboro, N.C. Pyke has made waves with breathtaking athleticism and has amassed over 22,000 followers on Instagram. That is not why he would help this UNCW team though.
Pyke will have three years of eligibility after transferring, giving him a longer window to improve and mold his game to the Seahawk’s system. Coach Siddle typically selects versatile players who can guard multiple positions. With impressive leaping ability, Pyke would presumably be able to guard multiple positions, adding another sense of defensive versatility for the Seahawks.
Another thing that comes with his vertical leap is rim protection and rebounding help. Pyke should be able to provide weak side rim defense for the Seahawks, and he averaged six rebounds per game this past season.
Pyke shot 19/75 from three in his first season at Union, which comes out to 25.3%. However, in his senior year of high school he shot 25/66 from three in 23 games played, which is 37.8%. He is not a non-shooter and has room to improve in the area.
Overall, Pyke is a high upside forward that would have room to improve while in Wilmington. I think immediately he would be able to come off the bench and bring an offensive spark from the forward position. The offensive versatility, impressive leaping ability, and positional versatility are all things UNCW could be aided by.
Even if he were on the cusp of a rotation spot this year, he would gain another year of experience in a Division One system and would be put in a great position to succeed in two years from now. Pyke provides upside and an injection of youth that the Seahawks could benefit from.
Jayhlon Young, 6’2” G, Memphis University – 1 year eligibility
Stats
2022-2023 with UCF
33 GP 12 GS 19.2 MPG
4.5 PPG 2.2 RPG 2.0 APG
2023-2024 with Memphis
27 GP 11.0 MPG
2.2 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 0.9 APG
(Courtesy: Swish)
(Courtesy: Transfer Tapes)
There is a mixtape available from each of his previous stops shown above.
Young will be a fifth-year senior this upcoming season, having played two years at Baton Rouge CC (LA), one at UCF, and one at Memphis. At UCF, he played a slightly larger role than he did at Memphis, starting in 12 games for the Knights. However, there is a limited amount of tape available for Young, at the Division One level. In what’s available, Young has shown flashes of ability that could aid this team. Some of that is on-ball defense. With the departure of longtime stallworth, Shykeim Phillips, there is a gaping hole in the backcourt. Most noticeably, on the defensive end. Phillips was a member of the 2023-2024 All-Defensive Team. Young will most likely not be able to directly replace Phillips’ production and impact, but Jayhlon Young can step in and play a key role for this UNCW Seahawks team.
Young had 23 steals in 33 games for UCF in 2022-2023, and 21 steals in 27 GP for Memphis last season. That is 21 steals in only 296 total minutes for the Tigers last season.
Young only shot 4/13 (30.8%) from three-point range in the 2023-2024 season. He had higher volume in 2022-2023 with the UCF Knights, shooting 19/53 (35.8%) from three, in 633 total minutes played. His shooting stroke looks natural, and he can convert on catch and shoot opportunities. In the first video embedded though, he shows his shooting stroke early and often. He does not appear like a below average shooter in the slightest, showing advanced shot creation and a silky-smooth left-handed jumper. These are exciting flashes, although at a lower level of competition.
Young has a quick twitch with the ball in his hands, with explosiveness driving to the basket. He has shown the ability to drive to the rim and find the open man as well. This shot creation and playmaking ability would help Young himself, but also his prospective Seahawk teammates.
Overall, Jayhlon Young is a veteran guard that has loads of distinct experience. After being committed to Grambling State out of high school, Young would wind up at Baton Rouge CC and move from there. With only one year of eligibility expected, Young could potentially step into a larger role and finish his college career off strong in Wilmington.
Ahmir Langlais, 6’8” F, USC Upstate – 1 year eligibility
Stats
2023-2024 Season
29 GP 21 GS 24.7 MPG
8.8 PPG 6.2 RPG 0.7 APG
(Courtesy: College Basketball Scouting)
Langlais absorbed a larger offensive role than previously ever had before, attempting 6.8 FGA per game in 2023-2024. Langlais started his career at Western Carolina, before playing for 3 years at USC Upstate. Standing at 6 feet 8 inches tall Langlais will provide physicality that the Seahawks need right now. Langlais will play a similar role prospectively to Ahmard Harvey. Harvey, like Langlais, had two previous stops, and came in as a graduate transfer. Harvey provided intense rebounding and strength off the bench for the Seahawks, and Langlais would play a similar role.
Langlais is a traditional big man, taking 85% of shot attempts at the rim according to the scouting video made by College Basketball Scouting. He provides inside scoring and rim protection that could significantly aid the UNCW Seahawks in the upcoming season. Veteran leadership, weak side rim protection, and offensive rebounding are three things Langlais could provide for this team.
Langlais possesses the size and interior ability that this team is lacking right now. Like mentioned earlier, Langlais would fill a role similar to Ahmard Harvey did in the prior season. With Khamari McGriff and Matt Moore being the biggest players currently on the roster, UNCW desperately needs size and strength, and Langlais will provide that.
Brian Myles, 6’7 F, Prairie View – 1 year eligibility
Stats
30 GP 28 GS 29.4 MPG
11.9 PPG 9.3 RPG 1.2 APG
(Courtesy: Transfer Tapes)
Brian Myles is a physically talented forward from Prairie View A&M. As mentioned earlier, Myles led the SWAC in rebounding this past season with 9.3 RPG. That was 1.9 more RPG than the second highest in the conference.
Myles had a phenomenal campaign last year with the Black Panthers. He has been with Prairie View A&M for the entirety of his collegiate campaign; however, last season was the first year he had a substantial role. When watching the tape, Myles is well-versed and does not have weaknesses that pop off the screen. He attempted only 20 threes this year but converted on 35% on the limited attempts. He averaged 1.4 steals per game and 1.1 blocks per game, displaying above average defensive play and switch ability on that side of the ball.
Myles appears to be an above average athlete, meaning that even when he is beaten off the dribble, he possesses the leaping ability and make-up speed to often contest the shot anyway at the rim. There are examples of him playing make-up defense and helping on the weak side. With UNCW’s defensive scheme historically involving a lot of switching, I think Myles would fit in perfectly and provide a strong interior presence.
