- November 3rd, 2008, 10:03 pm
#206664
High Point Panthers (Last Season: 17-14; 8-6, 3rd in Big South; Lost in semifinals of Big South Tournament; RPI - 230)
Head Coach: Bart Lundy (6th season at HPU)
Players that are Returning:
G Eugene Harris, Jr. (6’2”, 185 lbs) – 12.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 42.8 FG%, 43.1 3PT% (90 made threes), 77.6 FT%
C Cruz Daniels, Jr. (6’11”, 225 lbs) – 5.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.6 bpg, 63.6 FG%, 0 made threes, 77.8 FT%
G David Campbell, So. (6'4", 205 lbs) – 4.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 42.3 FG%, 34.3 3PT% (24 made threes), 70.6 FT%
F Earnest Bridges, So. (6'6", 225 lbs) – 2.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 62.5 FG%, 0 made threes, 61.3 FT%
G/F Melvin Crowder, Sr. (6’4”, 215 lbs) – 1.8 ppg, .9 rpg, 32.7 FG%, 10.5 3PT% (2 made threes), 91.7 FT%
G Ibrahim Appiah, So. (6'5", 195 lbs) – 1.6 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 48.4 FG%, 50.0 3PT% (4 made threes), 76.9 FT%
Players that are Gone:
F Arizona Reid (6’5”, 205 lbs) – 23.9 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 1.7 spg, 53.2 FG%, 37.8 3PT% (34 made threes), 74.6 FT%
G Mike Jefferson (5’10”, 190 lbs) – 13.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 7.0 apg, 1.3 spg, 38.5 FG%, 33.5 3PT% (65 made threes), 74.8 FT%
G Tim Burns (6’0”, 165 lbs) – 4.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 42.4 FG%, 31.4 3PT% (16 made three), 88.2 FT%
G Kyle Witek (6’1”, 175 lbs) – Played in 12 games, 3.5 ppg, .2 rpg, 57.1 FG%, 50.0 3PT% (5 made threes)
F Josh Lamons (6’8”, 220 lbs) – 1.1 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 64.7 FG%, 33.3 FT%
F Matt Boswell (6’7”, 200 lbs) – 1.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 50.0 FG%, 50.0 3PT% (2 made threes)
G Joel Flowers (6'1", 200 lbs) – Played in 15 games, .1 ppg, .3 rpg
New Players:
F Jourdan Morris, So. (6’7”, 235 lbs) – Transfer from St. Bonaventure, 2.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg in 06-07
G Alquan Mendenhall, Fr. (5'11", 185 lbs) – Redshirt Freshman, Wilcox Central HS, Camden, AL
G Sam Vickery, Fr. (6'1", 180 lbs) – Redshirt Freshman, North Broward Prep, Boca Raton, FL
G Nick Barbour, Fr. (6’2”, 175 lbs) – George Washington HS, Danville, VA
G David Singleton, Fr. (6’3”, 190 lbs) – Hill School, Coatesville, PA
G Jacob Iati, Fr. (5’11”, 165 lbs) – York Catholic HS, York, PA
F Steadman Short, Fr. (6’9”, 215 lbs) – Hillcrest HS, Simpsonville, SC
F Corey Law, Fr. (6’5”, 210 lbs) – Deep Creek HS, Chesapeake, VA
C Rob Huntington, Fr. (6’9”, 205 lbs) – La Salle College Viveash, Perth, Australia
G Joe Stroman, Fr. (6’1”, 170 lbs) – Highlands Tech, Gastonia, NC
There are many valuable players around the Big South that will not be returning this season, but none may be as valuable as AZ Reid was for High Point. Reid, the two-time Big South Player of the Year, was a dominant scorer and rebounder throughout his career at HPU, and was often counted on to carry the team when they needed him to. To say he will be missed at High Point is an understatement. Coach Bart Lundy will have the tough task of transitioning the Panther program beyond AZ Reid, and aside from a couple of returnees, he will be doing it with a large batch of newcomers and untested players.
