Potential Breakout Sophomores in the Big Sky

Each year, I like to take a look at the potential breakout sophomores in the Big Sky. I think I had solid success last year, but let's take a look at this year's crop.

The fact that DeWayne Russell (Northern Arizona) and Venky Jois (Eastern Washington) aren't on this list is a compliment to them, because they have already established themselves. Jois led the conference in rebounding, and Russell was the #2 option for NAU last season. Both these guys can play at a very high level.

Joel Bolomboy (Weber State)
You might be wondering why he doesn't fall in with Russell and Jois, since he ranked fourth in the conference in rebounding last season. Simply put, I think Bolomboy has just scratched the surface of his potential, and think he will even be a lot better this season than he was last year. Last year, he has a 15.1 OR% and 24.1 DR%, making him one of the best rebounders in the country. He shot 58% from the field, and that was without a post game, just mainly on putbacks or lobs. His 7.4 Block % was in the top 100 in the country. With an expanded role this year, he could challenge the nation lead for rebounding, while doubling his scoring average. I'm not sure that's out of the question.

Andy Martin (Montana)
In a perfect world, Martin would have redshirted last year, but the Grizzlies were so thin upfront that they needed him. While he lost a year of eligiblity, he did gain a year of experience playing, and that should serve him well this year. Eric Hutchison may be the nominal starter for the Grizzlies at center, but Martin is the guy with the higher ceiling and should be the better player by the end of the year. He posted an excellent block percentage, and shot an encouraging 80% from the line (in only 24 attempts). He looked clumsy at times last year, and he needs to add some bulk, but he has a good skillset, and should be much improved as a sophomore.

Marcus Colbert (Montana State)
Colbert was one of my favorite players to watch last year, because he was a freshman PG that played like he was an upperclassmen. He needs to improve in taking care of the ball and being more efficient inside the arc, but he does a lot of things well. He shot 40% from three-point land last year, had a solid assist rate for a freshman, and was good on the defensive end. I'm not sure he'll ever be an all-conference guy, but he will be a solid player for the Bobcats for four years.

AJ Hess (Southern Utah)
I talked a bit about him earlier this week, but he is someone that SUU will be relying on heavily. He could be their #1 scoring option, which will be a big step up. The tools are there - he is 6'6'', can shoot from the outside, and gained confidence as the year went along. He posted a 103.2 ORtg last year, now it will be interesting to see if he can keep that up with more minutes and more responsibility.

Tyler Harvey (Eastern Washington)
Harvey was one of the big surprises in the Big Sky last year. He wasn't expected to contribute that much, and he didn't at the start of the season. For the year, he played just 23.4% of the team's minutes. However, the last 6-8 games of the year he played a ton (in their final four games, he played an average of a shade under 38 minutes per game), and he responded well. In fact, he was sensational down the stretch. He shot 60% from twos, 43% from threes, and had a 26.3 ARate. Can he keep that up over a full year when teams will be expecting him? If he can, he's an all-conference guy.

Just missed:
- Shane Benton (North Dakota) - He simply won't have a chance this year, with all the guys in front of him. He should figure prominently for UND next year, if only because so many in front of him will be graduating.
- Danny Robison (Montana State) - I like him. He had solid numbers in his limited minutes, but I think he needs some more polish before he gets consistent minutes.
- Jordyn Martin (Northern Arizona) - He rebounded well last year, but has a way to go offensively. With so many new faces around NAU, I'm not sure he'll get enough minutes to really breakout.
- Cody Demps (Sacramento State) - He showed glimpses last year, but not quite enough to make the list. The coaches speak very highly of him though, so this could be a miss on my part.

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Brian Katz Contract Extension

I realize I am over two months old on this news... but just noticed that Sacramento State head coach Brian Katz got a five year contract extension through 2018, extending him through 2017-18.

Since Katz took over the men's basketball program prior to the 2008-09 season, the team has improved its conference record every year, defeated two Pac-12 Conference opponents on the road (Oregon State and Utah) over a three-year span, and has set or tied numerous school records.

"We've been pleased with the progress our men's basketball program has made under Coach Katz," Wanless said. "His first five years have shown increased success, and we want to give him and his staff every opportunity to build the program we envision at Sacramento State. Coach Katz has been extremely committed to Sacramento State, and we wanted to show how committed we are to him.

