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2025-26 Men's Basketball Signing Class

Men's Basketball Adds Eight Signees For 2025-26 Season

July 8, 2025

PEMBROKE - UNC Pembroke men's basketball head coach Drew Richards announced the addition of eight players for the 2025-26 roster on Thursday afternoon. Tahj Johnson, Tyrese Melo-Garcia, JP Ricks, Mahmoud Bangura, Marquin Thompson, and Dallas Whitney all are transfer student-athletes that will be eligible to play immediately. Will Hopkins and Jullien Cole are both incoming freshmen who will join the team and be eligible to play immediately. 

2025-26 Men's Basketball Signing Class
First I want to thank our staff on their tireless efforts to bring in an important recruiting year for our program. This is a very diverse class, each signee bringing an important piece to a strong group of returners. If we are able to gel together sooner rather than later, we could have a special season.
UNC Pembroke Head Coach Drew Richards
2025-26 Men's Basketball Roster

#0 TAHJ JOHNSON
6-7, 200, Junior, Forward
Hartwell, Ga. / Tallahassee State CC

Tahj Johnson Signing Headshot

BEFORE UNCP: Played at Tallahassee State for coach Corey Hendren … Helped his team to a 15-15 record … Shot 51.3 percent from the field and averaged 9.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game … Named 2nd team all-Panhandle. 

HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at Hart County High School for coach Matt Gibbs … Helped his team to a 17-13 record during his senior year where his team advanced to the Elite 8 … Named the 3A Region 8 Player of the Year and earned 1st team all-state honors …. Also competed in track & field in high school where he placed sixth at the state meet in high jump. 

PERSONAL: The son of Jaiisma and Kurvin Curry … Has three younger brothers, Kurston, Kash and Kale … Maintained a 3.5 grade point average at Hart County High School … Enjoys reading books and watching movies … Lists his mom as his idol … Scarface is his favorite movie and the Atlanta Falcons are his favorite team … Lists steak as his favorite food and NBA Youngboy as his favorite artist … A sports management major at UNCP. 
 

Tahj is a skilled, athletic forward who plays with a high motor. He passes the ball very well for his size and can finish multiple ways in and around the paint with both hands. He also can defend multiple positions and rebounds out of his area. He played for former Associate Head Coach Corey Hendren at TSCC this past season.
- Head Coach Drew Richards

#2 TYRESE MELO-GARCIA
6-4, 190, Redshirt Sophomore, Guard 
Lynn, Mass. / Northwest Florida State

Tyrese Melo-Garcia Signing Headshot

AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE (2024-25): Saw action in 29 games and logged 18 starts … Averaged 20.1 minutes per game … Scored a career-high 12 points against South Georgia Tech … Averaged 5.1 points per game. 

AS A FRESHMAN AT NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE (2023-24): Redshirted … Did not see action. 

HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at Lynn English High School for coach Alvin Abreu … Scored 1,000 career points and helped his team to a championship title. 

PERSONAL: The son of Nairobi and Daniel … Has five sisters, Taisha, Daniely, Dayna, Delilah, and Leah … Enjoys playing video games and chess … Lists God as his idol and the Boston Celtics are his favorite team … Lil Baby is his favorite artist … A criminal justice major at UNCP. 

Melo is a true point guard that has great size and feel for the game. Our staff watched him in high school and loved him before he decided to attend Northwest Florida, one of the best Junior Colleges in the entire country. He contributed to a team full of High Major players this season, being an integral piece to their success by impacting games in multiple ways. With three years of eligibility remaining, the sky is the limit for his growth!
- Head Coach Drew Richards

#3 JP RICKS
6-1, 170, Senior, Guard
Baton Rouge, La. / Prairie View A&M

JP Ricks Signing Headshot

AS A JUNIOR AT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M (2024-25): Saw action in 29 games and logged 20 starts … Averaged 24.4 minutes per game … Shot 49.1 percent from the field and averaged 2.3 points per game.  

AS A SOPHOMORE AT HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE (2023-24): Saw action in 36 games logging 35 starts … Averaged 30.1 minutes per game … Shot 45.1 percent per game and averaged 11.0 points, 4.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game. 

AS A FRESHMAN AT TALLAHASSEE  STATE (2022-23): Saw action in 37 games logging a pair of states … Averaged 12.3 minutes and 2.4 points per game. 

HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at Jehovah-Jireh High School for coach Dirk Ricks … Averaged 32.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game … Scored over 3,000 points in high school … Named Player of the Year, all-Metro and All-State. 

PERSONAL: The son of Chantell and Dirk Ricks … Maintained a 3.8 grade point average at Jehovah-Jireh High School … Enjoys bowling … Lists his parents as his idols … Like Mike is his favorite movie and the Miami Heat are his favorite team … Pasta is his favorite food … A business major at UNCP. 

JP is one of the few true point guards left. Outside of this past season, he has won everywhere he has ever played. He won two state championships in high school, was a valuable piece on one of the best Tallahassee CC teams ever and led Hutchinson Community College as the starting point guard to the NJCAA National Tournament Elite Eight. He runs the show, hits open shots, and defends the ball at a high level. True floor general!
- Head Coach Drew Richards

#4 MAHMOUD BANGURA
6-7, 200, Senior, Forward
Lorton, Va. / Lincoln Memorial

Mahmoud Bangura Signing Headshot

AS A JUNIOR AT LINCOLN MEMORIAL (2024-25): Saw action in 29 games logging seven starts … Shot 64.0 percent from the field and averaged 12.6 minutes per game … Finished the season averaging 5.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. 