Leading the way this season will be shooting guard Eugene Harris. Harris has been a strong perimeter shooter and defender for the Panthers in his first two seasons. This year, he will be counted on to be the go-to guy, at least early on. In the paint, center Cruz Daniels brings experience, height, and a strong defensive presence to the team. Daniels has been a bit rough around the edges on the offensive end, but has shown improvement in his career, so there is a chance that he may break through as a threat on that end of the court as well. The other key returnee for the Panthers is David Campbell on the wing. Campbell came out of nowhere last season as a valuable part of the team as a walk-on. His role on this season’s team will likely be determined by how quickly the newcomers can come in and contribute, but he will definitely get quality minutes for the Panthers, especially early in the season. Earnest Bridges, Melvin Crowder, Ibrahim Appiah, and Alquan Mendenhall also return to the team, though none were big contributors last season (in fact, Mendenhall redshirted). Bridges was able to get some minutes last year due to the lack of depth that HPU had in the paint, and that experience should help him coming into this year. Crowder brings experience to the squad, and Appiah is a tall guard that can cause some matchup problems. Mendenhall could possibly see time at either guard position.
The success of High Point this season will likely be determined by how well the newcomers can learn the college game and blend in with Harris and Daniels on the court. Power forward Jourdan Morris has an advantage on the rest of the newcomers as he transferred in from St. Bonaventure and spent last season practicing with the team. Morris should help minimize the loss of Reid around the basket, as his game has some similarities to that of the departed star. However, he suffered a leg injury before the season, and likely will not be able to contribute much until December. A deep and athletic freshmen class is highlighted by point guards David Singleton and Jacob Iati, shooting guard Nick Barbour, and forwards Corey Law and Steadman Short. The battle for the starting point guard spot will likely come down to Singleton and Iati (though Harris is capable of playing some minutes at that spot as well). Singleton is more of the prototypical pass-first point guard, while Iati is more of a shooter/scorer. Barbour put up very impressive scoring numbers in high school, and will likely see a lot of playing time behind (and alongside) Harris in the backcourt. Law and Short are known for their athleticism and will be counted on to fill in while Morris is out of the lineup, along with adding depth to the forward position when Morris returns. Center Rob Huntington is also a part of freshman class, and his size should allow him to contribute, adding some depth to the post behind Daniels.
The key for the Panthers will be how quickly Lundy can convert the athleticism and inexperience on his roster into a more finished product. Also, how well Jourdan Morris returns from his injury will also play a large role in the amount of success that HPU has this season. In recent years, the Panthers have had quick starts, but have faded down the stretch. This year, the opposite may be true, as the young players get more experience, HPU should be a much better team in February than they are in November. However, I think that the Panthers will struggle with consistency, which will keep them from finishing in the upper part of the Big South standings this season.
My Prediction:
14-15 overall, 8-10 in the Big South; Seventh place finish; Will lose in the semifinals of the Big South tournament
Head Coach: Bart Lundy (6th season at HPU)
Players that are Returning:
G Eugene Harris, Jr. (6’2”, 185 lbs) – 12.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 42.8 FG%, 43.1 3PT% (90 made threes), 77.6 FT%
C Cruz Daniels, Jr. (6’11”, 225 lbs) – 5.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.6 bpg, 63.6 FG%, 0 made threes, 77.8 FT%
G David Campbell, So. (6'4", 205 lbs) – 4.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 42.3 FG%, 34.3 3PT% (24 made threes), 70.6 FT%
F Earnest Bridges, So. (6'6", 225 lbs) – 2.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 62.5 FG%, 0 made threes, 61.3 FT%
G/F Melvin Crowder, Sr. (6’4”, 215 lbs) – 1.8 ppg, .9 rpg, 32.7 FG%, 10.5 3PT% (2 made threes), 91.7 FT%
G Ibrahim Appiah, So. (6'5", 195 lbs) – 1.6 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 48.4 FG%, 50.0 3PT% (4 made threes), 76.9 FT%
Players that are Gone:
F Arizona Reid (6’5”, 205 lbs) – 23.9 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 1.7 spg, 53.2 FG%, 37.8 3PT% (34 made threes), 74.6 FT%
G Mike Jefferson (5’10”, 190 lbs) – 13.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 7.0 apg, 1.3 spg, 38.5 FG%, 33.5 3PT% (65 made threes), 74.8 FT%
G Tim Burns (6’0”, 165 lbs) – 4.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 42.4 FG%, 31.4 3PT% (16 made three), 88.2 FT%
G Kyle Witek (6’1”, 175 lbs) – Played in 12 games, 3.5 ppg, .2 rpg, 57.1 FG%, 50.0 3PT% (5 made threes)
F Josh Lamons (6’8”, 220 lbs) – 1.1 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 64.7 FG%, 33.3 FT%
