WEF'S 09-10 BIG SOUTH BASKETBALL PREVIEW - PT 8: HPU
Posted: November 10th, 2009, 9:20 pm
High Point Panthers
(Last Season: 9-21 overall; 4-14 in Big South, T-9th, lost in first round of Big South Tournament)
Head Coach: Scott Cherry
Returning Players (with stats from 08-09 season):
G Nick Barbour, so. (6-3, 175) – 14.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.0 spg, 38.9 FG%, 34.8 3PT% (65 made threes), 74.0 FT% - 27.7 min/game
G Eugene Harris, sr. (6-2, 180) – 12.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.5 spg, 35.2 FG%, 30.0 3PT% (64 made threes), 74.4 FT% - 32.5 min/game
C Cruz Daniels, sr. (6-11, 220) – 7.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.8 bpg, 63.2 FG%, 0 made threes, 64.9 FT% - 26.2 min/game
F Jourdan Morris, jr. (6-7, 230) – 6.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 46.4 FG%, 50.0 3PT% (3 made threes), 84.6 FT% - 18.2 min/game
G David Singleton, so. (6-3, 190) – 5.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.8 spg, 38.3 FG%, 17.6 3PT% (3 made threes), 54.8 FT% - 27.1 min/game
F Earnest Bridges, jr. (6-6, 225) – 4.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 51.9 FG%, 0 made threes, 40.5 FT% - 11.5 min/game
G David Campbell, jr. (6-4, 205) – 3.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 37.4 FG%, 27.0 3PT% (10 made threes), 70.0 FT% - 18.7 min/game
Players that are Gone:
F Steadman Short (6-9, 215) – 6.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 49.7 FG%, 0 made threes, 50.7 FT% - 24.9 min/game
G Melvin Crowder (6-4, 215) – 3.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 38.3 FG%, 37.0 3PT% (10 made threes), 73.3 FT% - 10.4 min/game
G Jacob Iati (5-11, 165) – 1.8 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 28.6 FG%, 28.6 3PT% (12 made threes), 33.3 FT% - 11.0 min/game
F Rob Huntington (6-9, 205) – 1.2 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 81.8 FG%, 0 made threes, 50.0 FT% - 4.7 min/game
G Ibrahim Appiah (6-5, 195) – 1.0 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 38.9 FG%, 100 3PT% (1 made three), 66.7 FT% - 5.8 min/game
G Alquan Mendenhall (5-11, 185) – 4.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 34.7 FG%, 27.8 3PT% (10 made threes), 50.0 FT% - 10.5 min/game – Played in 11 games
G Sam Vickery (6-1, 180) – 0.4 ppg, 0.0 rpg, 100 FG%, 0 made threes, 0 made FTs – 1.4 min/game – Played in 5 games
Newcomers:
G Tehran Cox, jr. (6-1, 170) – JuCo transfer
F Corey Law, fr. (6-6, 210) – Redshirted in 08-09
G Jairus Simms, fr. (6-1, 175)
G Joe Stroman, fr. (6-1, 175) – Redshirted in 08-09
G Adam Hall, so. (6-2, 185)
About the Panthers:
The post AZ Reid-era at High Point started off with a huge thud as the Panthers really struggled to find a rhythm without Reid on the floor. HPU fell all the way to a tie for last place, and that fall ended up costing Bart Lundy his job. So now Scott Cherry is at the helm for the program, and he is hoping to bring a faster paced offense and a more aggressive defense to the Piedmont Triad area. As is always the case when a school changes coaches, the results the next season can be hard to predict, but the Panthers could have the pieces to improve rather quickly with the new coach on board.
The key to the improvement on the floor will start with sophomore wing Nick Barbour. Barbour was one of the league’s best freshmen last season, especially down the stretch. He has good range and athleticism that allows him to score even when his outside shot is not falling. If he can improve his shot selection, he could be a contender for Player of the Year when the season is done. He will be joined on the perimeter by senior Eugene Harris. Early in his career at High Point, Harris was one of the most accurate outside shooters in the Big South, along with being a lockdown defender on opposing guards. He really struggled finding his range last season, but he could thrive under the more up-tempo style that Cherry will run. Sophomore David Singleton occupies the point guard spot, and while he is not a great shooter, he did show the ability to get to the basket at times, and was a very strong distributor of the ball. However, Singleton will likely be pushed at the point guard spot by JuCo transfer Tehran Cox, who has the potential to be a big impact newcomer for the Panthers. Another newcomer that will likely see the floor when Barbour or Harris exits the game will be freshman Jairus Simms. Junior David Campbell has seen a decent amount of playing time (despite being a former walk-on) in his career, and he adds depth at the shooting guard/small forward spot, though his playing time may be a bit more limited this season if the newcomers are able to step in right away. As a unit, the High Point guards will carry much of the offensive load, but they have the weapons to potentially handle that responsibility.