Congrats to Coach Katz. There aren't many tougher jobs out there than Sacramento State, and the program is definitely in better shape now than when he got there.

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What Will Sacramento State's Frontcourt Look Like?

Last season, Sacramento State had one of the most experienced frontcourts in the conference, with senior starts Konnor Veteto, Joe Eberhard, and John Dickson. The flipside is that this year, with all of those guys gone, there is not a lot of certainty in their frontcourt heading into this season.

Like we did with Southern Utah's scoring, let's just take a rundown of some of the guys that might be involved.

- Joey Quigley - Of their returners, Quigley logged the most minutes among those vying for frontcourt roles, so that seems to put him at the top of the list. He is a versatile guy that seems to have the skillset to play inside and outside, but he struggled last season as a junior, his first year in the program. He shot just 31% on twos, and 4/16 from deep, not really dishing out assists or grabbing any offensive rebounds, making him a serious liability last year. He did grab a solid number of defensive rebounds (15.3% DR%), but he needs to improve offensively. The skills appeared to be there, so maybe he can be more comfortable as a senior.

- Jordan Salley - He was efficient when he shot, at 22/36 for the year, but didn't get a ton of time as he was very turnover prone and only an average rebounder. Those things have to improve for him to be a good starting frontcourt player. He has the athletic ability to play and be effective, but he needs to clean things up around the edges of his game.

- Ryan Okwudibonye - He missed almost all of last season because of a knee injury. His numbers from junior college suggest that he could be a frontcourt rotational player that can get some rebounds and defend, but is probably not a guy that will be counted on to play heavy minutes.

- Alex Tiffin - He sat out last season after transferring from UC Davis, and he could factor in for a starting role. Even though he didn't put up many numbers in his two seasons for the Aggies, the Hornets hope he can have a Konnor Veteto like impact in Sacramento, as Veteto improved a lot in his redshirt year after transferring.

- Eric Stuteville - He is the most intriguing guy in their frontcourt to me, a 6'10'' F that can play inside and out. Last year as a senior in high school, he averaged about 21 and 12 per game. He also averaged 3.5 blocks per game as a junior. He appears to have the most upside of anyone in the frontcourt rotation, and I think he could see big minutes early on in his career.

- Zach Mills - Mills is only 6'5'', but looks like he can play either the three or four spot for the Hornets. He is a great rebounder for his size, after grabbing over eight per game last season in junior college. He is in the mold of Joe Eberhard, a versatile player that can potentially fill in a lot of roles for Sac State.

Anyone stand out as someone that figures to get a lot of time for the Hornets?

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Where Will Southern Utah's Scoring Come From?

Last season during conference games, Southern Utah was ninth in the Big Sky in offensive efficiency, scoring 0.99 points per possession. Among the culprits - they shot a league low 42.7% on two point shot attempts, and had a 20.0 TO Rate, worst in the conference. Essentially, they could grab offensive rebounds, but arguably because they had so much experience at trying to rebound missed shots!

To make bad news worse for head coach Nick Robinson, gone are the Thunderbirds top four scorers, most notably Jackson Stevenett (17.6 PPG) and Damon Heuir (15.5 PPG).

Obviously, this is all leading up to the big question - where does Southern Utah get their scoring from? Here are a few of the most likely ones to provide the scoring punch:

- AJ Hess - The 6'6'' wing man got better as his freshman year went along, finishing with an average of 5.8 PPG, but scoring 24 points against Eastern Washington, 15 points against Montana, and 16 points against North Dakota, all within the final seven games of the year. Clearly, he got more comfortable as the year went along, and took on the role of third fiddle in the offense after Wade Collie was dismissed. He has a solid outside shot (33%), and is great from the line. The development of Hess is probably the TBirds best bet to have a true number one option this season.

- Chris Nsenki - Nsenki only averaged 2.3 PPG last season, but there weren't always a ton of minutes to be had behind Heuir. He scored eight points in 31 minutes in the Big Sky tournament loss to UND, so he could have a bigger role waiting for him. He shot 30.5% from downtown on 59 attempts last season.

- Jayson Cheesman - He is known primarily for his defense and rebounding (where he is one of the best in the conference), but he is the team's leading returning scorer, at 6.8 PPG. He wasn't efficient at all, shooting just 40%, but got buckets with his offensive rebounding ability. He needs to be more selective this season. He doesn't really have much in the way of post moves, but that is not his game.

