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A Gym Rat's Notebook: A Look Ahead at the ACC, Part 1
by Elijah Kyle, 6/7/05
Click here for Part 2
With the ACC adding Boston College next year, thus going to twelve teams for
the 2005-06 men's basketball season, it might be an opportune time to look at
the conference and how it shapes up next year after the graduations, additions,
defections and early NBA draft entries.
With the conference capping the first post-expansion season of play with a
National Champion crowned just down the road from Durham in Chapel Hill, the
early look on a Tar Heel repeat is problematic at best. The Heels suffered
significant losses to the NBA with the early entry filings of several players,
and assuming everyone moves on to the dollars that the NBA offers, North
Carolina will have to replace a large portion of the team that was so successful
with another group of very talented players, albeit much less experienced.
That will start a wild fray to see who emerges as the top dog next year, and
we will look at the personnel of each program over the next two columns,
starting this week with a look at the non-Tobacco road and Virginia teams:
new-entrant Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland and
Miami.
BOSTON COLLEGE (13-3, 25-5) Tie for 1st in Big East
Losses:
C Nate Doornekamp (5.3 pts,4.8 reb)
G Jermaine Watson (9.6 pts,3.3 reb)
Returnees:
6-0 Jr G Steve Hailey (3.4 pts, 1.9 reb)
6-4 Sr G Louis Hinnant (5.3 pts, 2.3 reb)
6-5 Jr G Sean Marshall (11.1 pts, 2.7 reb)
6-6 So F Gordan Watt (1.3 pts, 0.8 reb)
6-7 Jr F Jared Dudley (16.5 pts, 7.5 reb)
6-7 So F Akida McClain (3.9 pts, 2.6 reb)
6-7 Sr F Craig Smith (18 pts, 8.5 reb)
6-10 So C John Oates (0.8 pts, 1.2 reb)
6-10 So F/C Sean Williams (4.1 pts, 3.5 reb)
Recruits:
Tyrese Rice ( #127 PrepStars) 5-11 PG/WG,
Chesterfield (VA) L.C. Bird
Marquez Haynes ( #155 PrepStars) 6-2 PG/WG, Irving
(TX)
Evan Niesler ( #243 PrepStars) 6-8 PF, Raleigh
(NC) Word of God
Tyrelle Blair (Loyola (Chi) transfer) 6-11 C,
eligible in 2006-07 (5.9 pts,5.4 reb)
The Eagles were one of the surprise teams in the nation last season and
return the bulk of the team that compiled 25 wins. Sophomore frontcourt players
Sean Williams and Akida McClain have some off-court issues hanging over them,
which make their likelihood of returning less than certain. Al Skinner has shown
a propensity to unearth sleepers on the recruiting trail, and both Niesler and
Marquez Haynes come in without a lot of national notoriety.
CLEMSON (5-11, 16-16) 9th
Losses:
C Sharrod Ford (14.9 pts, 8.2 reb)
F Olu Babalola (8.8 pts, 3.7 reb)
G Jimmy Hudson (announced transfer plans, 1.0 pt,
0.4 reb)
Returnees:
6-0 Jr PG Vern Hamilton (6.8 pts, 2.6 reb)
6-0 r-Fr PG Troy Mathis
6-3 So G Cliff Hammonds (10.6 pts, 3.6 reb)
6-2 Sr G Shawan Robinson (10.8 pts, 2.9 reb)
6-5 So F Sam Perry (4.0 pts, 2.8 reb)
6-6 So F Cheyenne Moore (6.6 pts, 2.5 reb)
6-9 Sr F/C Akin Akingbala (5.8 pts, 4.1 reb)
6-9 So F James Mays (4.3 pts, 3.4 reb)
6-10 Sr C Steve Allen (1.0 pts, 1.1 reb)
Recruits:
K.C. Rivers (# 70 PrepStars) 6-4 G, Mouth of
Wilson (VA) Oak Hill Academy
Julius Powell (# 113 PrepStars) 6-8 PF, Newton
(NC) Newton-Conover
Raymond Sykes ( # 239 PrepStars) 6-8 PF,
Jacksonville (FL) Jackson
The Tigers suffered a huge hit with the departure of leading scorer Sharrod
Ford, but the return of 4 sophomores, all of whom garnered significant time,
will ease the transition for head coach Oliver Purnell. Powell and Rivers, if
healthy, will have an opportunity to push for early playing time, while Sykes is
a run/jump athlete, a good fit in the system that Purnell likes to utilize.
FLORIDA STATE (4-12, 12-19) Tie for 10th
Losses:
So G Von Wafer (12.5 pts)-NBA early entry
F Anthony Richardson (6.4 pts, 3.5 reb)
F Adam Waleskowski (8.4 pts,4.4 reb)
Returnees:
5-11 Sr PG Todd Galloway (6.1 pts, 2 reb)
6-1 So G Isaiah Swann (5.2 pts, 1.9 reb)
6-2 So G Ralph Mims (2.8 pts, 1.2 reb)
6-3 So G Jason Rich (5.4 pts, 2 reb)
6-6 Sr F Antonio Griffin (3.1 pts, 0.8 reb)
6-6 Sr F Andrew Wilson (3.5 pts, 2.3 reb)
6-7 Jr F Al Thornton (9.1 pts, 4.4 reb)
6-10 Sr F Diego Romero (3.8 pts, 2.5 reb)
6-10 Jr F/C Alexander Johnson (6.8 pts, 4.3 reb)
Recruits:
Uche Echefu ( #46 PrepStars) 6-7 PF, Rockville (MD)
Montrose Christian
Casaan Breeden ( #114 PrepStars) 6-7 SF,
Bennettsville (SC) Marlboro County
Ryan Reid ( #156 PrepStars) 6-8 PF, Ft. Lauderdale
(FL) Anderson
Jerel Allen ( JC All-American) 6-4 G, Flint (MI)
Mott CC
The ‘Noles struggled last year in the conference and lost their only double
figure scorer when volatile 6-5 sophomore Von Wafer entered his name in the NBA
draft. Leonard Hamilton grabbed two important spring additions when he signed
6-8 PF Uche Echefu, along with 6-4 junior college guard Jerel Allen. Talent
doesn’t appear to be the issue in Tallahassee, but rather finding the correct
mixture of personalities.
