Checking in with men’s basketball: Q&A with Mike Morrell, Trent Stephney

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – After the year that was 2020-21 in college athletics, we sat down with head coach Mike Morrell and junior guard Trent Stephney of the men's basketball program to discuss last year and how the team has used this summer to prepare for the upcoming season.

While this summer was more "normal" than last, Morrell wasted no time getting a jump on the year, taking trips to visit his players in their respective hometowns when the spring semester ended.

Question: What inspired you (Coach Morrell) to hop in the car and go visit your guys?

Mike Morrell: I read another coach had made it a point to see his players and it was an idea I thought was pretty good. May is a slower month for us, so it was good to see them in their own homes…the foundation of everything we do here at UNC Asheville is the relationship. It was a lot of fun."

Q: When did you find out Coach Morrell was going to come visit?

Trent Stephney: I found out maybe four days before he came. Tajion (Jones) was there, we went out to eat. It was good seeing coach because it felt like it had been a while seeing him after the semester ended and we all went home.

Q: What have been some of the differences between this summer and last?

MM: "We went a long time without seeing each other in person, and there's no replacement for that. The ability to get on the floor (this summer) and get in the weight room has been the biggest emphasis.

TS: Covid's still around, but last year it was basically just individual work. We weren't allowed to do anything as a team. Everything seems a lot closer to how it was my freshman year.

Q: What are some examples of things you have been able to do this summer as a team?

TS: "During the NBA playoffs we would all get together and watch all the games. We went on a hike one day with the coaches. We couldn't do that last summer so it's nice to be doing things as a team again."

Q: What have you seen so far from the newcomers?

MM: The learning process takes time, especially on a team with so many returners. A guy like Drew (Pember), he played high school basketball with Trent so his transition has probably been easier. Jordan (Hairston) and Quay (Kimble) have done a tremendous job, but they've been in college basketball before. Dean (Gabrelcik) is the only freshman we have so the growth might be a little bit more, but all in all I think it's been really good."

Q: Speaking of returners, this group brings back five of its top six scorers from last season, how are they continuing to grow as leaders?

MM: Trent and Coty (Jude) are two of the more vocal guys and are two guys we definitely want leading. Tajion (Jones) is a little more quiet with his leadership. We have guys like Evan (Clayborne), LJ (Thorpe) and Doc (Battle). All of our returners are leaders in their own way.

Q: What's the mindset as you guys come back for the fall semester?

TS: Hopefully when everyone is at home during the break we keep working. We don't want to take any days off so when we come back to campus for the semester, we're ready to go.

The men's basketball team, along with the majority of UNC Asheville student-athletes, move back to campus this weekend, with classes for the fall semester beginning on Monday (8/16).

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