- Juwan Major - He comes in from Las Vegas High, where he led that team with over 14 PPG. He is a lefty with a good first step and the ability to score off the dribble. With the TBirds looking for a spark, Major could provide one as a freshman, as his ceiling is arguably higher than almost everyone else on the roster.

- Trey Kennedy - He is a guy that I really like. While scoring isn't even necessarily his calling card (last year, he averaged 12.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 4.7 APG for Bishop Gorman), he has a lot of ability and versatility. He has experience playing a variety of roles (as a junior he came off the bench, as all of the starters were top 150 recruits), and has shown an ability to help his team in whatever way needed. Scoring will be needed this season, and Kennedy could provide it.

- Race Parsons - Another freshman, Parsons averaged over 27 PPG for his high school while getting some interest from Weber State and Utah State. He is a 6'4'' guard with a knack for scoring. In Utah high school basketball history, he is sixth in scoring, sixth in rebounding, and fourth in three-pointers made for his career. Not a bad pedigree.

Who else do you think will be in the mix to score for Southern Utah?

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Cole Stefan Joins North Dakota Program

Late last week, it was announced that former Wisconsin Green Bay (and former LaSalle) guard Cole Stefan had joined the North Dakota program. I first saw it made official by Tom Miller.

UND basketball announces long-rumored addition of Wisconsin-Green Bay transfer Cole Stefan
— Tom Miller (@tommillergf) October 2, 2013

Out of high school, he committed to LaSalle, and also had offers from schools like Auburn, Northern Iowa, USC, Utah State, and Nevada, a nice collection of schools. He left LaSalle after one season, citing medical reasons. He joined four others who transferred out of UWGB after last season, after an investigation in their head coach.

He didn't do a lot last season, scoring 3.4 PPG, shooting 34% from the field and 33% from downtown. He played about 14 minutes per game.

He will be seeking a waiver from the NCAA to play immediately, and could play right away if he is granted that waiver, adding to UND's backcourt depth. With the high grades he got out of high school, it's clear he could be a big help, even though he has struggled through his first two years. It's a good pickup for head coach Brian Jones.

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Jim Hayford's Quotes on EWU Players

On Eastern Washington's website, one of my favorite things is that on each player's page, there is a quote from head coach Jim Hayford. It's usually a one or two sentence blurb on the player, and can give a good indication of how the coaching staff views them or what their role might be this season. I thought it might be interesting to post those quotes here, along with a few takeaways.

F Ognjen Miljkovic (Fr) - “Ognjen joins us after two years at one of the top high school programs in California at Bishop Montgomery High School. It is the same program from where we recruited Tyler Harvey from. We feel he is the type of player that will fit very well in our system. He is a big man who can shoot the three-point shot, but he has multiple offensive skills. Ognjen had a number of options of schools he could have chosen from, and we are excited he selected Eastern Washington.”

G Tyler Harvey (So) - “Tyler Harvey was the surprise of last year’s team. Now he will come in as a redshirt sophomore with three years of experience in the program and needs to validate the end of his freshman season. Tyler can shoot the ball from outside, he can score off the drive, and he is very respected by all his teammates. He is an outstanding young man that we are building our basketball program on.”

G Daniel Hill (So) - “Daniel Hill gives us depth in the backcourt, and he is an outstanding teammate. We look for Daniel to be a point guard in our system who gives us great shots and is able to lead our team while he is on the floor.”

F Danny Powell (Fr) - “Danny Powell redshirted last year as a freshman in our system. He is extremely talented and is capable of scoring inside and outside, off the dribble, facing the basket and with his back to the basket. I think he will bring us versatility in three positions. We are looking forward to Danny having an outstanding freshman season.”

G Parker Kelly (Jr) - “Parker is a team captain and he has the most experience of all of the players in the program. Both seasons Parker has been able to shoot over 40 percent from three-point-range. He had some very strong games at the conclusion of the conference season where he was scoring over 20 points. We need Parker to rebound more this year, and as his all-around game develops, he should have an outstanding junior year.”

G Sir Washington (Fr) - “Sir is a quality young man and a dynamic player. Sir will fit in well with our other young players to give us a foundation of five-year players in our program. This year he will concentrate on academic success and building physical strength.”