Up front, High Point does not have much depth, especially due to Steadman Short transferring to Georgia over the summer, so this is definitely the area of concern going into the season. Luckily for the Panthers, senior center Cruz Daniels brings great height and shot-blocking ability to the paint, which hides some of the size and depth deficiencies that the team has. Daniels is a strong defensive presence and solid rebounder, and if he is able to become a double-digit scorer, it could really help add the offensive balance that the team lacked last season. Joining Daniels in the frontcourt are juniors Jourdan Morris, Earnest Bridges, and redshirt-freshman Corey Law. Morris played last season for High Point after transferring from St. Bonaventure, but had an injury in the preseason that never allowed him to play at full strength. The Panthers are hoping that he can become a threat to score and rebound to ease some pressure off of Daniels. Bridges had a quiet sophomore season, despite having the chance to capitalize on Reid no longer being with the program. He will have to show some improvement in order to get a large amount of playing time. Law is the final frontcourt piece for High Point, and he has the most upside of any of the forwards. Law’s presence on the roster could soften the blow of Short’s transfer, since he also brings a high level of athleticism to the court, though he is three inches shorter than Short. Unfortunately for the Panthers, any foul trouble or injury to the post players will be damaging due to the lack of bodies inside.
What fun is it to predict the league standings without having one big surprise? I do not think that High Point is ready to win the title, but I do see them improving quite a bit from last season and finishing in the upper half. The Panthers played solid defense last season, and I feel like the coaching change and new style of offense will be a good match with the players that are returning. Harris will likely improve after a down year, Barbour has a chance to contend for Player of the Year, and Daniels’ size and athleticism down low allows HPU to neutralize a lot of the size disadvantages they run into against bigger frontcourts. The lack of depth up front is a concern and will likely keep the Panthers from being ready to cut down nets in March, but do not be surprised when High Point is hosting a first round conference tournament game.
My Prediction:
19-10 overall, 12-6 in conference – 3rd place finish – lose in first round of Big South Tournament
(Last Season: 9-21 overall; 4-14 in Big South, T-9th, lost in first round of Big South Tournament)
Head Coach: Scott Cherry
Returning Players (with stats from 08-09 season):
G Nick Barbour, so. (6-3, 175) – 14.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.0 spg, 38.9 FG%, 34.8 3PT% (65 made threes), 74.0 FT% - 27.7 min/game
G Eugene Harris, sr. (6-2, 180) – 12.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.5 spg, 35.2 FG%, 30.0 3PT% (64 made threes), 74.4 FT% - 32.5 min/game
C Cruz Daniels, sr. (6-11, 220) – 7.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.8 bpg, 63.2 FG%, 0 made threes, 64.9 FT% - 26.2 min/game
F Jourdan Morris, jr. (6-7, 230) – 6.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 46.4 FG%, 50.0 3PT% (3 made threes), 84.6 FT% - 18.2 min/game
G David Singleton, so. (6-3, 190) – 5.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.8 spg, 38.3 FG%, 17.6 3PT% (3 made threes), 54.8 FT% - 27.1 min/game
F Earnest Bridges, jr. (6-6, 225) – 4.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 51.9 FG%, 0 made threes, 40.5 FT% - 11.5 min/game
G David Campbell, jr. (6-4, 205) – 3.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 37.4 FG%, 27.0 3PT% (10 made threes), 70.0 FT% - 18.7 min/game
Players that are Gone:
F Steadman Short (6-9, 215) – 6.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 49.7 FG%, 0 made threes, 50.7 FT% - 24.9 min/game
G Melvin Crowder (6-4, 215) – 3.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 38.3 FG%, 37.0 3PT% (10 made threes), 73.3 FT% - 10.4 min/game
G Jacob Iati (5-11, 165) – 1.8 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 28.6 FG%, 28.6 3PT% (12 made threes), 33.3 FT% - 11.0 min/game
F Rob Huntington (6-9, 205) – 1.2 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 81.8 FG%, 0 made threes, 50.0 FT% - 4.7 min/game
G Ibrahim Appiah (6-5, 195) – 1.0 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 38.9 FG%, 100 3PT% (1 made three), 66.7 FT% - 5.8 min/game
G Alquan Mendenhall (5-11, 185) – 4.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 34.7 FG%, 27.8 3PT% (10 made threes), 50.0 FT% - 10.5 min/game – Played in 11 games
G Sam Vickery (6-1, 180) – 0.4 ppg, 0.0 rpg, 100 FG%, 0 made threes, 0 made FTs – 1.4 min/game – Played in 5 games
Newcomers:
G Tehran Cox, jr. (6-1, 170) – JuCo transfer
F Corey Law, fr. (6-6, 210) – Redshirted in 08-09
G Jairus Simms, fr. (6-1, 175)
G Joe Stroman, fr. (6-1, 175) – Redshirted in 08-09
G Adam Hall, so. (6-2, 185)
About the Panthers:
The post AZ Reid-era at High Point started off with a huge thud as the Panthers really struggled to find a rhythm without Reid on the floor. HPU fell all the way to a tie for last place, and that fall ended up costing Bart Lundy his job. So now Scott Cherry is at the helm for the program, and he is hoping to bring a faster paced offense and a more aggressive defense to the Piedmont Triad area. As is always the case when a school changes coaches, the results the next season can be hard to predict, but the Panthers could have the pieces to improve rather quickly with the new coach on board.
