Toyaz Solomon Named Blue Ribbon Big South Preseason Player of the Year

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook has released its men's basketball 2025-26 Big South Blue Ribbon Hoops Preseason Forecast, projecting UNC Asheville to finish second in the conference. Fifth-year senior Toyaz Solomon was named Big South Preseason Player of the Year and also earned a spot on the Preseason All-Conference Team.

Solomon was the only Bulldog to start all 32 games during the 2024-25 season, serving as one of UNC Asheville's most consistent and impactful performers.

He ranked second on the team in scoring with 15.7 points per game while leading the Bulldogs with a .610 field goal percentage, 7.2 rebounds per game, and 51 blocks. Within the Big South, Solomon finished sixth in scoring, fifth in rebounding, and led the conference in blocked shots.

Logging 1,001 minutes across the season, Solomon averaged a team-high 31.3 minutes per contest. He delivered career-best performances in multiple categories, including 24 points against North Florida (Dec. 17), 15 rebounds at Central Arkansas (Nov. 24), six assists versus Longwood (Feb. 22), and six blocks against UNCW (Dec. 21). In Asheville's conference-opening victory over High Point (Jan. 4), he recorded a career-high 11 made field goals.

A steady contributor, Solomon reached double figures in 30 games, served as Asheville's first scorer in eight contests, and led the team in scoring seven times. He also paced the Bulldogs in rebounding on 15 occasions and finished the season with five double-doubles.

Nationally, Solomon closed the year ranked No. 13 in field goal percentage, No. 31 in total field goals, and No. 47 in blocked shots. For his efforts, he was named to the Big South All-Conference Second Team. He returns for the 2025-26 season as the active conference leader in scoring, rebounding and blocks per game.

Season tickets are on sale and can be purchased online HERE. All ticket inquiries can be directed to Harmon Turner at hturner@unca.edu or fans can visit the Ticket Central page.

BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE BLUE RIBBON FORECAST

1. High Point
2. UNC Asheville
3. Radford
4. Longwood
5. Winthrop
6. Presbyterian
7. Charleston Southern
8. Gardner-Webb
9. USC Upstate

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

F-Toyaz Solomon, SR, UNC Asheville
F-Jonah Pierce, SR, Presbyterian
F-Elijah Tucker, SR, Longwood
G-Jaylon Johnson, SR, Radford
G-Rob Martin, SR, High Point

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Toyaz Solomon, SR, UNC Asheville

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Rob Martin, SR, High Point