F Martin Seiferth (Jr) - “Martin returns as the leading field goal percentage shooter in the Big Sky, a top shot blocker and a top rebounder. As he is able to do those things consistently, he will prove to be a top big man in the Big Sky Conference. We are looking for Martin to have a consistent season as a frontcourt player for the Eagles.”

F Thomas Reuter (So) - “Thomas gained great experience last year. He had quality playing time as a freshman, and he had some standout games. The key for Thomas this year is to develop consistency. He can shoot the ball from the outside better than he did a year ago, and he will rebound better at his position. He has acclimated to a new country and to the U.S. college game. I expect him to have a much improved sophomore season.”

F Frederick Jorg (So) - “This year we will redshirt Fredrick Jörg. Fred has outstanding potential, and is committed to being the very best he can be. By redshirting him, it adds a year between Martin and him. That will be very helpful to our program, and to Fred his junior and senior years in terms of playing opportunity.”

G Drew Brandon (Jr) - “Drew comes to Eastern as one of the top junior college point guards on the West Coast. He came from a very successful program at Sierra College with an outstanding coach. What impresses us the most is that Drew is a three-dimensional player, meaning he can shoot the ball, he can drive the ball and he can pass the ball. Drew gives us great size at the point guard position.”

F Garrett Moon (Jr) - “Garrett redshirted last year in our program. He gives us great versatility and athleticism off the bench. Garrett is a defensive stopper, and he is a very capable rebounder. Garrett is well-liked by his teammates, and is respected for the hard work he brings every day.”

F Felix Von Hofe (Fr) - “Felix is a great shooter and solid all-around player. He has competed at the highest level for his country and is the most acclaimed international recruit we have signed. He is an excellent student and will be a great addition to our campus community.”

F Venky Jois (So) - “Venky returns as the Big Sky freshman of the year, a top rebounder in the conference, and an overall average of double digit scoring as a freshman. Venky taking the next step as a player is one of the key ingredients for us to take that next step as a team. He is a man of outstanding character. He is a team captain as a sophomore. I expect him to lead us to the next level of success in our program.”

Some thoughts:
- It should jump out at you how young the Eagles are. They have no seniors on the roster and only four juniors. They should be improved from last year, but still expect some growing pains. I expect that we will see them grow a lot as the year goes on, and be seen as a top four team heading into next season, similar to Northern Colorado this year.

- When Daniel Hill arrived, I thought he would be the PG of the future for the Eagles. However, he didn't really separate himself last year when he got the chance, and I suspect Drew Brandon will be the Eagles PG. In Hayford's system, the PG always has the chance to put up big numbers, so look for Brandon to do some nice things this season.

- Last year, Frederick Jorg was raw. He is big and fairly mobile for someone his size, but he needed to improve his skills. Unfortunately, there weren't many extra minutes to go around. That makes the decision to redshirt him a good one.

- There will be some strong shot blockers in the Big Sky this year, with two of the better ones residing in Cheney. Venky Jois (66 blocks) and Martin Seiferth (68 blocks) are both solid. After averaging 12 and 9 last year as a freshman, it will be very interesting to see what Jois can do for an encore.

- With guys like Danny Powell, Felix Von Hofe, and Ognjen Miljkovic, there will be no shortage of guys that can play the three or four spots alongside Jois and Seiferth. None of these guys are household names yet, but they will all make an impact by the team they are done. Any team in the conference would be thrilled with a stable of young, athletic forwards like the Eagles have, not even counting in the fact that all are freshman (Powell with a redshirt).

- I worry about their backcourt depth. Parker Kelly is a nice player, but he might be a little too one-dimensional to be a good starter on a really good team. He is a great shooter, but might be more suited for a role off the bench. That puts a lot of pressure on Tyler Harvey, though if Harvey can continue and build on what he did at the end of last season, he will be a really good player.

Any thoughts on EWU? Where do you peg them this season?