The key to the improvement on the floor will start with sophomore wing Nick Barbour. Barbour was one of the league’s best freshmen last season, especially down the stretch. He has good range and athleticism that allows him to score even when his outside shot is not falling. If he can improve his shot selection, he could be a contender for Player of the Year when the season is done. He will be joined on the perimeter by senior Eugene Harris. Early in his career at High Point, Harris was one of the most accurate outside shooters in the Big South, along with being a lockdown defender on opposing guards. He really struggled finding his range last season, but he could thrive under the more up-tempo style that Cherry will run. Sophomore David Singleton occupies the point guard spot, and while he is not a great shooter, he did show the ability to get to the basket at times, and was a very strong distributor of the ball. However, Singleton will likely be pushed at the point guard spot by JuCo transfer Tehran Cox, who has the potential to be a big impact newcomer for the Panthers. Another newcomer that will likely see the floor when Barbour or Harris exits the game will be freshman Jairus Simms. Junior David Campbell has seen a decent amount of playing time (despite being a former walk-on) in his career, and he adds depth at the shooting guard/small forward spot, though his playing time may be a bit more limited this season if the newcomers are able to step in right away. As a unit, the High Point guards will carry much of the offensive load, but they have the weapons to potentially handle that responsibility.
Up front, High Point does not have much depth, especially due to Steadman Short transferring to Georgia over the summer, so this is definitely the area of concern going into the season. Luckily for the Panthers, senior center Cruz Daniels brings great height and shot-blocking ability to the paint, which hides some of the size and depth deficiencies that the team has. Daniels is a strong defensive presence and solid rebounder, and if he is able to become a double-digit scorer, it could really help add the offensive balance that the team lacked last season. Joining Daniels in the frontcourt are juniors Jourdan Morris, Earnest Bridges, and redshirt-freshman Corey Law. Morris played last season for High Point after transferring from St. Bonaventure, but had an injury in the preseason that never allowed him to play at full strength. The Panthers are hoping that he can become a threat to score and rebound to ease some pressure off of Daniels. Bridges had a quiet sophomore season, despite having the chance to capitalize on Reid no longer being with the program. He will have to show some improvement in order to get a large amount of playing time. Law is the final frontcourt piece for High Point, and he has the most upside of any of the forwards. Law’s presence on the roster could soften the blow of Short’s transfer, since he also brings a high level of athleticism to the court, though he is three inches shorter than Short. Unfortunately for the Panthers, any foul trouble or injury to the post players will be damaging due to the lack of bodies inside.
What fun is it to predict the league standings without having one big surprise? I do not think that High Point is ready to win the title, but I do see them improving quite a bit from last season and finishing in the upper half. The Panthers played solid defense last season, and I feel like the coaching change and new style of offense will be a good match with the players that are returning. Harris will likely improve after a down year, Barbour has a chance to contend for Player of the Year, and Daniels’ size and athleticism down low allows HPU to neutralize a lot of the size disadvantages they run into against bigger frontcourts. The lack of depth up front is a concern and will likely keep the Panthers from being ready to cut down nets in March, but do not be surprised when High Point is hosting a first round conference tournament game.
My Prediction:
19-10 overall, 12-6 in conference – 3rd place finish – lose in first round of Big South Tournament
