JC Smith opens the year with a long homestand

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Ezekiel Cannedy, who paced Johnson C. Smith in scoring last season as a freshman, is the Golden Bulls' No. 2 scorer in 2023-24 at 12.6 points per game on 37.5% shooting.

Johnson C. Smith has an opportunity to build on their home court success.

The Golden Bulls, who are 5-1 at Brayboy Gym, play their next four games on campus against CIAA opponents with a combined record of 26-26. They start the homestand Jan. 4 against Virginia State (7-6), followed by Bluefield State (6-8) on Jan. 6, Elizabeth City State (4-9) Jan. 11 and Winston-Salem State (9-3) on Jan. 13.

JCSU’s 6-4 start is their best record after 10 games since the 2019-20 team opened 7-3 but it’s tempered by their first road swing. The Golden Bulls  closed December by going 1-2 against CIAA North squads in which they sandwiched a win against Virginia Union between losses to Lincoln (Pa.) and Bowie State.    

In going two games over .500 during the first 10 games, the Golden Bulls have exceeded preseason expectations. Part of the reason is JCSU’s more balanced scoring with five players averaging double figures.

Forward Avery Huggins, a junior college transfer in his first season at JCSU, leads the way with 19 points per game on 61.3% shooting and 6.0 rebounds – all team highs. Huggins has shown to be a capable scorer anywhere on the floor and even leads the Golden Bulls in three-point accuracy at 40% beyond the arc.

Sophomore guard Ezekiel Cannedy, who led JCSU in scoring last season as a freshman, is off his All-CIAA pace at 12.6 points per game and struggling with accuracy at 37.5% shooting from the field and 31% on three-pointers. His backcourt mate, Cedric Patterson, averages 10.2 ppg and shoots 50.8% from the floor.

JCSU is more athletic, which shows in their pace. The Golden Bulls average 84.6 points per game compared to 79.9 ppg for opponents and convert 53.8% of shots in contrast to 48.1 for opponents.

JCSU is more effective at going to the hoop and drawing fouls, too. The Golden Bulls have more free throw conversions (177 among 248 attempts) than opponents have tried (176 with 118 makes).    

Comments