81 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #81 Kendall Alford

It's now 81 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight a wide receiver:


#81 Kendall Alford

POSITION Wide Receiver
HEIGHT 5-10
WEIGHT 175
CLASS Freshman
HOMETOWN Marietta, Ga.
HIGH SCHOOL Walton HS








2019 (Freshman): Did not see game action, taking a redshirt.

Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity letter winner … Earned first team all-county and first team all-region honors as a senior … Was also dubbed first-team All-AAAAAAA by Recruit Georgia and a received a second-team nod from the Georgia Sports Writers Association … Recorded 114 career receptions for 1,923 yards and 16 touchdowns in his prep career including a single-season high of 59 catches for 1,071 yards and 11 TDs as a senior as a part of amassing 1,285 all-purpose yards … Caught 35 passes for 599 yards and four scores as a junior … Added three career rushing scores and completed 3-of-4 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown ... High school coach was Daniel Brunner.

Personal: Full name is Kendall Rishun Alford … Is the son of Sandra and Travis Alford … Has two younger siblings, Jackson and Olivia … His father played football at Auburn.

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82 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #82 JaKobe Quillen

It's now 82 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight a wide receiver:


#82 JaKobe Quillen

POSITION Wide Receiver
HEIGHT 6-3
WEIGHT 190
CLASS  True Freshman
HOMETOWN Florence, S.C.
HIGH SCHOOL Wilson HS


Prior to Western Carolina: A big-bodied receiver who was a four-year starter … Listed as one of the top 25 recruits in the state of South Carolina by the Charlotte Observer … Caught 104 career passes for 1,662 career yards and 21 touchdowns including 937 receiving yards and 14 TDs on 62 catches as a senior … Tossed a 64-yard touchdown pass to give him 1,726 career yards … Collected Primetime Performer of the Week after catching 13 passes for 174 yards and two scores in a win over West Florence HS … Selected to the South team in the South Carolina 2019 North-South game … High school coach was Derek Howard.

Personal: Is the son of Lisa White and Jacob Quillen.

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83 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #83 Brandon Dickerson

It's now 83 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight another punter/kicker:


 #83 Brandon Dickerson







POSITION Kicker/Punter
HEIGHT 5-11
WEIGHT 195
CLASS Redshirt Freshman
HOMETOWN Fort Mill, S.C.
HIGH SCHOOL Indian Land HS












2019 (Freshman): Played in eight games as a true freshman handling the bulk of the team’s punting duties … Punted a combined 42 times for 1,533 yards, averaging 36.5 yards per punt one kick sailing 50+ yards and seven downed inside the opposition’s 20-yard line … Made his collegiate debut in the season-opener against Mercer (Aug. 31), punting seven times with a 36.3 average … Punted a career-high 10 times at N.C. State (Sept. 7) including his career-long 59-yard punt and twice downing the football inside the Wolfpack 20-yard line … Punted three-or-more times in seven of his eight games on the year … Credited with two solo tackles.

Prior to Western Carolina: Three-time all-region selection and a three-time Special Teams Player of the Year for his squad … Averaged 41 yards per punt as a senior including a long of 68 yards … Connected on 6-of-8 (75%) of his field goals including a long of 49 yards, while hitting all 21 of his PAT attempts … Added 17 touchbacks on kickoffs … Selected to represent North Carolina in the International Bowl – US vs. Canada – for four-consecutive seasons … High school coach was Horatio “HB” Blades.

Personal: Is the son of Shanna and Lyn Dickerson and an older sister, Brenna.

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84 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #84 Owen Cosenke

It's now 84 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight another tight end:


#84 Owen Cosenke

POSITION Tight End
HEIGHT 6-3
WEIGHT 235
CLASS  Senior
HOMETOWN Aldie, Va
HIGH SCHOOL John Champe HS










2019 (Junior): Played in all 12 of WCU’s seasonal games with nine starts at tight end … Caught 22 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns, posting receptions in 11 of the 12 games on the year … Matched his career-high by catching a season-best six passes in the season-opener against Mercer (Aug. 31), finishing with 63 receiving yards and a touchdown … Only other receiving TD came at Chattanooga (Sept. 28), finishing with three receptions for 30 yards … Credited with one tackle on special teams … Selected first-team All-Southern Conference at TE at the annual SoCon Football Media Day … Was a preseason first-team honoree by Phil Steele.