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My Previews on ESPN Insider

As a guy that grew up in the 1990s, ESPN has been in my life for as long as I can remember. I used to watch Sportscenter before school every day, Baseball Tonight every night in the summer, and probably have single handedly kept ESPN.com in business with my pageviews. So, it was pretty neat to be able to write some short Big Sky previews which got posted on ESPN Insider on Tuesday. If you are interested, here are the links, in the order that I ranked the teams:

1. Weber State
2. North Dakota
3. Montana
4. Northern Colorado
5. Eastern Washington
6. Montana State
7. Sacramento State
8. Northern Arizona
9. Idaho State
10. Portland State
11. Southern Utah

If you don't have ESPN Insider... I'll post the articles here eventually, and I'll of course after a long preview like the last two years before the season begins.

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Big Sky's Top 50 Moments

The Big Sky Conference is celebrating their 50th anniversary, and they are celebrating by unveiling their top 50 athletes and top 50 moments.

In the first wave, one of the top 50 moments was Montana State emerging from the 7th seed to become the 1986 basketball champions. It looks like they will releasing more moments/athletes every Thursday!

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Top Departing #2: Scott Bamforth

I am counting down the top 20 players that are departing the Big Sky via graduation, transfer, or any other way.

This past season, one Big Sky head coach told me (when discussing the development ability of the Weber State staff) that when Scott Bamforth came to the Wildcats as a junior, he was mostly a three-point specialist, and by the time he left Weber State, he was a complete player, including a solid defender. I truly think he was one of the more underrated players in the country, and a guy that the Wildcats will miss.

If all Bamforth had done in his career was be a three-point specialist, he still would have been a heck of a player. He was consistently one of the best shooters in the country over his three seasons.

2011 - 48.7% 3s / 86% FTs / 65.5 TS% (17th in the country)
2012 - 40.1% 3s / 87.5% FTs / 62.1 TS% (75th in the country)
2013 - 45.6% 3s / 86.3% FTs / 67.1 TS% (9th in the country)

Interestingly enough, Bamforth seemed to play better when he was not flanked by Damian Lillard. Even though he was not a guy that was great at creating his own shot, he was a good ballhandler, and I think having the ball kept him more in the flow of the offense (when Lillard was healthy, he was the main component of their offense, for obvious reasons). He was a good and willing passer that also took good care of the ball.

By the end of his career, he was a good defender on and off the ball. He never got many steals, but played great defense within the team concept and knew where to be at all times. But, make no mistake, his biggest weapon was his shooting. He had a quick release which helped him get get looks even though everyone in the gym knew about his ability. He attempted over six threes per game, which is highly advantageous for an offense when you shoot the percentage that he did.

It was a tough call not to put Bamforth #1 on my list, and his contributions will be missed. He was one of the better shooters and offensive players in the conference, and a guy that got better and added more facets to his game as his career went on. He was fun to watch.

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Who Will Join Aaron Moore in Portland State's Frontcourt?

Last season, Aaron Moore was a revelation for Portland State, as one of the best newcomers in the Big Sky. He was an efficient offensive player and one of the best rebounders in the conference. Clearly, he is the centerpiece of what the Vikings will try to do in the frontcourt this season.

But who will join him upfront? Let's take a quick look at the other pieces that PSU in the frontcourt.

I think the most likely to start might be newcomer Tiegbe Bamba. Bamba is 6'6'', an undersized but athletic four man in the mold of many guys that Tyler Geving has had over the past few years. Last year at Midland College, he averaged over 11 points and 7 rebounds per game. He is said to play above the rim, and is a high energy guy. While not an overly skilled offensive player, I think he has a chance to make a big impact.

Another newcomer is Kyle Richardson, a transfer from Long Beach State. While he put underwhelming numbers last season, he did start five games for a good team last year. He is eligible to play right away after completing his degree at LBSU. He should provide nice depth for the Vikings, and it wouldn't be a shock to see him start with his experience.

Lamont Prosser will be a senior this year, but had a disappointing first season with PSU. He is 6'8'' and 275 pounds, with bulk that not a lot of guys in the conference have. He needs to get into better shape, and he could have a chance to start. Even though he didn't always show it last year, he has some good offensive skills and has the talent to be a good contributor.

The other returnee is Brandon Cataldo, who is a junior in his fourth year in the program (He broke his leg in his senior year of high school which caused him to redshirt his first year). He is starting to get back full movement and dexterity, and should get better. He is a skilled player with a solid post game and good passing skills, but he also struggles with some conditioning. He has the potential to be a solid starter, but I'm not sure if he will ever get there consistently or not.

