Location: Charlotte, N.C.

ASUN Ranking Among 31 Leagues (KenPom): 24th (2026), 24th (2025), 26th (2024), 18th (2023), 21st (2022), 26th (2021), 26th (2020)

College AC Experience: Washington College (2005-06), Texas-Pan Am (2006-09), Flagler (2009-10), Paine (2011-13), Queens (2013-22)

When #1 Duke plays in the NCAA Tournament later this month, the Blue Devils will be competing in that event for the 48th time. For North Carolina, it will be Big Dance #55, second to only Kentucky on the all-time list.

When Queens University of Charlotte (that’s the full, official name) appears in the 68-team bracket next week, it will do so for the first time ever … in its first year of Division One eligibility!

Under fourth-year head coach Grant Leonard, whose tenure started just as the Royals were making the jump from Division Two, the Royals claimed the Atlantic Sun Tournament title on Sunday, defeating #1 seed Central Arkansas 98-93 in overtime in the championship game.

“It’s a life-changing moment for us,” Leonard told the Charlotte Observer. “It’s going to be unbelievable for our admissions (department) and for the publicity for the school. I’m just so proud of everybody for believing.”

More than a half-century ago, in 1973, the NCAA created three divisions, with the goal of enabling its member schools to align themselves with like-minded universities on sports-related matters.

Most North Carolina-based schools have remained at the same level they chose 53 years ago. A handful, though, have opted to make bold moves up the NCAA ladder.

Queens, which had made seven straight appearances in the Division Two tournament and two trips (2003, 2018) to its Final Four, became the latest school to make the jump, in 2022. The Royals are now in their fourth and final season of an NCAA-mandated four-year transition process to Division One, and they’re in their first year of postseason eligibility.

The Atlantic Sun Conference’s membership has changed significantly over the past two decades. Among the ASUN’s champions over the past 20 years, Belmont (Missouri Valley), East Tennessee State (Southern Conference), Kennesaw State (Conference USA), Liberty (Conference USA) and Mercer (SoCon) have departed for higher-profile leagues, while Bellarmine, Florida Gulf Coast, Lipscomb and Stetson are among the remaining members.

Coach Bart Lundy, who led the Queens program from 1998-99 through 2002-03 and again from 2013-14 through 2021-22, left the Royals four years ago to take the Milwaukee job in the Horizon League, where he had three consecutive winning campaigns prior to this one.

Leonard, Lundy’s long-time assistant, then was promoted to lead Queens into its exciting new era.

Leonard’s 2026 team is his best yet, despite losing his best player (fifth-year senior Leo Colimerio) from a year ago. The Royals’ eight-man rotation (see below) includes four returnees, which is unusual in the portal era. Two key players are former junior college stars, two are international signees, and several major college transfers were only backups at their previous schools.

Sophomore guard Yoav Berman (second team), junior forward Avantae Parker (third team) and rookie guard Jordan Watford (all-freshman) earned All-ASUN recognition at the conclusion of the regular season.

2025-26 Queens Royals
(21-13, 14-5 ASUN; through March 16)

STARTERS

G Yoav Berman, So. (6-6/214) — 2024 international signee (Israel)
29 mpg, 13 ppg, 4 rpg, 42% FG, 79% FT, 30% threes, 126/58 ATO, 32 steals, 14 blocks

G Chris Ashby*, Gr. (6-2/193) — 2022 juco signee; Paris (Texas) JC
31 mpg, 12 ppg, 2 rpg, 37% FG, 88% FT, 38% threes, 51/26 ATO, 18 steals, 0 blocks

G Nasir Mann, Sr. (6-5/203) — 2024 McNeese State transfer (backup)
30 mpg, 13 ppg, 6 rpg, 50% FG, 78% FT, 33% threes, 92/56 ATO, 37 steals, 6 blocks

F Avantae Parker, Jr. (6-9/218) — 2025 Georgia Southern transfer (part-time starter)
22 mpg, 11 ppg, 5 rpg, 69% FG, 62% FT, 42% threes, 39/53 ATO, 29 steals, 44 blocks

F Carson Schwieger, r-So. (6-9/222) — 2025 Valparaiso transfer (backup)
25 mpg, 10 ppg, 3 rpg, 44% FG, 69% FT, 41% threes, 25/19 ATO, 18 steals, 4 blocks

KEY RESERVES

G Jordan Watford, Fr. (6-5/185) — 2025 HS signee; Lancaster (S.C.) High
21 mpg, 12 ppg, 3 rpg, 60% FG, 78% FT, 38% threes, 129/61 ATO, 23 steals, 5 blocks

G Maban Jabriel, So. (6-9/205) — 2024 international signee (Canada)
20 mpg, 8 ppg, 4 rpg, 50% FG, 77% FT, 44% threes, 35/30 ATO, 22 steals, 12 blocks

F Gus Larson, Gr. (6-10/220) — 2025 Cal transfer (backup)
12 mpg, 3 ppg, 2 rpg, 52% FG, 57% FT, 19% threes, 22/24 ATO, 13 steals, 10 blocks

Departures from 2024-25: G Aston Anderson (transfer/Alabama State), G Bryce Cash* (left school), F Leo Colimerio* (senior/Kosovo), G Kalib Mathews* (senior/Ukraine), F Jaxon Pollard (transfer/Samford), C Malcolm Wilson* (senior/Duke graduate assistant).

*—2024-25 starter (started at least 50% of the Royals’ games last season)

Queens Royals
10-Year Snapshot

Season: Overall, League (Place), Postseason

2024-25: 20-15, 11-7 ASUN (6th), CBI Elite Eight (Grant Leonard)
2023-24: 14-19, 7-9 ASUN (8th), no postseason (Grant Leonard)
2022-23: 18-15, 7-11 ASUN (9th), no postseason (Grant Leonard)
2021-22: 30-4, 21-3 SAC* (t-1st*), D2 Sweet 16 (Bart Lundy)
2020-21: 16-6, 13-3 SAC (2nd), D2 1st Round (Bart Lundy)
2019-20: 24-7, 17-5 SAC (2nd), no postseason (Bart Lundy)
2018-19: 31-5, 19-1 SAC (1st*), D2 Elite Eight (Bart Lundy)
2017-18: 32-4, 18-2 SAC (2nd), D2 Final Four (Bart Lundy)
2016-17: 30-4, 19-3 SAC* (t-1st*), D2 Sweet 16 (Bart Lundy)
2015-16: 25-7, 17-5 SAC (2nd), D2 Round of 32 (Bart Lundy)

*—conference champion (regular-season and/or tournament)

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Contender Series: Appalachian State Mountaineers (Sun Belt)