2018 (Sophomore): Saw action in all 11 of the team’s games making 10 starts … Recorded 23 receptions for 261 yards and a career-best eight touchdowns, a mark that ranked him third in the Southern Conference and represented the most by a Catamount tight end in a single season all-time … Posted receptions in nine of the 11 games with scores in six games, amassing 48 seasonal points … Twice posted two receiving touchdowns in the same game, doing so at Furman (Sept. 29) and in the triple-overtime thriller at #25 ETSU (Oct. 27) … Hauled in a career-best six catches for 66 yards in the 3-OT loss against the Buccaneers … Named first-team All-Southern Conference by both the league’s head coaches and the voting media … Selected to the Sophomore All-America Team by HERO Sports … Was dubbed a third-team All-America selection by the Associated Press … Added two tackles on special teams play.

2017 (Freshman): Played in 10 of the team's 12 games including nine starts at tight end ... Finished the year with nine receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown ... Made his debut in the season-opener at Hawai'i (Sept. 2), finishing with a career-best three catches for 28 yards ... Hauled in his first collegiate touchdown pass on a three-yard scoring strike in the home win over ETSU (Oct. 14) ... Named second-team Freshman All-America by Phil Steele ... Hauled in a 20-yard pass in WCU's annual Spring Game.

Prior to Western Carolina: Played for head coach Jason Dawson at John Champe HS in Aldie, Va., before finishing his prep career at Fork Union Military where he played for head coach Col. John Shuman ... Started all 12 games at FUMA ... At John Champe HS, garnered first-team all-conference and second-team All-Region honors as a senior as a part of a conference championship team in just the Knights' fourth year of existence ... Garnered MaxPreps Offensive Player of the Game accolades in a game against Dominion (Oct. 16, 2015) ... Recorded 35 catches for over 400 yards and four touchdowns in his final season ... Also played basketball at John Champe HS where he was a two-year varsity starter.

Personal: Full name is Owen Mattingly Cosenke ... Is the son of Kelly and Stephen Cosenke ... Has two younger brothers, Trevor and Calvin.

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85 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #85 Luke Britt

It's now 85 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight another tight end:


#85 Luke Britt

POSITION Tight End
HEIGHT 6-6
WEIGHT 220
CLASS Redshirt
HOMETOWN Calypso, N.C.
HIGH SCHOOL North Duplin HS









2019 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in one game on the year and did not record any official statistics … Made his collegiate debut at N.C. State (Sept. 7).

2018 (Freshman): Did not see game action, taking a redshirt ... Named to the 2018-19 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Credited with three catches for 41 receiving yards and two touchdowns as a senior … Also recorded a pair of interceptions and three blocked kicks – two punts and a field goal – defensively … Helped guide his team to the North Carolina 1-A state championship game in 2017 … Earned WGBR High School Athlete of the Week honors in November 2017 … Also plays both baseball and basketball as a prep.

Personal: Full name is Luke Donnell Britt … Is the son of Suzanne and Ralph Britt … His father, Ralph, was a tight end at N.C. State and later played in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1987).

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86 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #86 Clayton Bardall

It's now 86 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight a tight end:

#86 Clayton Bardall

POSITION Tight End
HEIGHT 6-3
WEIGHT 225
CLASS Redshirt Sophomore
HOMETOWN Cumming, Ga.
HIGH SCHOOL North Forsyth HS











2019 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in all 12 games on the season with three starts at tight end … Recorded eight receptions for 119 yards and his first career touchdown … Caught his first pass as a collegiate tight end in the home win over North Greenville (Sept. 14) in a six-yard TD reception … Caught a career-high four passes for 74 yards against Samford (Nov. 16) … Recorded a career-long reception of 28 yards against Samford, matching it a week later at nationally-ranked Alabama (Nov. 23) … Named 2019 Fall Academic All-Southern Conference.