The other possible contributor is freshman Kyle Benton, who should contribute right away. He has inside/outside versatility, and can step out and hit the three ball. He put up big numbers in high school (over 12 rebounds per game), and should be a very good player in time. He might not start this year, but he could be their next frontcourt star.

Any thoughts on the Vikings frontcourt?

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A Good Montana Preview

GoGriz.com has posted an excellent and thorough preview of the Montana Grizzlies this season, and it is well worth a read. It can be found here. A few of the nuggets:

- Mario Dunn should see minutes right away, and Montana coaches except that within four or five games, he will be ready to contribute consistently. I wouldn't be too shocked if he pushes Keron DeShields for the starting spot. We should also see some Kareem Jamar at the one, showcasing his great versatility.

- It sounds as if fellow freshman Brandon Gfeller will redshirt this year, just from the quotes from Wayne Tinkle. Tinkle did call him, "As good a shooter as I've seen."

- The other freshman is Australian Jack Lopez. In a perfect world, I think he would redshirt. However, it sounds like will play and be a backup at the two and three spots. He is a solid shooter, but doesn't seem ready to contribute in more than a bit role.

- Junior college forward Chris Kemp will be counted on right away. At 6'6'', 240 pounds, and a big body who will get rebounds and make opponents work in the post. I have a feeling he will begin the year at the four spot. Jake Wiley could also be in the mix, but it looks like Kemp's job to lose.

- Riley Bradshaw, transfer from Utah State, will be eligible to play around Christmas. He could give them a big boost in conference play with his offensive ability.

- It sounds as if Mike Weisner will play a little more at the three than we have seen the past couple of seasons. Though his shooting can provide matchup problems at the four and five spots, his body type is probably better suited for the three if he can add some quickness.

- Eric Hutchison should begin the year starting at center, but I expect we will see something of a time split with him and Andy Martin. Martin had some nice moments as a freshman, but is still probably a little too limited to play more than 15 minutes a game consistently. We will also likely see Kemp at the 5 spot when they want to go a little quicker.

Any other thoughts on the Griz?

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Big Sky Prospectus Is Released

Each year, the release of the Big Sky Prospectus is a sign that the start of the season is getting closer. The Conference has released their Prospectus for this season, featuring rosters, schedules, stats, and a look back at last season. It can be found here.

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Spencer Mathis Commits to Northern Colorado

Last week, Northern Colorado got a commitment from forward Spencer Mathis from the class of 2014. Mathis is listed anywhere from 6'5'' to 6'7'', but is a SF that hails from Las Vegas. Mathis picked UNC over Santa Clara, Cal State Fullerton, Idaho State, and Southern Utah, per Nevada Preps.

“UNC recruited me the hardest through this process, and the coaching staff is unbelieveable,” Mathis said. “They told me I will get better, and I honestly believe them. I believe I will grow as an individual and get better as a player just by the coaching staff.”

Last season, Mathis averaged 15.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 1.9 APG. Here is the ESPN scouting report on him:

Strengths:
Mathis caught our eye with an ideal frame that should fill out nicely for the next level. He has long arms and overall good length. The most impressive aspect of his game is his evolving skill set. He exhibited a high basketball IQ with his passing and his jump shot looked smooth. He gets nice lift on his shot and his range is solid.

Weaknesses:
Mathis is a solid athlete but not elite. He needs to continue to improve his ball handling against pressure, especially going left. In addition, he needs to get stronger while defending physical wing-types.

Bottom Line:
Mathis is a solid looking prospect for the next level. It will be interesting to see how his frame and overall game develop during the regular season as he tries to shed the sleeper tag.

The Bears will lose a lot of experience after this season, making their 2014 recruiting class a very important one. I'm not sure that Mathis has the ability to step in and be an impact player from day one, but certainly he is a guy that looks like he will develop and being a solid rotational player as he gets experience. He is a nice addition for the Bears, especially with his shooting ability.

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Tyler Rawson Commits to Southern Utah

Southern Utah got a commitment last week from 6'8'' forward Tyler Rawson, the first recruit for their 2014 class. Rawson's stats as a junor do not jump off the page - he averaged 9.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 3.2 APG - but his scouting reports say good things about him.

