By
Joel Welser
The Aggies of
Utah State lose a lot of
talent, but there is plenty returning and oodles more heading in
to Logan. The returning players, led by Jaycee Carroll, Nate
Harris and David Pak will have to hold the team together while
the newcomers adapt to D1 hoops. Plus the returnees will have to
adjust to life outside of the Big West.
Who’s Out:
Spencer Nelson was the statistical leader in points, rebounds,
assists, steals, free throw percentage and free throw attempts
last year for the Aggies. Forwards Jason Williams and John Neil
combined for 27 starts, averaging 5.1 and 3.8 points,
respectively. The bench losses a little more depth with the
graduations of Calvin Brown, Tyler Williams and Ian McVey.
Who’s In:
Mike Daniels and Everett Morgan will battle for minutes running
the point with returnees David Pak and Chris Huber. Daniels is a
solid point guard, but his lack scoring ability might end up
moving him down the depth chart. Morgan averaged nearly nine
points and six assists last year at Los Angeles City College. A
trio of incoming junior college transfers will fight for the
starting small forward spot, unless of course Coach Stew Morrill
opts to start two of the four point guards and move returning
starter Jaycee Carroll to the three. But Nick Hammer, Durrall
Peterson and Chris Sessions will get a chance at that job first.
Hammer may need some time to adjust after serving a two year LDS
Mission, Peterson is a solid scorer averaging 14.9 points per
game last year at Hutchinson (KS) Community College, but
Session’s defense may earn him the inside track for the race to
replace Jason Williams and John Neil. Under the basket Chaz
Spicer, Steven Cobbley, Arvydas Vaitekus and Nate Bendall will
battle for playing time. The cream of the crop is Spicer. The
6-7, 215 pound Indianapolis native averaged 21.4 points and 7.5
rebounds en route to being named to the NJCAA First-Team
All-American squad at Kankake (IL) Community College. Spicer is
expected to split minutes up front with returning starters Nate
Harris and Cass Matheus. Vaitekus and Bendall, also junior
college transfers, have the ability to see some minutes when
fatigue, injuries and foul trouble strike the frontcourt.
Bendall, the lone incoming freshman, is a year or two away from
seeing significant playing time.
Who to Watch:
Jaycee Carroll didn’t waste any time becoming
a big force in the Big West. As a freshman last year he averaged
14.7 points and proved to be an extremely dangerous threat from
long range. As a sophomore the 6-2 guard will have to step up
his game in the stiffer competition in the WAC.
Projected Conference Rank:
The point guard spot is loaded, Jaycee
Carroll will only get better, a whole group of talented
newcomers have a shot at the small forward gig and the
frontcourt returns starters Nate Harris and Cass Matheus and
brings in Chaz Spicer who will see just as many minutes as the
returning starters under the basket. Yet there are concerns. Can
the Aggies compete day in and day out in a tougher conference?
Can Spencer Nelson’s versatility and stats be replaced? Will the
new guys fit in and develop quickly? If the answer is yes to all
three of these questions, WAC opponents will learn to dread
going to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum and Utah State will be
thinking NCAA by February. If there are struggles, an NIT bid is
a more likely conclusion to the Aggies first season in the WAC.
Projected Post-season Tournament:
NIT
Projected Starting Five:
David Pak, Senior, Guard, 6.1 points per game
Jaycee Carroll, Sophomore, Guard, 14.7 points per game
Chris Session, Junior, Forward, DNP last season
Nate Harris, Senior, Forward, 13.0 points per game
Cass Matheus, Senior, Center, 6.2 points per game
