The men's and women's basketball office suite in the Millis Center is undergoing a major upgrade this summer thanks to a $120,000 renovation funded by the High Point University Panther Club. The project will make it a first-class area for basketball coaches and student-athletes. Each office will be renovated and the Pleasants Room is being divided into two head coach offices.
"I want to thank the Panther Club again for their support in allowing us to do this fantastic project," said Scott Cherry, HPU's head men's basketball coach. "We have talked about this for about a year and it's going to be a tremendous benefit to both men's and women's basketball programs, especially in recruiting. There will be a 'wow' factor when student-athletes and their families step into the Millis Center and walk through the office doors. Having an area to meet, whether it's with recruits or our staff and players will be a huge bonus for us."
Added women's basketball head coach Tooey Loy, "I'd like to thank the Panther Club for making this project possible and for all they do for HPU Athletics. This will be so big for the basketball programs and puts the Millis Center in line with all of the improvements going on across campus. The new office suite will allow much more efficient recruiting and will help us daily when we're working with student-athletes."
The Pleasants Room is being transitioned into two large offices for Cherry and Loy. The project will also create a reception area for visitors and recruits that will be encased by a glass entry. Both head coach offices will include video equipment and a review and meeting area. Other amenities in the suite include hard-wood floors that border new carpeting, floor and wall graphics and a better layout with video equipment in the assistant coach offices.
The HPU men's basketball team posted a six-win improvement in Cherry's first season in 2009-10, going 15-15 overall and 10-8 in the Big South. HPU returns starters
Nick Barbour (Danville, Va./George Washington),
Corey Law (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek) and
Tehran Cox (Nassau, Bahamas/Fayetteville (Ark.) Christian) and has added seven recruits for the upcoming season.
The High Point women's basketball team went 17-14 overall and 9-7 in the Big South in 2009-10. In nine seasons under Loy's leadership, the team has finished with a .500 or better Big South record every year. The team returns four starters and has added four newcomers for the upcoming season. High Point will host the Big South Tournament at the Millis Center for the third season in a row in March.
This "before" photo shows the basketball office suite prior to renovations.
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On Monday, the entrance to the suite had been stripped and painted and hard-wood floring around the perimeter was being installed.
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The former Ed Pleasants room was used for hospitality during basketball games.
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In early July the Pleasants room was being prepared for a center wall, dividing the space into two offices.
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The left side of the Pleasants Room will become the women's basketball head coach's office.
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The right side of the Pleasants Room will become the men's basketball head coach's office.
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Offices for assistant coaches on the left side of the hallway are also being renovated.
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Each assistant coach's office will have new carpeting and paint, new furniture and a flat-screen TV.
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