ESPN ranks him as a 3 star recruit, and there are not a lot of guys rated that highly that come to the Big Sky. Here is their scouting report on him:

Strengths:
Rawson has a decent frame with good length and he is fairly bouncy as well. He has excellent timing (quick off the floor) around the basket and a nice overall feel for the game. He has good feet, nice pivot moves, and excellent fundamentals. He understands how to seal opponents and he knows how to run the pick-and-roll or the pick-and-pop. He has soft hands and a nice shooting touch out to the elbow to boot.

Weaknesses:
Rawson needs to continue to add strength. He has solid length, but he does have narrow shoulders. He needs to continue to add strength to finish through contact and while rebounding in the paint.

Bottom Line:
Rawson is a good looking 4-man for the next level. He has the skills, basketball IQ, and savvy, to be an excellent prospect for the mid-to-high major level.

His athleticism is evident when looking at his football stats. As of this post, he was sixth in the country with almost 17 tackles per game, playing the linebacker position. Now that is impressive!

By himself, Rawson is not a program-changing recruit. But he looks to have the ability to be an above average starter, and maybe even an all-conference type of player by the end of his career. He has skills and athletic ability to be an impact player, and his recruitment is a good sign for Nick Robinson in year two of his tenure. The Thunderbirds may struggle this season, but the arrow is pointing up.

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Idaho State Gets Commitment From Geno Luzcando

Last week, Idaho State got a commitment from guard Geno Luzcando from Utah. I saw it first reported by Michael Clay of RM Hoop Review:

6'2 PG Geno luzcando/Wasatch Academy verbals 2 Idaho St. today.Great defender & very athletic. Utah PnR product chose ISU over Utah & others
— Michael Clay (@RMHoopReview) September 16, 2013

Last season, he averaged 12.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.1 APG, and an astounding 4.9 steals per game. From that same link, here was a scouting report from an opposing coach:

“Geno is one of the most athletic players I have seen this year. The first time I watched him play was against West Lake; he stole the pass at the wing and took it the length of the court and slammed it hard. I just looked at my coaching staff and said, "How do you want to guard this guy" He is another versatile weapon on the Wasatch Academy roster.”

As an already excellent defensive player, he should excel playing under ISU coach Bill Evans. Evans is a great teacher of defense. With a big recruiting class coming in this season, Luzcando is another nice piece to the puzzle as the Bengals rebuild. Luzcando should be a big contributor who will fit in nicely under Evans.

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Ghassan Nehme Commits to Montana State

Montana State got a commitment from a guard from the class of 2014 last week, as 6'3'' Ghassan Nehme from Colorado Springs announced via twitter that he will be playing his college ball in Bozeman.

Nehne posted big numbers as a junior, per Gidal Kaiser:

Nehme’s Cheyenne Mountain Indians went 19-7 in 2012-13 and lost to Lewis Palmer in the Class 4A quarterfinals. He averaged 18.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.4 steals. Nehme also shot 35 percent from 3-point range (44 of 124) and 79 percent from the free-throw line (88 for 111).

He had offers from teams like Idaho State, Northern Colorado, and Wyoming, while Colorado and Boise State also showed interest. His father attended UNC, but that was not enough to make him a Bear.

He has a pure stroke, and showcased solid athleticism and passing ability (as his highlight video can attest). He's a complete player that looks like he could step in and play right away for the Bobcats. It is a big-time commitment for MSU. It makes them a bit guard-heavy starting next year, but the biggest thing is talent, and Nehme is talented. He looks like a steal for the Bobcats.



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Can Jordan Gregory Become a Star?

Last year, one of the overarching storylines for Montana was the health of Will Cherry. He missed the start of the season with a foot injury, and missed time later in the year as well. Still, the Grizzlies went 19-1 and won the Big Sky. One of the biggest reasons was the emergence of Jordan Gregory, who filled in admirably when Cherry was out, and really had a solid sophomore season. If the Grizzlies are going to contend again this season, they will need Gregory to be a star for them.

He grew into a versatile offensive weapon for Montana as a sophomore, posting an ORtg of 120.0, which was 71st in the country. He shot 42% on threes last year, one of the best marks in the conference. Though he took a lot of threes in comparison to twos (98 three-point attempts compared to 62 two-point attempts), he still got to the free throw line at a decent rate, taking 67 of them on the year. He should look to get to the rim more often, as he is a strong finisher (52% on twos), and one of the better free throw shooters around (88%). Add it all up, and he had a true shooting percentage of 64.1% last year, which was a top 25 mark in the country.