GEORGIA TECH (8-8, 20-12) Tie for 4th
Losses:
Jr PG Jarrett Jack (15.5 pts,4.8 reb,4.6 asst)-NBA
early entry
G Will Bynum (12.5 pts)
G B.J. Elder (12.6 pts)
C Luke Schenscher (10.1,7.3 reb)
F Isma’il Muhammad (8.4 pts, 5.0 reb)
F Anthony McHenry (3.8 pts, 3.3 reb)
6-1 Fr G Zam Fredrick (announced transfer plans)
Returnees:
6-9 So C Ra’Sean Dickey (5.1 pts, 3.2 reb)
6-4 Jr G Mario West (2.0 pts, 2.6 reb)
6-6 So G/F Anthony Morrow (5.7 pts, 1.9 reb)
6-7 So F Jeremis Smith (2.9 pts, 4.4 reb)
6-9 Sr F/C Theodis Tarver (1.2 pts, 1.7 reb)
Recruits:
Lewis Clinch ( #41 PrepStars) 6-3 G, Cordele (GA)
Crisp County
Alade Aminu ( #57 PrepStars) 6-9 C/F, Stone
Mountain (GA) Stephenson
D’Andre Bell ( #104 PrepStars) 6-5 F/G, Pacific
Palisades (CA) Palisades
Austin Jackson ( #116 PrepStars) 6-1 PG/WG Denton
(TX) Ryan
The Yellow Jackets suffered massive losses in their program and will have
only 5 returning scholarship players, as things now stand. The five leading
scorers from last year left the program, four of those being the only double
figure scorers on the team during the 2004-05 season. The recruiting class
coming in however is excellent and they will have to be ready to play early. The
‘Jackets are still scouring for additional spring additions and will probably
continue that until late summer.
MARYLAND (7-9,19-13) Tie for 6th
Losses:
F Mike Grinnen (0.7 pts,1.1 reb),
Jr PG John Gilchrist (13.9 pts,5.1 reb,5.4 asts)-NBA
early entry
Returnees:
6-4 So G Sterling Ledbetter (3.4 pts, 2.2 reb)
6-5 Sr G Chris McCray (14.1 pts, 4.3 reb)
6-5 Jr G Mike Jones (7.2 pts, 2.6 reb)
6-5 Jr G/F D.J. Strawberry (7.1 pts, 1.6 reb)
6-8 Sr F Nik Canner-Medley (16.0 pts, 6.2 reb)
6-8 Sr F Travis Garrison (10.1 pts, 6.5 reb)
6-8 So F James Gist (6.2 pts, 3.9 reb)
6-9 Jr F Ekene Ibekwe (8.4 pts, 6.3 reb)
6-11Jr C Wil Bowers (2.8 pts, 2.6 reb)
Recruits:
Shane Clark ( #91 PrepStars) 6-7 SF, Chatham (VA)
Hargrave Military
Dave Neal ( #182 PrepStars) 6-6 PF, Arlington (VA)
Bishop O’Connell
Parrish Brown 6-1 PG/WG, Chicago (IL) Kennedy King
CC (Juco)
The Terrapins might lose point guard John Gilchrist, who had some run-ins
with head coach Gary Williams this past season. Brown is a junior college guard
capable of playing both backcourt positions and will add much-needed depth with
the expected Gilchrist departure. A healthy D.J. Strawberry will be a most
welcome development and incoming freshman Shane Clark will push for playing
time.
MIAMI (7-9,16-13) Tie for 6th
Losses:
F Will Frisby (8.7 pts,6.4 reb)
G Brandon Okpalobi (0.5 pts,0.8 reb)
G Antoine Mayhand (0.8 pts, 0.5 reb) transferring
Returnees:
6-2 Jr G Anthony Harris (12.4 pts, 2.5 reb)
6-2 Sr G Robert Hite (17.3 pts, 5.0 reb)
6-2 Jr G Guillermo Diaz (18.6 pts, 4.3 reb)
6-4 Sr G/F Eric Wilkins (1.5 pts, 1.1 reb)
6-7 So F Raymond Hicks (1.7 pts, 1.1 reb)
6-9 Jr F/C Anthony King (6.3 pts, 8.0 reb)
6-9 Sr C Gary Hamilton (4.1 pts, 6.3 reb)
6-11 Sr C Glenn Batemon (0.5 pts, 0.8 reb)
Recruits:
Adrian Thomas ( #68 PrepStars) 6-7 PF/SF, Pembroke
Pines (FL) Flanagan
Denis Clemente ( #72 PrepStars) 6-0 WG/PG, Miami
(FL) Calusa
Brian Asbury ( #80 PrepStars) 6-6 SF/WG, Miami
(FL) South
Jimmy Graham ( #136 PrepStars) 6-8 PF, Goldsboro
(NC) Charis Prep
Frank Haith’s Hurricane program loses only underrated frontcourt player
Will Frisby, while bringing in significant offensive firepower. Clemente is a
fine scorer capable of playing both backcourt positions. Asbury and Thomas are
both versatile players with the ability to make some early noise. Graham
originally re-classified as a junior, then decided to graduate with the 2005
class, thus giving Haith a strong, athletic frontcourt player who can do many of
the same things that Frisby provided.
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