2018 (Freshman): Played in two games as a true freshman on special teams … Made his collegiate debut at Mercer (Oct. 20), recording a tackle assist … Also saw game action in the regular season finale at North Carolina (Nov. 17) … Expected to take a redshirt ... Named to the 2018-19 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Was a four-year varsity letter winner and starter … Caught two passes for 61 yards and a touchdown before an injury cut his senior season short … Had 15 catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns as a junior, earning honorable mention All-Region accolades … Two-time Offensive Player of the Week … Received the Jack Snook Memorial Award at North Forsyth High for coach was Robert Craft… Finished his career with 34 tackles including 24 solo stops with two sacks and a pair of interceptions … Took part in the Blue-Grey All-American Combine prior to his senior season … Also plays baseball as a prep where he was the team leader in home runs.

Personal: Is the son of Rachael and Brad Bardall … Has an older brother, Jackson, who plays football as an offensive lineman at Eastern Kentucky.

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87 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #87 Tykel Landrum

It's now 87 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight another wide receiver:

#87 Tykel Landrum

 

HEIGHT 5-11
WEIGHT 175
CLASS Sophomore
HOMETOWN Hendersonville, N.C.
LAST COLLEGE Wingate
HIGH SCHOOL Hendersonville HS


One of Hendersonville's top former players is getting a shot at his Division I football dream.

Former Bearcat standout Tykel Landrum has transferred from Wingate University to Western Carolina.

Landrum, a 2018 HHS graduate, was a dominant wide receiver and defensive back for the Bearcats and earned a spot on the Shrine Bowl in his senior season.

The opportunity to play Division I football never presented itself in the recruiting process.

Landrum will play wide receiver for the Catamounts and will have three years of eligibility remaining to play. He redshirted his first season at Wingate.

In his senior year at Hendersonville, Landrum had 1,246 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He had 113 yards rushing, 268 kick return yards, 234 punt return yards and 113 interception return yards. His all-purpose yards tallied up to 1,913.

On defense, he had 67 tackles and four interceptions.

Landrum's dominance continued in the postseason at the Shrine Bowl, which showcases the best football players in North and South Carolina. In that all-star game, Landrum had an interception and 10 tackles.

He is WNC's all-time leader in receptions (253), receiving yardage (4,558), touchdown receptions (46) and interceptions (27) and was named the WNC Athlete of the Year at the WNC Sports Awards Banquet in May of 2018.

“I decided it didn't feel right for me at Wingate and I also wanted to play at a bigger level,” Landrum said. “And it's great that I have that opportunity now to do that.”

“I think it's a good move for Tykel,” Sosebee said. “He'll be a little closer to home and I think he'll be able to help Western win some games.”

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88 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #88 Luke Sutton

It's now 88 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight a wide receiver:


#88 Luke Sutton

POSITION  Wide Receiver
HEIGHT  5-8
WEIGHT  180
CLASS  True Freshman
HOMETOWN  Concord, N.C.
HIGH SCHOOL  Cox Mill HS






Prior to Western Carolina: Played slot back and wide receiver as a prep where he helped Cox Mill win the South Piedmont 3A Conference title and the Coddle Creek Cup … Dubbed a "possession receiver" because of his sure hands and precise routes … Named All-South Piedmont Conference as a senior.

Personal: Is the son of Diana and David Sutton ... Has a sister, Brooke.

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89 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #89 Richard McCollum

It's now 89 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight a kicker:

#89 Richard McCollum

POSITION Kicker
HEIGHT 5-9
WEIGHT 170
CLASS Redshirt sophomore
HOMETOWN Sanford, N.C.
HIGH SCHOOL Southern Lee HS










2019 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in five games on the season handling placekicks including field goals, PATs, and kickoffs … Connected on a career-best two field goals (2-for-3) in the home win over North Greenville (Sept. 14), scoring a career-high six points … Finished 5-for-5 including a career-best 4-for-4 on PATs at Chattanooga (Sept. 28) … Kicked off a total of 17 times for an average of 49.4 yards per kick with one touchback.

