SoCon Announces 2025-26 Men's Basketball Postseason Awards
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Justin Neely of the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball team was named to The Southern Conference (SoCon) All-Conference First Team, announced by the league office on Wednesday.
Neely has had a standout year thus far, both in his career and with the Spartan jersey on. He has seen career numbers in multiple categories, set UNCG Division I records and reached national rankings. This season, Neely was named SoCon Player of the Week twice, as well as, Lou Henson National Player of the Week.
In over 1000 minutes played this season, Neely has posted career numbers across the board. In 31 games, he has made 173 field goals contributing to a 53.0 field goal percentage. He has also made 16 three pointers to shoot 34.0 from behind the arc. He is shooting 78.3 from the charity stripe, making 184 free throws this season. With his 77 offensive rebounds and 275 defensive boards, he has totaled 352 this season for a career best.
The Miami Beach, Florida, native has also tallied 79 assists, 28 steals and five blocks, all career highs. His 18 double-doubles stand out the most, as he now has 25 on his career.
This is the first year in his career averaging a double-double with 17.6 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per game. He bypassed the 1,000 career point milestone this season on Feb. 11, after scoring 16 points against VMI. Neely also reached the 500 career rebounds mark after grabbing 14 boards on Dec. 21, against Virginia University of Lynchburg.
Neely grabbed an impressive 22 rebounds against VMI on Jan. 21, for a career best and new UNCG Division I school record. According to UNCG records, the last time a Spartan collected 20 or more rebounds in a single game was James Dickey on March 15, 2020, when he registered 20 boards against Mercer. Neely now joins elite company with 20 or more boards in a single game: Tom Nelson (27), Bruce Shaw (25), Kyle Hines (21) and Dickey (20).
He later went a remarkable 19-for-21 from the charity stripe against Western Carolina on Feb. 4. His 19 made free throws are the most in UNCG history, while in the SoCon. His 21 free throw attempts match Francis Alonso's mark from Dec. 22, 2018, versus Samford.
Currently among the nation, Neely is ranked first in defensive rebounds per game, second in double-doubles, rebounds and rebounds per game, eighth in free throws, 13
th in free throw attempts, 68
th in points and 83
rd in field goal percentage.
Up Next
The Spartans earned the No. 7 seed into the 2025-26 SoCon Tournament and will face No. 10 VMI on Friday, March 6, in a first round game at 7:30 p.m. The Tournament is set for March 6-9 at Harrah's Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina.
2025-26 All-Southern Conference Men's Basketball Teams
Malcolm U. Pitt Player of the Year
Jadin Booth, Gr., G, Samford
Newcomer of the Year
Jadin Booth, Gr., G, Samford
Sixth Man of the Year
Jaylen Smith, Jr., G, ETSU
Defensive Player of the Year
Cam Morris III, Gr., F, ETSU
Armani Mighty, R-Jr., F, Mercer
Anton Foy Coach of the Year
Brooks Savage, ETSU
First team
Baraka Okojie, Mercer
Justin Neely, UNCG
Jadin Booth, Samford
Dylan Faulkner, Samford
Kahmare Holmes, Wofford
Second team
Cam Morris III, ETSU
Brian Taylor II, ETSU
Alex Wilkins, Furman
Armani Mighty, Mercer
Nils Machowski, Wofford
Third team
Blake Barkley, ETSU
Jordan Frison, Chattanooga
TJ Johnson, VMI
Cord Stansberry, Western Carolina
Cayden Vasko, Wofford
All-Defensive team
Cam Morris III, ETSU
Allen Strothers, ETSU
Ben VanderWal, Furman
Armani Mighty, Mercer
Dylan Faulkner, Samford
