The Radford Highlanders men's basketball team is the basketball program of Radford University, located in Radford, Virginia, United States. The team competes in the Big South Conference and plays their home games at the Dedmon Center.
The Highlanders have had several players go on to play professionally, including Artis Gilmore, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and Javonte Green, who currently plays for the Boston Celtics.
The Radford Highlanders men's basketball team is a well-established program with a rich history. The team has had a number of notable moments, including conference championships, NCAA tournament appearances, and the development of professional players.
The program began in 1957, and over the years has become a respected member of the Big South Conference. One of the team's greatest moments came in 1998 when they won the Big South Conference tournament and earned their first-ever NCAA tournament berth. The Highlanders also won the conference tournament in 2009 and 2018, earning trips to the NCAA tournament both times.
While the team has had success at the conference level, they have yet to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. However, the program has produced a number of talented players who have gone on to play professionally. Perhaps the most famous Radford alum is Artis Gilmore, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. Gilmore played for Radford in the early 1970s before going on to an illustrious professional career that included six NBA All-Star selections.
In recent years, the Highlanders have continued to produce talented players. Javonte Green is one such player. After a standout career at Radford, Green went on to play professionally in Europe before signing a contract with the Boston Celtics in 2019. Green has become an important member of the Celtics rotation, providing energy and athleticism off the bench.
The Highlanders are known for their gritty, hard-nosed style of play. They are a defensive-minded team that prides itself on getting stops and creating turnovers. Head Coach Darris Nichols has instilled this identity into the program since taking over in 2020. Nichols is a young coach with a bright future. He previously served as an assistant coach at Florida and was widely regarded as one of the top recruiters in the country.
The Dedmon Center is the home of Radford basketball. The arena has a capacity of 3,000 and is known for its intimate atmosphere. The Highlanders have a dedicated fanbase that fills the arena on game nights, creating an electric environment.
Overall, the Radford Highlanders men's basketball program is a respected member of the Big South Conference with a rich history of success. While the team has yet to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament, they have produced a number of talented players who have gone on to play professionally. With a strong coaching staff and a gritty style of play, the Highlanders are poised for continued success in the future.