Putting together a winning basketball program is like solving a puzzle. With that thought, newly named Hampton University coach Ivan Thomas is adding two new pieces — sophomore transfers Trevor Smith and Etienne Strothers.

Smith is headed to HU from the University of Richmond while Strothers attended Appalachian State.

The transfer to HU will be a homecoming of sorts to the Peninsula.

Smith, a 6-foot guard, was Class 5 State Player of the Year in 2023, leading Woodside High of Newport News to the state crown at the Siegel Center.

The 6-foot-2 Strothers earned a variety of postseason honors in 2023 as a senior at Newport News’ Menchville.

Both have well-known fathers.

Tim Smith is the all-time scorer at East Tennessee State with more than 2,300 career points.

Lamont Strothers scored 2,709 points at Christopher Newport and is among the few players from a Division III school to play in the NBA. He is now a coach at Menchville.

Hampton has struggled on the hard court since leaving the MEAC in 2019 for the Big South Conference and now for the Coastal.

The Pirates have been 26-67 the past three seasons under outgoing Coach Buck Joyner. Hampton has known better days, having gone to the NCAA tournament six times between 2001 and 2016 while in MEAC.