2018 (Freshman): Played in four games on the year, remaining eligible for a redshirt ... Made his collegiate debut at Gardner-Webb (Sept. 14) … Handled kickoff duties in five games, kicking 20 times for an average of 56.0 yards per kick with two touchbacks … Kicked off a career-high nine times against VMI (Sept. 22) … Did not attempt a field goal or PAT ... Named to the 2018-19 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Connected on 13-of-20 field goals as a senior including a career-long 51-yard field goal in 2017, adding 31 touchbacks on kickoffs … As a junior, connected on 44-of-45 PATs and was 14-of-20 on field goals including a long kick of 47-yards in a game as a part of earning the Cape Fear Valley Conference Special Teams Player of the Year … Connected on a 60-yard field goal at practice in Twitter post that went viral … Received the Tom Suiter Extra Effort Award from WRAL-TV in Raleigh ... High school coach was Joe Allison … Is bi-lingual and was the leader of his school’s Spanish Club … Also played baseball as a prep.

Personal: Full name is Richard Larry McCollum … Is the son of Carolina and Fredy McCollum … Has two brothers, Freddy and Bryan … His older brother, Freddy, kicked collegiately at Wingate.

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90 Days 'till WCU Football Kickoff - #90 Tre' Jolly

It's now 90 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 3 pm, against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, in Roy Kid Stadium, Richmond, KY.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll highlight the defensive line:

#90 Tre' Jolly

POSITION: Defensive Line
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 210
CLASS: Redshirt Freshman
HOMETOWN: Shelby, N.C.
HIGH SCHOOL: Shelby HS











2019 (Freshman): Saw action in four games as a defensive substitution as a true freshman … Was not credited with any official statistics … Made his collegiate debut at The Citadel (Oct. 12) … Three of the four games he appeared in came on the road.

Prior to Western Carolina: Three-year varsity winner … Recorded 188 career tackles including 72 solo stops, finishing his senior year with a career-best 76 tackles on the 2-A State Championship squad … Credited with 49 tackles for loss including 23 as a senior and 21 as a junior … Recovered three fumbles in his high school career … Named to the All-Shelby Star team as a senior … Received the Sportsmanship Award from the NCHSAA after the state title game.

Personal: Full name is Tre’ Christopher Jolly … Is the son of Deneen and Allen Jolly … His older brother, Tavorris, earned a scholarship to North Carolina as a safety.

2020 Football Preseason Preview: Eastern Kentucky Colonels

Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western Carolina's 2020 football opponents.

In the Catamounts' opening game of the 2020 season, the Cats travel to Richmond, Kentucky to face the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky.

Western faces the Colonels for just the sixth time, last playing in Richmond in 2009, coming home with a 24-7 win.






Game #1 - The Eastern Kentucky Colonels

When: Thursday, September 3 at 7:00 pm
Where: Roy Kid Stadium (20,000),  Richmond, Kentucky
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
TV/video:  ESPN+
Live Stats:  EKU Live Stats
Conference:  Ohio Valley
Nickname: Colonels
Colors: Maroon and White
Enrollment:  14,980
EKU Message Board:  Maroon Nation

The Series: In only the 6th meeting between the two teams, the Cats own a 2-3 record overall against the Colonels.  Eastern Kentucky’s all-time record in games played at Roy Kidd Stadium is 227-60-1.

Games that will be played by the Colonels this season before the WCU contest: 0 - This is the opening game for both teams.

Last Game vs. EKU (November 14, 2009) - Jaynes, Pittman and Special Teams Lead Western Carolina to 24-7 Road Victory over Eastern Kentucky  Western Carolina turned a pair of second-half Eastern Kentucky turnovers into points as quarterback Zack Jaynes tossed three touchdowns, including two to junior Marquel Pittman, as the Catamounts ended an eight-game road losing skid with a 24-7 non-conference victory over the Colonels in front of 4,200 fans Saturday afternoon at Roy Kidd Stadium.