F Matt Boswell (6’7”, 200 lbs) – 1.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 50.0 FG%, 50.0 3PT% (2 made threes)
G Joel Flowers (6'1", 200 lbs) – Played in 15 games, .1 ppg, .3 rpg
New Players:
F Jourdan Morris, So. (6’7”, 235 lbs) – Transfer from St. Bonaventure, 2.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg in 06-07
G Alquan Mendenhall, Fr. (5'11", 185 lbs) – Redshirt Freshman, Wilcox Central HS, Camden, AL
G Sam Vickery, Fr. (6'1", 180 lbs) – Redshirt Freshman, North Broward Prep, Boca Raton, FL
G Nick Barbour, Fr. (6’2”, 175 lbs) – George Washington HS, Danville, VA
G David Singleton, Fr. (6’3”, 190 lbs) – Hill School, Coatesville, PA
G Jacob Iati, Fr. (5’11”, 165 lbs) – York Catholic HS, York, PA
F Steadman Short, Fr. (6’9”, 215 lbs) – Hillcrest HS, Simpsonville, SC
F Corey Law, Fr. (6’5”, 210 lbs) – Deep Creek HS, Chesapeake, VA
C Rob Huntington, Fr. (6’9”, 205 lbs) – La Salle College Viveash, Perth, Australia
G Joe Stroman, Fr. (6’1”, 170 lbs) – Highlands Tech, Gastonia, NC
There are many valuable players around the Big South that will not be returning this season, but none may be as valuable as AZ Reid was for High Point. Reid, the two-time Big South Player of the Year, was a dominant scorer and rebounder throughout his career at HPU, and was often counted on to carry the team when they needed him to. To say he will be missed at High Point is an understatement. Coach Bart Lundy will have the tough task of transitioning the Panther program beyond AZ Reid, and aside from a couple of returnees, he will be doing it with a large batch of newcomers and untested players.
Leading the way this season will be shooting guard Eugene Harris. Harris has been a strong perimeter shooter and defender for the Panthers in his first two seasons. This year, he will be counted on to be the go-to guy, at least early on. In the paint, center Cruz Daniels brings experience, height, and a strong defensive presence to the team. Daniels has been a bit rough around the edges on the offensive end, but has shown improvement in his career, so there is a chance that he may break through as a threat on that end of the court as well. The other key returnee for the Panthers is David Campbell on the wing. Campbell came out of nowhere last season as a valuable part of the team as a walk-on. His role on this season’s team will likely be determined by how quickly the newcomers can come in and contribute, but he will definitely get quality minutes for the Panthers, especially early in the season. Earnest Bridges, Melvin Crowder, Ibrahim Appiah, and Alquan Mendenhall also return to the team, though none were big contributors last season (in fact, Mendenhall redshirted). Bridges was able to get some minutes last year due to the lack of depth that HPU had in the paint, and that experience should help him coming into this year. Crowder brings experience to the squad, and Appiah is a tall guard that can cause some matchup problems. Mendenhall could possibly see time at either guard position.
The success of High Point this season will likely be determined by how well the newcomers can learn the college game and blend in with Harris and Daniels on the court. Power forward Jourdan Morris has an advantage on the rest of the newcomers as he transferred in from St. Bonaventure and spent last season practicing with the team. Morris should help minimize the loss of Reid around the basket, as his game has some similarities to that of the departed star. However, he suffered a leg injury before the season, and likely will not be able to contribute much until December. A deep and athletic freshmen class is highlighted by point guards David Singleton and Jacob Iati, shooting guard Nick Barbour, and forwards Corey Law and Steadman Short. The battle for the starting point guard spot will likely come down to Singleton and Iati (though Harris is capable of playing some minutes at that spot as well). Singleton is more of the prototypical pass-first point guard, while Iati is more of a shooter/scorer. Barbour put up very impressive scoring numbers in high school, and will likely see a lot of playing time behind (and alongside) Harris in the backcourt. Law and Short are known for their athleticism and will be counted on to fill in while Morris is out of the lineup, along with adding depth to the forward position when Morris returns. Center Rob Huntington is also a part of freshman class, and his size should allow him to contribute, adding some depth to the post behind Daniels.
The key for the Panthers will be how quickly Lundy can convert the athleticism and inexperience on his roster into a more finished product. Also, how well Jourdan Morris returns from his injury will also play a large role in the amount of success that HPU has this season. In recent years, the Panthers have had quick starts, but have faded down the stretch. This year, the opposite may be true, as the young players get more experience, HPU should be a much better team in February than they are in November. However, I think that the Panthers will struggle with consistency, which will keep them from finishing in the upper part of the Big South standings this season.
My Prediction:
14-15 overall, 8-10 in the Big South; Seventh place finish; Will lose in the semifinals of the Big South tournament
- By LU Armchair coach