Ervin’s ascent continues to Charleston Southern staff

Ervin was an assistant coach at Lenoir-Rhyne University in the 2023-24 season and joined the CSU staff in May as a graduate assistant before quickly earning a promotion four months later.

“I am very excited about ‘Erv’ being promoted to an assistant coach,” Charleston Southern head coach Saah Nimley said. “He has prior experience at the (NCAA) Division II level, and has shown just that in his first few months with us. He is a gym rat and a very hard worker and super dependable. I know he will do a great job in this role and has a bright future ahead.”

At L-R, Ervin oversaw the Bears’ offense, player development, and daily operations under head coach Everick Sullivan.

Before his time at L-R, Ervin spent one season on staff at Catawba Valley Community College under Bryan Garmroth in 2022-23, when he also taught health and P.E. at Drexel Elementary School as a student-teacher first semester and in a full-time role second semester. Ervin oversaw a majority of the team’s offense at CVCC as well, and his other responsibilities included recruiting, weight room workouts, and general daily operations.

The Red Hawks won 20 games that season, and prior to that, Ervin was student manager on a 19-win Appalachian State University men’s team in 2021-22 coached by Dustin Kerns, assisting with the program’s daily operations, practices, game setups, and skill development. In 2022, he earned his undergraduate degree from ASU.

He started coaching at the AAU level in high school, when he was also a playing member at point guard for two Patriots teams that reached the NCHSAA 3A West Regionals. Ervin returned to FHS as an assistant coach, and in his first season in 2019-20, the Patriots claimed a co-state title in the COVID season. Under head coach Clint Zimmerman, Ervin’s coaching duties at his alma mater focused on defensive strategy, player development, and strength training.

Spanning those last five years, Ervin’s teams have never had a season below .500.

The NCAA D-I Big South Conference member Buccaneers open the 2024-25 season at Clemson on Nov. 4.

Elon’s Crump set for 1st season on court

Morganton native Brayden Crump is currently preparing for his redshirt freshman season as a member of the Elon University men’s basketball team.

Crump previously participated in three sports (basketball, football, and track) at Liberty Middle School, where he was named the 2018-19 male athlete of the year, before playing high school basketball at Moravian Prep, Patton, and Winston-Salem Christian School. He also played AAU basketball for Team United out of Charlotte, averaging 11.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting 40% from 3-point range on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League circuit.

The 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward signed with Elon last fall and joined the Phoenix’ hoops program in the spring, when he also began to take classes as a midyear enrollee. According to the school’s athletic website, Crump plans to major in business analytics.

Elon opens the 2024-25 season with a road game against North Carolina on Nov. 4 in Chapel Hill. The Phoenix are coached by Billy Taylor, who played at Notre Dame from 1991-95 and has 16 years of head coaching experience, including the past two at Elon.

“We are excited to welcome Brayden to our program, especially in this unique situation where he joins us at the semester break,” Taylor told Elon’s athletic website in January. “Brayden will benefit from being here early and this opportunity should provide a great springboard for him on and off the court. He is an outstanding student and credit to him for making academics and early graduation a priority.”

Taylor also called Crump “a strong addition to our frontcourt” who “gives us the shooting, versatility, and toughness we need to have success.” He added that Crump “comes from a winning tradition at Winston-Salem Christian High School, has high character, and fits our Elon basketball values as a student-athlete.”