High Point Men Picked to Win Big South; Cam’Ron Fletcher Named Preseason Player of the Year

HIGH POINT — High Point University's men's basketball team has been chosen as the Big South Conference preseason favorite for 2026-27, and graduate forward Cam'Ron Fletcher was named the league's Preseason Player of the Year. The conference announced the honors Wednesday, October 14, at Basketball Media Day in Johnson City, Tennessee.

High Point received seven of nine first-place votes and 79 of 81 possible points from the league's head coaches. Presbyterian followed with 69 points and the other two first-place votes. Winthrop was third with 57, followed by Longwood at 54 and UNC Asheville at 43. The Panthers have been the preseason favorite for three consecutive seasons.

Those expectations follow a 31-5 campaign that included Big South regular-season and tournament championships and an NCAA Tournament victory over Wisconsin. Coach Flynn Clayman returns after winning Big South Coach of the Year in his first season. High Point's Round of 32 appearance established a new benchmark for the program, but this season will require the team to integrate a different combination of returning and incoming players.

Fletcher averaged 13.2 points and 7.1 rebounds last season, shooting 54.4 percent from the field in 27 appearances. He recorded seven double-doubles, including 14 points and 11 rebounds against Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament. His production and experience give the Panthers a prominent returning player around whom to build.

High Point also placed three players on the preseason All-Big South first team: Fletcher, transfer Jason Rivera Torres and guard CJ Brown. Forward Isaac Garrett earned second-team recognition. Rivera Torres averaged 15.8 points and 8.1 rebounds at Monmouth last season, while Brown averaged 10.9 points and 4.7 assists at South Florida. Garrett averaged 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds at Oakland.

The number of preseason selections highlights both the talent arriving at High Point and the challenge of integrating newcomers with the returning roster. Polls and individual awards do not determine the standings, and Presbyterian's two first-place votes show the league is not unanimous about the favorite. High Point's first public test is a home exhibition against UNC Wilmington on Saturday, October 17, at 1 p.m. The regular season begins November 2.