Charlotte 49ers basketball stockpiles transfer talent

NORFOLK STATE ATHLETICS

Kuluel Mading, a 6-11 forward who averaged 7.2 points and 4.2 rebounds last season at Norfolk State, adds defensive presence to the Charlotte 49ers’ lineup. Mading earned a spot on the MEAC All-Defensive Team last season.

The Charlotte 49ers are adding new pieces to the basketball roster.

The 49ers have added four recruits in the last three weeks, with the latest South Plains College transfer Caleb Blackwell, who signed on May 5. In addition to starting at
South Plains last year, Blackwell, a guard, spent two seasons at Alabama A&M. He joins Arden Conyers, Kuluel Mading, and Damoni Harrison in Charlotte’s recruit class.

Blackwell, a 6-footer, averaged 13.1 points, 5.9 assists and 3.3 rebounds over 27.9 minutes per game last season for the Texans and started all 33 games. He scored a season-high 26 points against Midland College and Monroe University. 

“Caleb is a player who can bring outstanding shooting to our roster,” Charlotte coach Aaron Fearne said. “He’s going to give us everything he’s got, he has a competitive spirit that will show itself on the court.”

Harrison, a 6-5 transfer from Southern Indiana, started all 27 games he played last season, which included Ohio Valley Conference player and newcomer of the week accolades in January after consecutive 26-point outbursts against Lindenwood and Western Illinois – his season-high.

Harrison, who averaged a team-best 15.1 points per game and scored double digits in 21 outings in his lone season at Southern Indiana, connected on 40.9% of his 3-point shots. Before that, Harrison played at Tallahassee Community College.

“Damoni brings great scoring thanks to his high-level shot-making ability,” Fearne said. “His athleticism shows in how he plays. He’ll bring several different skills to our team.”

Harrison is also a willing defender. He tallied at least one steal in 16 games, punctuated by a season-high four against South Dakota. He also managed at least two steals in six games.

Another transfer, former Norfolk State forward Kuluel Mading, is 6-11 and helped the Spartans to the MEAC title and an automatic NCAA tournament berth in his final campaign. Mading, who played two seasons at NSU, earned a spot to the MEAC All-Defensive team while averaging 7.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last season.

“We’re excited to add Kuluel,” Fearne said. “He brings a defensive tenacity that teams need. His experience in last year’s NCAA tournament will be a great addition, too, to what we want to build here.”

Mading, who previously played at Buffalo, scored a season-best 16 points against Washington Adventist in January and tallied multiple blocks in 13 of 35 games, including a season-high four against Maryland Eastern Shore.

Mading, who led The Burlington School to a state title as North Carolina’s 10th-ranked high school recruit, earned a McDonald’s All-American nomination after scoring 15 points, reeling in seven rebounds, and blocking four shots in the state title game. 

Conyers, a South Carolina transfer, played two years with the Gamecocks after redshirting. The 6-7 forward played in 23 games last season, with a season-best 13 points against Auburn. He also tallied double figures against SEC rivals Mississippi State (12), Vanderbilt (10), and national champion Florida (10). 

“Arden is a high-level shooter with excellent size and length,” Fearne said. “He’ll be a valuable part of our program going forward.”

A three-star recruit at Westwood High, Conyers was South Carolina’s No. 3-ranked player in the 2023 class coming out of Westwood High School. As a senior, he averaged 21.4 points as an all-region and all-state pick.

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