AUGUSTA, Ga. – The University of North Georgia (UNG) men's basketball team has been voted as the Peach Belt Conference's preseason favorite as announced Wednesday morning in the league's annual coaches poll. UNG's Colin Turner and AJ White each garnered PBC Preseason All-Conference honors.
 
North Georgia received nine first place votes for a total of 99 points. USC Beaufort was picked to finish second with 85 points. USC Aiken (83), Augusta (68), Columbus State (61) and Lander (61) rounded out the top five.

The Nighthawks ended the 2024-25 season with an 18-14 record, following an impressive showing in the PBC Tournament knocking off third-seeded Augusta in the first round before falling in overtime to eventual champions and second-seeded USC Aiken. North Georgia returns three starters and nine letter-winners from a year ago.

White is a three-time All-Conference selection and led UNG in scoring (17.1 ppg) while Turner was third in scoring (11.2 ppg).

Rounding out the five-player Preseason All-Conference team is Dominic Eason and Kevaughn Price of USC Beaufort and  Augusta's Evan Joyner.
 
North Georgia officially opens the season on Friday, Nov. 14 at the Southeast Region Crossover at Young Harris where the Nighthawks will face Lincoln Memorial at 5:00 p.m. Nighthawk fans looking to catch an early look at the team can see the Nighthawks in action on Wednesday, Nov. 5 in a home exhibition game with Toccoa Falls as part of the prorgram's annual Lumpkin County Schools 5th Graders' Day out. Tipoff for the exhbition is 12:00 p.m.