Queens basketball has a fast-paced offense, notable transfers and a home in Charlotte

For Queens men’s basketball, the past few weeks have been about learning.

The Royals have been together since June, often going bowling together and bonding through activities outside basketball. The group meshed easily, and they say their team chemistry is only getting better.

And yes, you can expect to see more of the team’s fast-paced offense this season.

Bryce Cash, a sophomore who grew up in Charlotte and recently starred at Carmel Christian School in Matthews, will run point for Queens. The 6-foot-5 guard mainly played the three and four positions as he cut his teeth for the Royals in his first year, and his decision-making during preseason scrimmages impressed the coaching staff.

He’s joined by newcomers like Leo Colimerio, following a four-year career at Fresno State, and junior college standout Asjon Anderson.

The Royals also added junior forward Nasir Mann — the brother of Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann — who previously played at McNeese State in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and won the Southland Conference championship with the Cowboys following two seasons in junior college.

But the culture is set by the players who return, and this entire group has bought into the vision that Charlotteans like Cash have for this program.

“It’s family,” Cash said at Atlantic Sun basketball media day, which Queens hosted Monday at Curry Arena. “Having cousins, aunts, uncles at all my games, that’s what I love. That’s the main decision why I came here, having family from Charlotte who can come to my games, and Queens presented to me the family culture.

“I love my city. I love Charlotte. I love everything that Queens has to offer, and I feel like it’s shedding a good light on Charlotte as a city.”

Queens is making strides entering Year 3 in Division I

In just their second season as a Division I program, the Royals knocked Florida Gulf Coast out of the Atlantic Sun tournament.

Queens’ 69-63 victory during its conference tournament was a significant jump, and it showed head coach Grant Leonard what the Royals are capable of. Most of the Royals’ other sports teams are still trying to make it to a conference tournament, while Leonard has his eyes on Queens hosting its first Atlantic Sun tournament game.

Leonard has been emphasizing culture.

While three-year starter AJ McKee transferred to Milwaukee and Deyton Albury is now at Utah State, the Royals brought in an experienced group, where younger athletes are set to take a bigger step. Leonard is confident these new faces are not only talented basketball players, but that they fit in culturally with the school, neighborhood, city and program.

“It’s not a light switch,” Leonard said. “You don’t flip it. It’s more like a dimmer, and I think we’re pretty close to the end of that process. The NCAA gives you a four-year probationary period, and we’re moving ahead a little bit faster than most teams in that four-year series.

“We’ve won a game in a conference tournament — just making the conference tournament is a big jump. Most of the other teams at Queens are still trying to get there, and our guys are hungry to make that next step.”

The women’s basketball team has some ‘dawgs’

Jen Brown has fostered a family environment on the women’s side of Queens basketball.

After the Royals’ offense set a program record with 101 points in their home opener, they dropped 15 of their final 16 games. The fifth-year head coach has a staff of entirely new assistant coaches, and they’ve brought in a confident group heading into their third year in the Atlantic Sun.

Junior forward Jordyn Weaver, who scored in double figures in 16 of their 29 games last season, is a key returner on Brown’s squad. She’s also added senior guard Aylesha Wade — a York, S.C., native who spent the past three seasons with the Charlotte 49ers.

“From an athletic skills standpoint, I have not had a roster this deep since I’ve been here,” Brown said. “I’ve got some ‘dawgs.’ Practices are high-intensity. They compete. Honestly, we have a starting five, but I think one through 14 could be in the starting lineup at any point.”