He had a relatively low usage rate last year, which is something I would expect to go up this season, as he will have to shoulder more of the offensive load with Cherry and Mathias Ward graduated. If he can maintain those percentages and that level of efficiency with a higher usage, he could be one of the better scorers in the conference, and a candidate to be a first-team guy.

If there is an area he could improve, it is in his ball distribution. While not a traditional point guard, at 6'2'' he will likely see a lot of lot of ballhandling responsibilities. While his TO rate was solid, he had an Assist Rate of 10.1, which is not very good for a guard. The final step to becoming a complete offensive player is to be able to distribute and get open looks for others. This will be especially important this year, as he will likely be the second focus of opposing defenses, after Kareem Jamar.

Gregory is a strong player, and perhaps nobody in the Big Sky was more improved than he was last year. If he can make a similar leap in his junior year, he has the chance to be a big-time star, and Montana will again be in the thick of things in the conference.

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A Look at Marcus Colbert

Last year, Marcus Colbert was a pleasant surprise for Montana State as a freshman. For the year, he played over half of the team's minutes, and started a fair number of games. He provided steady play in the backcourt for them last season, but will be counted on even more heavily this year. Is he up to the task, and what areas does he need to improve on?

Even though he took pretty good care of the ball, you would like to see the 20.7 TO Rate drop a bit. That is a little bit high for a PG. Similarly, his 19.4 Assist Rate is not bad, but for him to take the next step and become one of the best PGs in the Big Sky, you'd like to see that higher. Those are good numbers for a true freshman, but there is certainly room for improvement there.

He shot a solid 40% from three point range last season, a great number that should make defenses respect his jumpshot. When they start to do that, he needs to be a bit better at finishing at the rim. He shot just 39.1% on twos last season, and only made 32 trips to the free throw line all season. Those are the numbers of a guy settling for mid-range jumpers instead of trying to make it all the way to the rim and getting either a higher percentage shot or a trip to the charity stripe. He needs to make that leap to become a more polished and complete offensive player.

He has the speed and quickness to be an above average PG in the Big Sky, he just needs to add some strength. He has a solid 2.6% steal percentage as a freshman, showcasing his quick hands. He has the ability to be above average both offensively and defensively, which would make him very valuable.

Marcus Colbert had an excellent freshman season in Bozeman, but there is room for him to take the next step and become a top half PG in the conference. His development will be key for MSU, and will be fun to watch as a fan.

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Hayden Hunter Commits to Weber State

Weber State's Texas connection has come through again, with 5'11'' G Hayden Hunter committing to the Wildcats, per Texas Hoops.

Hayden Hunter (Richland HS) has committed to Weber State. #ClassOf2014
— TexasHoops/GASO (@TexasHoopsGASO) September 14, 2013

Hunter is the second Texas guard to commit to WSU for the class of 2014, as Jeremiah Jefferson decided to come to WSU last week.

Last season, Hunter averaged 14.0 PPG and 2.2 APG, shooting 33% from downtown. He also had 1.5 steals per game. He did turn the ball over more than he had assists, which will be a key point for his development as a PG. He is from Richland Hills, near Dallas, in Texas.

While Jefferson looks like a guy that will step in right away and play big minutes, Hunter looks more likely to provide depth for a Weber State that needed more bodies at the PG spot. In addition, he adds yet another recognizable face coming from Utah to Texas, where they have nabbed guys like Jefferson, Joel Bolomboy, Jeremy Senglin, and Kyndahl Hill just within the last three years.

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James Hajek Out A While

Last week, it was revealed that Weber State big man James Hajek would have surgery for a dislocated knee, and would try to return for conference play.

Also, @WeberStateMBB center @hajekjames will have surgery soon for dislocated knee. Will try to return for @BigSkyConf play.

— Roy Burton (@RoyBurton) September 4, 2013

Hajek later tweeted that the surgery went well. Hopefully he will recover quickly!

I appreciate all the support. Just had my surgery and everything went well. Now we start the road to recovery! pic.twitter.com/M56GrAXOpp

— James Hajek (@hajekjames) September 5, 2013

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