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July 20th,
2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
High Point
Panthers
Overall Rank:
#112
Conference
Rank: #2 Big South
2005-06:
16-13, 8-8, 5th
2005-06
postseason: none
 Coach Bart Lundy
has a decent foundation at
High Point with Landon Quick, Mike
Jefferson, Troy Bowen, Justin Dunn and AZ Reid. Unfortunately,
nobody in that group is over 6-5. If that was the Panthers
starting lineup, Reid would have to play the five, and he should
be at the three. We’ll compromise and put him at the four
again.
Who’s Out:
The frontcourt problems stem from the departure of Issa Konare.
Konare averaged 9.6 points, 5.2 boards and 2.4 blocks as a
senior last year. His presence under the basket won’t easily be
replaced. Backcourt leader Akeem Scott is also gone after
averaging 14.1 points during his senior campaign. Seldom used
big man Terrance Stokes is not returning to the program.
Who’s In:
Some
frontcourt depth is going to have to come from this list of
newcomers. It is hoped that redshirt freshman Cruz Daniels is
ready to see some minutes. Daniels, at 6-11, 215 pounds,
definitely has the size that the Panthers need in the paint.
Forward Matt Boswell, who also redshirted last year, will be
thrown into the mix. Joey Taylor has the potential to become a
fine player. The 6-8 forward averaged nearly a double-double at
Leeds High School in Alabama as a senior. Taylor should get an
opportunity to make an impact right away at HPU. A pair of
combo guards in Eugene Harris and Tim Burns round out the group
of newcomers. Harris, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native,
averaged 10 points per game at St. Thomas More Prep School in
Connecticut this past season. Burns is a scoring machine. The
little 6-0, 165 pound guard out of Franklinville, New Jersey
averaged 30.5 points per game during his senior season at St.
Joseph’s Hammonton High School, for a grand total of 2,643
during his prep career. I haven’t scored that much playing by
myself in the driveway.
Who to Watch:
Reid
is the real deal. As a sophomore last year, the 6-5 forward led
the team with 18.3 points and 8.9 rebounds. He will need some
help from his fellow forwards though. Justin Dunn, who started
12 games as a freshman last year, is one option. However, at
6-3, Dunn has the dubious honor of being one of the shortest
players listed as a forward in Division I basketball. He is a
solid player who could be starting this year, but he won’t be
the answer to the Panthers problems in the paint. Jerald Minnis,
on the other hand, is a bigger body at 6-7 and 235 pounds. With
seven starts under his belt, Minnis should get the first look at
the five spot until the newcomers start to impress.
Final
Projection:
There are
countless examples of a team being successful in a conference
like the Big South without having much height. And, despite all
the fuss, High Point should be one of those teams. True centers
are not necessary as long as the team hustles and gets on the
glass, and Reid will do plenty of that on his own. HPU has two
solid ballhandlers in Quick and Jefferson and a breakout star
waiting on the wing in Bowen. Five players return who started
at least a dozen games last year. That’s not bad for a team
that went 16-13. Expect a few more wins this year.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
none
Projected
Starting Five:
Landon Quick,
Senior, Guard, 5.2 points per game
Mike Jefferson,
Senior, Guard, 8.1 points per game
Troy Bowen,
Sophomore, Guard, 4.6 points per game
AZ Reid, Junior,
Forward, 18.3 points per game
Jerald Minnis,
Junior, Forward, 3.1 points per game
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