Last Season's Record (EKU): 7-5 overall, 3-2 home, 4-3 away, 5-3 OVC

Head Coach:  Walt Wells was hired as the 15th head coach in program history on Dec. 9. Wells most recently served as a quality control assistant at the University of Kentucky during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The 2018 Wildcat team beat Florida for the first time in 32 years, posted the program’s best Southeastern Conference (SEC) record in 41 years and beat No. 12-ranked Penn State in the VRBO Citrus Bowl. All totaled, the 10-3 record was Kentucky's best season in 41 years and only the third 10-win season in school history.


Offensive Formation: Multiple Spread
- 2019 offense: 27.9 ppg. (56th in FCS)
Defensive Formation: 4-3
- 2019 defense: 22 ppg. (22nd in FCS)
Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 9 / 2
Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 7 / 4
Specialist - Returning/Lost: 3 / 5

In November 2019, the Colonels fired fourth-year head coach, Mark Elder. Elder compiled a 21-24 record and went 15-16 against Ohio Valley Conference teams. In December, the Colonels hired former EKU assistant coach Walt Wells to fill the head coaching vacancy.

EKU is returning 16 starters, 9 offensive and 7 on defense. Redshirt sophomore Parker McKinney returns as the quarterback. McKinney finished the season 116-for-221 (52.5 percent) for 1,371 yards, threw seven touchdown passes, but gave up nine interceptions.  He also rushed for 280 yards and scored five touchdowns on the ground. The Colonels lost 4 defensive starters, including All-American defensive end Aaron Patrick.

Four Colonels were chosen to the HERO Sports Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference Team -- running back Alonzo Booth, offensive linemen Tucker Schroeder and Jackson Bardall, and linebacker Steven Crowder.

Two Eastern Kentucky juniors Tucker Schroeder and Graham Ashkettle were selected to the preseason All-OVC team, both on the offensive line, as well as running back Alonzo Booth for the Colonials,

2019 Eastern Kentucky Statistics:
Rushing Offense: 1628 yards
Yards per game: 203.5
Yards per rush: 4.5 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 70
TDs rushing: 20
Passing Offense: 1430 yards or 178,8 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 12.1 yards
Passing 1st downs: 69
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 118-238-9
TDs Passing: 6
Total Offense: 3058 yards or 382.2 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 6-3
3d Down Conversions: 39%
4th Down Conversions: 38%
Field goal attempts: 17 - 19
On-side kicks: 1-1
Red Zone Scores: 37 of 38
Red Zone Touchdowns: 22 of 38


Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have only a 13% probability of winning (17-34) over the Colonels.


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EKU Game time - 3 pm

WCU Football Season Tickets

2020 Memorial Day Tribute

Memorial Day 2020

Faulkner Returning for Senior Season

Western Carolina rising redshirt senior Mason Faulkner withdrew his name from the NBA Draft on Wednesday evening with plans to return to school for his final collegiate season in 2020-2021.
 
Faulkner had been among 163 NCAA underclassmen to declare for the draft, doing so back in early April. According to NCAA rules, Faulkner is eligible to return to collegiate competition since he did not hire professional representation and withdrew prior to the June 3, 11:59 p.m. deadline.

Campbell now on future football schedule for home & home games

Western Carolina and Campbell, have agreed to a two-game football home-and-home series contract for the 2024 and 2025 seasons it was officially announced by both schools this week.

The Catamounts are slated to host Campbell in the first-ever meeting in NCAA competition on Sat., Sept. 7 in the second game of the 2024 season. The following year, WCU travels to Buies Creek, N.C., for the first time to face the Camels at Barker-Lane Stadium (5,500) in late September. 

Hightower commits to WCU

Cory Hightower, Jr. commits to WCU after two seasons at Presbyterian College. Hightower was a Big South All-Freshman Team selection during his freshmen season, will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.  He is the son of Cory Hightower, who was selected in the second round of the 2000 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs and played professional basketball for over 10 years.    

Qua Haynes signed with WCU