AS A SOPHOMORE AT COKER (2023-24): Appeared in 26 games logging 13 starts … Averaged 26.5 minutes each outing … Finished the season averaging 17.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 1.1 assists and 1.0 steals per game. 

AS A FRESHMAN AT COKER (2022-23): Started in 28 games and averaged 21.8 minutes per game … Named to the South Atlantic Conference All-Freshman Team … Averaged 9.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.

HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at Annandale High School for coach Dedrick Gilreath … Named the Defensive Player of the Year and all-region. 

PERSONAL: The son of Veronica and Abdul Bangura … Has one older brother, Abdul Koroma … Also has two younger brothers, Aaron and Ahmed Bangura … Maintained a 3.0 grade point average at Annandale High School … Enjoys football, running and cooking … Lists his dad as his idol … His favorite team is the Boston Celtics and his favorite food is shrimp Alfredo … A general studies major at UNCP. 

We have recruited Moe since high school and finally got him in a Braves jersey! He was a standout at Coker University before transferring to Lincoln Memorial this past season. He is an athletic, high motor swing that fits our style of play very well on both ends. Even with just one year left, he has still just scratched the surface of his full potential. We expect a big season out of him!
- Head Coach Drew Richards

#5 WILL HOPKINS
6-3, 170, Freshman, Guard
Richmond, Va. / Atlee HS

Will Hopkins Signing Headshot

HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at Atlee High School for coach Rally Axselle … Helped his team to a 27-1 record during his senior year where the team won the regional tournament and state championship … Averaged 25.0 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 steals, and 4.0 rebounds per game … Earned 1st team all-metro, 1st team all-region and 1st team all-state honors … Named the region and state player of the year … Played an integral role in helping the team win the first regional and state championship in school history. 

PERSONAL: The son of Sharon Hopkins … Has four brothers, Brandon, Kevin, Josh and Jordan … Also has two sisters, Jamesha and Jamariah … Maintained a 3.0 grade point average at Atlee High School … Enjoys bowling … Lists his mom as his idol … Rod Wave is his favorite artist and steak is his favorite food … A mass communications major at UNCP. 

Will is a long, athletic lefty point guard that is a tremendous on ball defender. Outside of his efficient scoring, he also passes the ball at a high level and impacts winning in multiple categories. This past season his team ended up winning a state championship and he was named Class 4 Virginia State Player of the Year.
- Head Coach Drew Richards

#12 MARQUIN THOMPSON
6-0, 190, Junior, Guard
Atlanta, Ga. / Georgia Highlands

Marquin Thompson Signing

AS A SOPHOMORE AT GEORGIA HIGHLANDS (2024-25): Saw action in 29 games with 18 starts ... Shot 45.1 percent and averaged 12.1 points per game ... Also shot 44.9 percent from the perimeter ... Averaged 16.4 minutes, 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per outing. 

AS A FRESHMAN AT GARRETT COLLEGE (2022-23): Saw action in 28 games logging 15 starts ... Averaged 22.0 minutes and 13.4 points per game ... Shot 43.1 percent from the floor. 

HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at South Gwinnett High School for coach Howard. 

PERSONAL: The son of Muquitah and Thomas Thompson ... Enjoys music and nature ... Baked macaroni and cheese is his favorite food ... A business major at UNCP.

Marquin is an explosive combo guard who has produced in two different, successful Junior College programs. He is a career 42% three-point shooter but is also very athletic on both ends of the floor, elevating for dunks on offense and blocks on defense. He is a solid handler and passer that makes the easy play for his teammates and competes with a chip on his shoulder.
- Head Coach Drew Richards

#14 DALLAS WHITNEY
6-6, 190, Junior, Guard/Forward
Kansas City, Mo. / Cowley College

Final Dallas Whitney Signing

BEFORE UNCP: Played two seasons at Cowley Community College for coach Donnie Jackson … Helped his team to a 30-5 record … Won the conference and regional championship … Advanced to the Elite 8 of the National Tournament. 

HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at North Kansas City High School for coach Edwin Fritz … Helped his team to a 25-4 record during his senior year … Named to the all-state, all-district and all-conference teams. 

PERSONAL: The son of Cynthia Whitney … Has one sister, Cierra Holley … Enjoys playing video games and anime … Lists his dad as his idol … The Oklahoma City Thunder are his favorite team and chicken Alfredo pasta is his favorite food … A sports management major at UNCP. 

Dallas is the ultimate Swiss Army Knife! He can play every position on the offensive end of the court, initiating like a guard or posting up like a forward. However, one of his biggest strengths is his length and motor on defense and being able to lock up any and every position. He has made winning plays in two winning Junior College programs the last two years, and we look forward to him doing the same for the Braves!
- Head Coach Drew Richards

#22 JULLIEN COLE
6-4, 170, Freshman, Guard
West End, N.C. / The Academy Prep

Jullien Cole Signing Headshot

HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at Shiloh High School for coach Kim Rivers … Helped his team to a 23-5 record during his senior year … Averaged 24.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 block per game … Named the team's MVP, Co-Player of the Year and earned a spot on the all-region team … Played an integral role in helping the team to a conference championship. 

PERSONAL: The son of Lynette Cole … Enjoys going on walks at night and looking at nature … Lists his mom and Steph Curry as his idols … Scooby Doo is his favorite movie and the Golden State Warriors are his favorite team … Lists pasta as his favorite food … A sports medicine major at UNCP. 

Jullien is a long and wiry scoring guard we have known about for a while. His prep journey has taken him from Richmond County to Atlanta and we have followed him along the way. He has always been a high-level scorer but shown the ability to create plays for his teammates like a point guard. If he continues to develop, with those skill sets at his size, he will be a force for our program for the foreseeable future.
- Head Coach Drew Richards