Charlotte men’s hoops up for Year 2 under Aaron Fearne

CHARLOTTE ATHLETICS

Guard Nik Graves expects to take on more of a leadership role with the Charlotte 49ers in 2024-25 after an offseason infusion of new players.

Charlotte men’s basketball is back on the hardwood.

Aaron Fearne is the full-time head coach after spending most of 2023-24 with the interim label, and he’s excited for the season.

“I think it is exciting for any season,” Fearne said. “No matter how long you have been [coaching], it’s always exciting to start the season. You're excited to play, you're excited to put a new group together and try and get them to connect together, and then ultimately try to go out there and try to perform. So, yeah, there's always a lot of excitement at this point.”

Charlotte is coming off a 19-12 season that included a 13-5 record in AAC play and third in the conference standings. Several newcomers join the roster after some players left the program after last season.

“[The transfers] all bring different things to the table, and they've all had their little moments in practice and so on and so forth,” Fearne said. “Some guys have been a little banged up, and they’re trying to come back off injury. Right now, three of those guys who transferred, it hurt their growth a little bit just to understand what we're doing. They have a little bit too much processing going on right now [instead of] just instinctual play of what we do. I'm excited for the group. They work really hard. They are very coachable.”

One of transfer who stood out in open practice on Monday was Florida Atlantic transfer Giancarlo Rosado. He has Final Four experience at FAU and plays physical, which Fearne really likes. Rosado was a backup big man at FAU under Vlad Goldin, where he averaged 5.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game while shooting over 50% from the field.

“I think [Rosado] will be excellent,” Fearne said. “He is a competitor. He’s got Final Four experience, and very few people that have played here can say that. He joins some of those guys from the 1977 team as the only ones around here that can talk about playing in a Final Four. [FAU] was in the [NCAA] tournament last year and were ranked all year. He knows what good basketball looks like and what it takes, but his role is different now, too. He was a backup at FAU where now he is going to have to be a major contributor each and every game he is on the floor. We need him to play well.”

The 49ers return several contributors from last season including Nik Graves and Isaiah Folkes, who will likely make up the starting backcourt.

“I’m really taking my experiences from last year and trying to use that to lead this group of new guys,” Graves said. “Coming from a good high school at Greensboro Day and having played for a Hall of Fame coach there, being able to use the knowledge to lead and also be more of a vocal leader this year. Last year I was in a role where I was a leader but didn’t use my voice as much, so working on using my voice and really taking charge is what I have focused on this offseason.”

One thing noticeable in Folks’ game, albeit in practice, was the improvement in three-point shooting – something he has been working on relentlessly.

“I’ve been shooting,” Folkes said. “Just getting comfortable with shooting from the free throw line, mid-range and from three. That is why I’ve been working all summer. I didn’t go home this summer – I stayed in Charlotte. I was in the gym three times a day. But I hope to bring better shooting and keep the same level of intensity on defense but try to be even better than last year. I want to win defensive player of the year. That is a personal goal of mine, but I am really just trying to be a complete basketball player.”

Folkes is expanding his dunk package as well.

“I got a windmill for you guys for sure,” he said. “If we get up by 20, I’ll pull out an Eastbay for you guys, too.”

With the season under a month away, Fearne will lean on Graves and Folks to get the newcomers where they need to be in a short amount of time.

“[Graves and Folkes] got to experience a pretty special season last year,” Fearne said. “But they have to flush that and restart. It's a very different team and a new year. They both have been here for a long enough time now to know what is expected from the group, from a cultural perspective and execution perspective, so their voice and they essentially have to be two coaches on the floor for us.”

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